''Glycyphagus'' is a genus of
Astigmatina
Astigmatina is a clade of mites in the order Sarcoptiformes. Astigmata has been ranked as an order or suborder in the past, but was lowered to the unranked clade Astigmatina of the clade Desmonomatides (synonym Desmonomata) in the order. Astigma ...
in the family
Glycyphagidae.
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Description
In adults of ''Glycyphagus'', the prodorsum lacks external vertical
seta
In biology, setae (; seta ; ) are any of a number of different bristle- or hair-like structures on living organisms.
Animal setae
Protostomes
Depending partly on their form and function, protostome setae may be called macrotrichia, chaetae, ...
e ''ve''. The internal vertical setae ''vi'' are long and barbed, and located posterior to the anterior margin of the propodosoma. The scapular setae ''si'' and ''se'' are arranged in a trapezoid or rectangle shape. In some species, there is a prodorsal sclerotization called a crista metopica. Some of the dorsal setae are long and heavily barbed. On the ventral side of the body, the
subcapitulum has a distinct pattern of ventral ridges, and near the posterior margin of the body is the
anus
In mammals, invertebrates and most fish, the anus (: anuses or ani; from Latin, 'ring' or 'circle') is the external body orifice at the ''exit'' end of the digestive tract (bowel), i.e. the opposite end from the mouth. Its function is to facil ...
. The tibiae of the first two leg pairs have two ventral setae each. The tarsal claws are simple and small. Members of subgenus ''Lepidoglyphus'' have subtarsal scales on the legs.
Females usually have a short external copulatory tube at the posterior end of the body. Males lack paranal suckers or tarsal suckers on the fourth leg pair.
Ecology
Mites in this genus live in a wide variety of habitats, including nests of animals (e.g. rodents, birds, bees), stored products, house dust, hay and grass. They feed on various organic materials.
To disperse, ''Glycyphagus'' use insects such as bees (
phoresis
Phoresis or phoresy is a temporary commensalistic relationship when an organism (a phoront or phoretic) attaches itself to a host organism solely for travel. It has been seen in ticks and mites since the 18th century, and in fossils 320 ...
) or air currents.
Species
These species belong to the genus ''Glycyphagus'':
* ''
Glycyphagus destructor''
(Schrank, 1781) b g
* ''
Glycyphagus domesticus''
(De Geer, 1778) b g
* ''
Glycyphagus hypudaei''
(Koch, 1841) g
* ''
Glycyphagus michaeli''
(Oudemans, 1903) b
* ''
Glycyphagus ornatus''
Kramer, 1881 b g
* ''
Glycyphagus pilosus''
Oudemans, 1906 g
* ''
Glycyphagus privatus''
Oudemans, 1903 b g
Data sources: g = GBIF,[ b = Bee Mite ID]
Gallery
File:1-Glycyphagus destructor female1 dors BMOC 07-0807-004.jpg, ''Glycyphagus destructor'' female dorsum
File:2-Glycyphagus destructor female1 ventr BMOC 07-0807-004.jpg, ''Glycyphagus destructor'' female venter
File:3-Glycyphagus domesticus male dors DIC40 BMOC 06-0301-001.jpg, ''Glycyphagus domesticus'' male dorsum
File:4-Glycyphagus domesticus male ventr DIC40 BMOC 06-0301-001.jpg, ''Glycyphagus domesticus'' male venter
References
Further reading
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External links
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Acariformes