Phoresy of Uropoda orbicularis (Acari: Mesostigmata) by beetles (Coleoptera) associated with cattle dung in Poland

Abstract

Of 31 species of coprophagous beetles from the following families: Aphodiidae, Geotrupidae, Scarabacidae, individuals of 25 species carried deutonymphs of Uropoda orbicularis (Müller, 1776). The mite's preferences for attaching to specific parts of an insect's body were determined by examining 4,318 specimens of beetles from the following families: Aphodiidae, Geotropidae, Scarabacidae, Hydrophilidae and Histeridae. We recorded 14,507 cases of phoresy (5,822 deutonymphs and 8,685 of pedicels without mites) on 2,056 insects. Elytra and the third pair of legs were the areas most frequently occupied by the mites. The mite's preferences for attaching to specific parts of an insect body are reported for the first time.