New records, a completed list and identification key of mites (Acari) associated with the stable fly, stomoxys calcitrans (l.) (diptera: Muscidae)

Abstract

The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.) is a blood-sucking muscid fly species, with a worldwide distribution and high veterinary-medical importance. In this study, four mite species were collected from stable flies in Hungary. One mite species (Trichotrombidium muscarum (Riley, 1878)) from the family Microtrombidiidae was parasitic on the flies, collected in high numbers from their bodies. The other three species were found in small numbers on the flies, which they use only for transportation. The latter included the phoretic female of Pediculaster mesembrinae (Canestrini, 1881) (Acari: Siteroptidae), the phoretic deutonymph of the Halolaelaps sexclavatus (Oudemans, 1902) (Acari: Halolaelapidae) and Macrocheles subbadius (Berlese, 1904) (Acari: Macrochelidae). This is the first record of an association between the stable fly and two mite species (Trichotrombidium muscarum and Halolaelaps sexclavatus). A new, completed list and identification key of known stable fly associated mites are also provided.