Phoretic mite associates of millipedes (Diplopoda, Julidae) in the northern Atlantic region (North America, Europe)

Abstract

Introduced millipede species in the family Julidae are common in the U.S. but little is known about how they interact with other organisms, such as mites. To start to determine the nature of the relationship, millipedes were sampled from across the eastern U.S.A. and the United Kingdom in 2008–2009. Sixteen morphospecies of mites (Acari: Astigmata, Mesostigmata) were collected from these millipedes, 12 of which from a total of 13 species of julid millipedes. None of these 12 species was restricted to a single host species. However, 12 of the 16 mite species collected were restricted to either the U.S.A. or the U.K. These results are consistent with locality, rather than host, specificity.