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Title: A new bee mite of the genus Pseudacarapis (Acari: Tarsonemidae) from Mexico

Author
item Ochoa, Ronald - Ron
item PETTIS, JEFFERY - BEE RESEARCH LAB, BARC
item MIRELES, OSCAR - APHIS-PPQ, LOS INDIOS, TX

Submitted to: International Journal of Acarology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/12/2003
Publication Date: 12/1/2003
Citation: Ochoa, R., Pettis, J.S., Mireles, O.M. 2003. A new bee mite of the genus Pseudacarapis (Acari: Tarsonemidae) from Mexico. International Journal of Acarology. 29(4):299-305.

Interpretive Summary: White mites include species that feed on fungi, plants, and insects. These are considered to be originally from tropical and subtropical regions. Several genera in this group are important because of their association with honey bees. Most of these mites are very small and transparent making their study and control difficult. The tracheal bee mite is one of the most important parasitic mite species on bees. Recently a new white mite was collected on honey bees with honey bee comb, and this mite is close to an Asian species that has been associated to Thai Sacbrood disease. The objective of this study is to describe this new species and address its importance on bees. This paper will be important to bee keepers, extensionists, quarantine officers, entomologists, ecologists and persons involved in mite systematics.

Technical Abstract: A new species of tarsonemid mite, Pseudacarapis trispicula Ochoa & Pettis, is described and illustrated from females phoretic on Apis mellifera L. collected from intercepted honey comb from Mexico. This is the first record of this genus in the Americas, and the distribution and impact of this mite species in honey bee colonies remains unknown. The only other known species, Pseudacarapis indoapis Lindquist, has a host-specific association with Apis cerana Fabricius.