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Research Project: Plant Feeding Mite (Acari) Systematics

Location: Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Title: Catalogue of snout mites (Acariformes: Bdellidae) of the world

Author
item HERNANDES, FABIO - SAO PAULO STATE UNIVERSITY (UNESP)
item SKVARLA, MICHAEL - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
item FISHER, J - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
item DOWLING, ASHLEY P - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
item Ochoa, Ronald - Ron
item UECKERMANN, EDWARD - NON ARS EMPLOYEE
item Bauchan, Gary

Submitted to: Zootaxa
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/27/2016
Publication Date: 8/17/2016
Citation: Hernandes, F.A., Skvarla, M.J., Fisher, J.R., Dowling, A.G., Ochoa, R., Ueckermann, E.A., Bauchan, G.R. 2016. Catalogue of snout mites (Acariformes: Bdellidae) of the world. Zootaxa. 4152:1-83.

Interpretive Summary: Predator mite species in the family Bdellidae are important as biocontrol agents. We listed 272 species, and included distribution information, taxonomic literature, and type depository institutions. In this catalog we illustrated and included keys to the genera. Research scientists, plant protection agents, and USDA-APHIS will use this information for the identification of mites in this family.

Technical Abstract: Bdellidae (Trombidiformes: Prostigmata) are moderate to large sized predatory mites that inhabit soil, leaves, leaf litter, and intertidal rocks. They are readily recognized by an elongated, snout-like gnathosoma and by elbowed pedipalps bearing two (one in Monotrichobdella) long terminal setae. Despite being among the first mites ever described, with species described by C. Linnaeus, the knowledge about bdellids has never been compiled into a taxonomic catalog. Here we present a catalog listing 272 valid species; for each species we include distribution information, taxonomic literature, and type depository institutions. The genus Rigibdella Tseng, 1978 is herein synonymyzed with Cyta von Heyden, 1826. Odontoscirus Tohr, 1913 is considered a senior synonym of Bdellodes Oudemans, 1937. Illustrated keys to subfamilies and genera are presented, as well as keys to species of each genus.