Parasitidae

[Ari Kainelainen]

Hallo!
It was found today on the bumblebe. Location: South Karelia. I cath up one. What is it?

[Walter Pfliegler]

Hi, there is a family called Parasitidae, they look like this, and the females have a dorsal shield that is consisted of 2 parts, like on your photo. This family is often found on insects. There is another similar family, Veigaiidae, that can be found on bees, but those look a bit different. So, the family is surely Parasitidae as far as I can tell.

Regards!

[Ari Kainelainen]

Hallo!
Thanks a lot. Maybe for ID to next level nedeed photo of some parts of tick?

[Walter Pfliegler]

A microscopic preparate and a correct identification key would be needed :-)

[Ari Kainelainen]

I know only this:
http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/beemites/Species_Accounts/Parasitidae.htm

[Walter Pfliegler]

Yes, this is a very good site but for North America. Such mites are really hard to determine...

[Ari Kainelainen]

I will try ID bumblebee. It can help with mite identifycation?

[Walter Pfliegler]

Well, I do not have any list of host-parasite associations, but maybe there is a list somewhere...

[Ari Kainelainen]

Thanks a lot for your help! If I can finding something useful I will write about it.
This keys maybe says something:
http://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/mites/Invasive_Mite_Identification/key/Mesostigmata/Media/Html/Parasit.htm
I already tried ID on this key. There neaeed in palp, now I not saw it.
My tick is an adult female?

[Walter Pfliegler]

Thanks a lot for your help! If I can finding something useful I will write about it.
This keys maybe says something:
http://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/mites/Invasive_Mite_Identification/key/Mesostigmata/Media/Html/Parasit.htm
I already tried ID on this key. There neaeed in palp, now I not saw it.
My tick is an adult female?

Adult female, yes.
Well, You would need to study the exact location and form of the tiny setae on the certain parts of the palp, which is immediately near the chelicerae ("Lateral setae of palp genu (al1-2) entire, either setiform or spatulate").

So You need 1000x magnification and for that You need to do a microscope preparate. You can check where the palp is, on  a microscope preparation I photographed and uploaded to the SpinnenWiki. And here You will also find infos on a few mite families.

Generally, Trombidiformes are more easy to ID on family level than Mesostigmata. Sometimes it goes even from a single macro photo. But Mesostigmata are really hard, except for some interestingly modified families. You can find some Mesostigmata in the Wiki also.

Have a look at the Gallery of the Fauna of the Carpathian Basin, we have many mite photos from several dozen families there.

Walter

PS: it makes me frustrated also that some mites are quite impossible to ID for a beginner even with a good key, but this makes them an even more interesting group of animals for me :-) So keep on posting mite photos if possible, we will see what we can do!

PS II: please change the names of the Threads to be different, not the same! For example change one of them to Parasitidae1 and Parasitidae2 or something like that.

[Ari Kainelainen]

Thanks!
I'm glad that you agreed help me.
Yes, I saw palps. I should separated palp from the body?
It is really very interesting for me. I will posing photo if I can take it good.
Photo:
1. shield with setae.
2. probably al(1-2) on palp?
3. legs (I-II)

[Walter Pfliegler]

Hi, here You can check which part is the genu. If You photographed exactly that part, than I can see no bifid seta (bifid means it looks like a 'Y'), only normal setae, so we can move to Point 2 in key.

Point 2 says:
  Posterior ventral region (opisthogaster) with 30 or fewer pairs of setae; associated with a variety of insects, but usually not bumblebees (Bombus)............ 3

 -  Opisthogaster with extensive hypertrichy (>40 pairs of setae); associated with bumblebees (Bombus) or their nests............ Parasitellus

So, You should check the number of setae on the belly of the mite (on the posterior part of the ventral side). If there are about >40, than we can say it is a Parasitellus sp female. :-)

[Ari Kainelainen]

Hallo,
I took phot with setae on palp, al 1-2 not bifid if my photo really shows al 1-2.
I also saw picture with parts of palps: http://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/mites/Invasive_Mite_Identification/key/Mesostigmata/Media/images/100_palp.jpg
My bumbelbee is Bombus sp.
All setae should be numbered or only big? if it should be all, its really >40.
Photo:
1.Two long setae, maybe it can be useful.
2. setae. It is opisthogaster?
3.It probably al 1-2

[Walter Pfliegler]

Is the last photo really the ventral side? Not the dorsal???

[Ari Kainelainen]

Ok, sorry, it is dorsal.
There are bad view, but setae numbered >40.

[Walter Pfliegler]

Ok, sorry, it is dorsal.
There are bad view, but setae numbered >40.

Hi, You should look at the setae on the opistogastral plate, because what are seen on this picture are the unpaired small hairs of the soft area of the body - the hairs of the side are also visible. But on the plate there are setae positioned symmetrically. There should be 40+ pairs on the plate. For example the pairs of setae is visible in the first link you showed in this thread (Parasitellus talpae).

Walter

[Ari Kainelainen]

Hello!
Unfortunately I lost this sample . It fall under glass on microscope, and I could't find it.
But I caught four ticks from Parasitide for this time. Its was found on one bumblebee Bombus. One tick was destroyed, I have only not bad picture of ventral view, but I have three normal ticks. I placed its under slide, and I have good photo. Also I send letter to specialist of Mesostigmata mites. Soonly I posting this photos, and I hope with correct ID.

[Walter Pfliegler]

Anyway Parasitellus seems to be a very probable ID as it was on bumblebee!

[Ari Kainelainen]

I think that Parasitellus fucorum is more likely. It is better if I will posted other photo with other ticks from Parasitidae under slide on tis topic(It is likely these species)?