Taxonomic Position

Cohort Gamasina

Subcohort Dermanyssiae

    Superfamily Dermanyssoidea

Laelapidae Trägårdh

 Tropilaelaps Delfinado & Baker

 

Diagnostic characters:

• Laelapidae associated with Apis with dense idiosomal hypertrichy.

 

Similar taxa.  Varroa mites are broader than long and have a separate anal shield and very large metapodal shields.  Melittiphis have a well developed sternal keel.

 

 

Ecology & Distribution.  Tropilaelaps clareae Delfinado & Baker is a parasites of honeybees.

 

 

References

Casanueva ME.  1993.  Phylogenetic studies of the free-living arthropod associated Laelapidae (Acari: Mesostigmata).  Gayana Zoologica 57: 21-46.

Lekprayoon, C., Wongsiri, S., Jayasvasti, S. and Leepitakrat, S. 1994. Survival of the parasitic honey bee mite Tropilaelaps clareae on adult Apis florea and Apis andreniformis workers. Proceeding IX International Congress of Acarology.