Parasitism of Ceroglossus buqueti (Coleoptera: Carabidae) by Hexathrombium mites (Acari: Microtrombidiidae): body distribution, prevalence, intensity and attachment preferences in relation to body size and sex

ABSTRACT

Host characteristics, including sex, age and size, can influence parasite intensity. Ceroglossus buqueti (Laporte, 1834) and its mites were studied to determine the influence of size and sex on parasite abundance, and check for any preference for a particular region of the body. One hundred and fifty-seven C. buqueti individuals (64 males and 93 females), captured in the summer of 2007 in Villarrica National Park, Chile, were examined. All C. buqueti were parasitized by Hexathrombium c.f marittae (Haitlinger, 1994). Male beetles were significantly smaller than female beetles, but parasite abundance in males and females was the same. Likewise, there was no relationship between host body size and parasite abundance. The body distribution analysis showed that H. c.f. marittae preferred to attach to the head, ventral thorax and ventral abdomen. We speculate that these preferred regions provide more protection and space for the parasite to colonize the host.

KEYWORDS:

• Body distribution
• Carabidae
• ectoparasites
• Hexathrombium
• mites

Acknowledgements

We thank Dr Viviane Jerez for giving access to the collection of C. buqueti, and the review manuscript. We also thank Lorena Rivera and Pablo Fuentes for support in collecting mites.