Mesostigmatid mites associated with Oxysternon conspicillatum (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae): a new species of Macrocheles, description of the male of M. magna, and four new records for Colombia

ABSTRACT

Seven species of mites were found associated with the dung beetle Oxysternum conspicillatum in Colombia. Macrocheles neotransversus sp. nov. based on adults and the male of Macrocheles magna are described. Both species belong to the mitis species-group (Holocelaeno). Macrocheles boxi, M. phanaei, M. roquensis and Glyptholaspis confusa are reported for the first time in Colombia. Additionally, a case of hyperphoresy of deutonymphs of Histiostoma sp. on Megalolaelaps colossus is documented.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:304E0CA6-EED2-4819-B9F0-24A85D283E86

KEYWORDS:

• Dung beetles
• phoresy
• hyperphoresy
• eviphidoidea

Acknowledgments

To Nicole Romero for her contributions in the initial phase of the project. Many thanks to Jerry Krantz for his additional information on the synonymy of Holocelaeno and Macrocheles. Lastly, special thanks to the anonymous reviewers and the editor, for all of their observations and/or suggestions.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This project was funded in part by a “Doctorados Exterior” fellowship 568-2012-80048516 from Colciencias, Colombia (JOCH).