Parasitism of diving beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) by larvae of the water mite Acherontacarus rutilans (Hydrachnidiae, Acari) in Diyarbakır Province, Turkey

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted in Diyarbakır Province in 2013–2014. Specimens of predatory diving beetles belonging to the family Dytiscidae Leach, 1815 were collected from various aquatic habitats. In total, 2115 specimens were collected that belong to 32 species of 12 genera: Agabus, Bidessus, Colymbetes, Dytiscus, Hydroglyphus, Hydroporus, Hygrotus, Ilybius, Laccophilus, Nebrioporus, Platambus, and Scarodytes. Twenty eight specimens belonging to seven species of the genus Agabus Leach, 1817 (Agabus biguttatus, A. bipustulatus, A. caraboides, A. conspersus, A. guttatus guttatus, A. nebulosus, and A. sturmii) and collected from eight different localities were parasitized by larvae of the water mite Acherontacarus rutilans E. Angelier, 1951. Except for A. biguttatus and A. nebulosus, host–parasite associations of A. rutilans are reported for the first time. The number of water mite larvae per host specimen ranged from 1 to 30. In our study area, the infestation rate of all Dytiscid beetles was 1.32% versus 5.99% in the genus Agabus. These infestation rates are compatible with previous reports.

KEYWORDS:

• Diving beetles
• Dytiscidae
• Agabus
• water mites
• Diyarbakir

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank to unnamed reviewers of our manuscript for providing insightful comments to improve our manuscript. A part of this study was presented orally in International Engineering, Science and Education Conference (INESEC), December 1–3, 2016, Diyarbakır, Turkey.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.