Food, life-history, and sexual differences of Callidosoma metzi sharma, Drooz, and Treat (Acarina: Erythraeidae)

Abstract

Larvae of Callidosoma metzi were collected from adult moths and reared individually in plastic chambers at room temperature. Deutonymphs and adults fed on the eggs of notodontid and geometrid moths. Deutonymphs fed on the contents of an average of 8.2 eggs per day. Adult mites consumed an average of 230 eggs during their 28-day average life. Developmental time for pupa I to adult averaged 53 days. There is probably 1 generation per year. One female laid over 300 eggs at one time. The genital plates may be used to differentiate the sexes. The shape of the sperm ball differs from that of other known erythraeids. The sperm ball may prove useful for generic differentiation within the Erythraeidae.