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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Chelicerates (Chelicerata) » Arachnids (Arachnida) » Mites and Ticks (Acari) » Parasitiformes » Mesostigs (Mesostigmata) » Parasitina » Parasitoidea » Parasitidae » Parasitinae » Poecilochirus

Genus Poecilochirus

Nicrophorus tomentosus passenger - Poecilochirus mites on carrion beetles - Poecilochirus Mites on Sexton beetle - Poecilochirus mites on american carrion beetle - Poecilochirus Mites IMG_4069 - Poecilochirus Poecilochirus on Nicrophorus nigrita - Poecilochirus Poecilochirus sp.? - Poecilochirus Mite - Poecilochirus
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Chelicerata (Chelicerates)
Class Arachnida (Arachnids)
Subclass Acari (Mites and Ticks)
Superorder Parasitiformes
Order Mesostigmata (Mesostigs)
Suborder Parasitina
Superfamily Parasitoidea
Family Parasitidae
Subfamily Parasitinae
Genus Poecilochirus
Life Cycle
Species in this genus inhabit vertebrate carrion and ride on silphid beetles. They don't show host specificity, but mix up in larger carcasses where adult beetles come to feed. Those on Nicrophorus ride back on the adult and enter the brood cell and reproduce there. [Comment by Barry O'Connor]
Print References
Schwarz, H. H. & J. K. Mùˆller. 1992. The dispersal behaviour of the phoretic mite Poecilochirus carabi (Mesostigmata, Parasitidae): Adaptation to the breeding biology of its carrier Necrophorus vespilloides (Coleoptera, Silphidae). Oecologia 89:487-493.
Springett, B. P. 1968. Aspects of the relationship between burying beetles, Necrophorus spp. and the mite Poecilochirus necrophori. J. Anim. Ecol., 37:417-424.
Contributed by Jim McClarin on 18 November, 2006 - 7:23pm
Additional contributions by Aaron Schusteff, ceiseman
Last updated 1 February, 2014 - 2:10pm

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