Schwiebea Explained

Schwiebea is a genus of mites in the family Acaridae.[1] It is among the largest in the family with over 60 species.[2]

Description

Adults of Schwiebea are distinguished from other mites by: the absence of many setae, the reduction of supracoxal seta of leg I to a tiny spine, and the absence of Grandjean's organ. Additionally, the propodosomal sclerite has a posterior indentation/incision for up to 50% of its length. Females have a spermatheca (organ for receiving and storing sperm) and its morphology is important for distinguishing species.

Habitat

Schwiebea have been collected from various habitats including vegetation (clover roots, a verbena field, peony rose, Gerbera roots, yams, taro seeds), leaf litter, peat moss, caves, insect rearing containers and even some aquatic environments (fish farms, aquariums, swimming pools).[3] Some species attach phoretically to arthropods such as bark beetles,[4] millipedes[5] and ticks.[6]

Reproduction

Some species of Schwiebea are all-female and reproduce by parthenogenesis, while others use sexual reproduction. Parthenogenesis is thought to have evolved at least three times within the genus.

Pest status

One species, S. similis, is a pest of American ginseng in China. A scientific study found it can also feed on other crops to varying extents, including garlic, potato and Chinese yam.[7]

Species

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Barry O'Connor . Acaridae Species Listing . Biology Catalog . . 2008 . July 26, 2010.
  2. Okabe . Kimiko . OConnor . Barry M. . 2000 . Morphometric and systematic analyses of populations of the Schwiebea barbei - group (acari: acaridae) with particular reference to populations from North America and Japan . International Journal of Acarology . en . 26 . 2 . 115–126 . 10.1080/01647950008684176 . 83624626 . 0164-7954.
  3. Okabe . Kimiko . Hinomoto . Norihide . OConnor . Barry M. . 2008 . Ecological and morphological attributes of parthenogenetic Japanese Schwiebea species (Acari: Acaridae) . Experimental and Applied Acarology . en . 44 . 2 . 77–88 . 10.1007/s10493-008-9140-3 . 18347918 . 26034686 . 0168-8162.
  4. Pernek . Milan . Wirth . Stefan . Blomquist . Stacy . Avtzis . Dimitrios . Moser . John . 2012-02-01 . New associations of phoretic mites on Pityokteines curvidens (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) . Open Life Sciences . en . 7 . 1 . 63–68 . 10.2478/s11535-011-0096-7 . 601227 . 2391-5412. free .
  5. Farfan . Monica . Klompen . Hans . 2012-06-05 . Phoretic mite associates of millipedes (Diplopoda, Julidae) in the northern Atlantic region (North America, Europe) . International Journal of Myriapodology . 7 . 69–91 . 10.3897/ijm.7.3064 . 1875-2543 . free .
  6. Hutcheson . H. Joel . Mertins . James W. . Larson . Scott R. . Paskewitz . Susan . 2015 . Acarine Hypopi (Sarcoptiformes: Acaridae) on Ixodes scapularis (Ixodida: Ixodidae) in Central North America: Fig. 1. . Journal of Medical Entomology . en . 52 . 5 . 837–841 . 10.1093/jme/tjv085 . 26336225 . 0022-2585. free .
  7. Guo . S. . Zhao . L. . Lan . A. . 2016 . Feeding and Reproductive Choices of Schwiebea similis (Acari: Acaridae) on Nine Crops . Journal of Agriculture . 6 . 8 . 23–28.

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