Abstract. Four bulb mites deutonymphs (hypopus) from Rhizoglyphus echinopus (Fumouze & Robin) (Acari: Acaridae) were found attached to the head of a subterranean termite belonging to Coptotermes genus in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. These mite species are commonly associated with ornamental plants and trees with bulbs, corms and tubers. All four hypopus were found attached to the surface of termite's head. Results from this study provided an insight on the phoretic relationship of mites and termites, indicating the role of the latter in the dispersion of the first.Keywords: Acaridae; Arthropods; Dispersion; First record; Phoresy. Ácaros do Bulbo Rhizoglyphus echinopus (Fumouze and Robin) Associados com Cupim Subterrâneo (Isoptera) no BrasilResumo. Quatro deutoninfas de ácaros do bulbo (hipopus) da espécie Rhizoglyphus echinopus (Fumouze & Robin) (Acari: Acaridae) foram encontradas fixadas na cabeça do cupim subterraneo pertencente ao gênero Coptotermes no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Estas espécies de ácaros estão comumente associadas a plantas ornamentais e plantas com bulbos e turbéculos. As quatros hipopus foram encontradas fixadas na superfície da cabeça do cupim. Os resultados desse estudo fornecem uma visão sobre a relação forética de ácaros e cupins, indicando o papel deste último na dispersão do primeiro.

Four deutonymphs of bulb mites (hypopus) from Rhizoglyphus echinopus (Fumouze & Robin) (Acari: Acaridae) were found attached to the head of Atta sexdens in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This mite species is commonly associated with ornamental plants and trees with bulbs, corms and tubers. The results of this study provided an insight into the phoretic relationship between mites and ants, indicating the role of the latter in the dispersion of the first. Despite the abundant and diverse mite fauna existing in ants, little is known about their diversity, biology, ecology and the nature of their associations.