Checklist of terrestrial Parasitengona mites in Fennoscandia with new species- and distribution records (Acariformes: Prostigmata)

Abstract

The knowledge of terrestrial Parasitengona in Fennoscandia lies far behind that of their aquatic counterparts, the water mites (Hydrachnidia). Based on new inventories, we provide primary data and an annotated checklist of terrestrial Parasitengona in Fennoscandia including 107 species. Out of these, nineteen species are new findings for the region and five are species potentially new for science. Twenty-three species are new for Norway, fourteen for Finland and eleven for Sweden. The known recorded fauna today of terrestrial Parasitengona is 80 species for Norway, 54 for Sweden and 48 for Finland. Primary data include georeferenced locality data as well as collecting techniques and microhabitat to increase the knowledge on species' habitat requirements.

Inclusion of juvenile stages improves diversity assessment and adds to our understanding of mite ecology – A case study from mires in Norway

“…In our study, this group was represented by seven species, including one new to Norway. Johnstoniana parva and Valgothrombium valgum are confined to amphibious biotopes; Calyptostoma velutinum and Enemothrombium bifoliosum are usually abundant in such biotopes; Microtrombidium pusillum and Sucidothrombium sucidum are often found in temporarily flooded areas; whereas the only representative of Erythraeidae recorded here, Leptus molochinus , has been known from a wider scope of habitats, including temporarily inundated ones (Stålstedt et al, 2019 ; Wohltmann et al, 2006 ). It is noteworthy that the larvae of Calyptostoma velutinum parasitize Tipulidae, and larvae of Valgothrombium valgum have been recorded as parasites of Ceratopogonidae, whereas the postlarval instars of three out of seven species recorded in the present study ( Calyptostoma velutinum , Enemothrombium bifoliosum, and Microtrombidium pusillum ) may serve as hosts for larvae of Johstoniana parva (Felska et al, 2018 ; Wohltmann et al, 2006 ).…”

“…Terrestrial Parasitengonina from mires have been studied to a far lesser extent, compared to water mites, and only 25 species are known from this type of habitat in Europe (Franke, 1942 ; Gabryś, 1996 , 1997 ; Gabryś & Mąkol, 1994 ; Mąkol, 2005 ; Mąkol & Gulvik, 2002 ; Stålstedt et al, 2019 ; Willmann, 1939 ). In our study, this group was represented by seven species, including one new to Norway.…”

“…Among the terrestrial Parasitengonina that distinguished this locality were Sucidothrombium sucidum and Valgothrombium valgum . The former species, common in northern Europe, is often found in moist habitats, including mires (Stålstedt et al, 2019 ). The latter species, confined to biotopes with regular inundations, has been also found in mires (e.g., Stålstedt et al, 2019 ; Willmann, 1933 ; Wohltmann et al, 2006 ).…”

“…Full names of the mites are given in Table 2 and Appendix S1 , while in the figures, abbreviations are used. The new records of Mesostigmata for Norway refer to the most recent checklist (Gwiazdowicz & Gulvik, 2005a ) and later references (Bolger, Devlin, & Seniczak, 2018 ; Castilho et al, 2015 ; Gwiazdowicz et al, 2013 ; Gwiazdowicz & Gulvik, 2005b , 2007 ; Kaczmarek et al, 2021 ; Kvifte et al, 2022 ; Neves Esteca et al, 2020 ; Seniczak, Bolger, Roth, et al, 2019 ; Seniczak, Niedbała, Iturrondobeitia, et al, 2021 ; Seniczak, Seniczak, Graczyk, et al, 2021 ; Seniczak, Seniczak, Iturrondobeitia, et al, 2020 ; Seniczak, Seniczak, Schwarzfeld, et al, 2020 ; Seniczak, Seniczak, Starý, et al, 2021 ; Słomian et al, 2005 ; Thunes et al, 2021 ; Venancio et al, 2016 ) while those of Trombidiformes are based on the checklist of Mehl ( 1979 ) and Stålstedt et al ( 2019 ). The new records of Sarcoptiformes for Norway are based on the checklists of Mehl ( 1979 ) and Seniczak, Seniczak, Iturrondobeitia, et al ( 2020 ); Seniczak, Seniczak, Schwarzfeld, et al ( 2020 ).…”

Different breeding conditions affect the morphological variability in larvae of Platytrombidium fasciatum (Trombidiformes: Microtrombidiidae)

“…Until present, the P. fasciatum remains the only member of Platytrombidium reported from Poland. It was recorded also from France, Spain, Germany, Romania, and Italy (Gabryś et al 2005;Mąkol & Wohltmann 2012), whereas its presence in northern Europe (Fennoscandia) was questioned (Stålstedt et al 2019). Larvae of P. fasciatum have been known to parasitize Diptera of the families Anthomyzidae, Chloropidae, Drosophilidae, Lauxaniidae, Muscidae, Sarcophagidae, and Tephritidae (Felska et al 2018 and references therein).…”