Family CAECULIDAE Berlese, 1883

 

Introduction

Mites in the family Caeculidae are very large, usually with dark-coloured leathery cuticle. Their front legs carry a series of spines and enlarged setae that are used for capturing prey. They are slow-moving, and wait in ambush for soft-bodied insects and mites (Walter et al. 2009). They are most often found in sandy coastal habitats, but also occur in sandy and rocky deserts. The most important work on the systematics and biology of the family is by Coineau (1974 and contained references). Three genera and seven species have been recorded in Australia. Unidentified species have been recorded from Australia a number of times as listed for each genus, and unidentified Caeculidae were also reported by Heatwole et al. (1981), Kinnear & Tongway (2004), Adolphson & Kinnear (2008) and Callan et al. (2011).

 

General References

Adolphson, H. & Kinnear, A. 2008. Acari (mite) assemblages under plantations of bluegum, Eucalyptus globulus, in southwestern Australia. Pedobiologia 51: 427–437

Callan, S.K., Majer, J.D., Edwards, K. & Moro, D. 2011. Documenting the terrestrial invertebrate fauna of Barrow Island, Western Australia. Australian Journal of Entomology 50: 323–343

Coineau, Y. 1974. Éléments pour une monographie morphologique, écologique et biologique des Caecluidae (Acariens). Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris [1936-1950] A. Zoologie 81: 1–299 + Plates 1–24

Heatwole, H., Done, T. & Cameron, E. 1981. Community Ecology of a Coral Cay: A study of One-Tree Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. The Hague : W. Junk 379 pp.

Kinnear, A. & Tongway, D. 2004. Grazing impacts on soil mites of semi-arid chenopod shrublands in Western Australia. Journal of Arid Environments 56: 63–82

Walter, D.E., Lindquist, E.E., Smith, I.M., Cook, D.R. & Krantz, G.W. 2009. Order Trombidiformes. pp. 233-420 in Krantz, G.W. & Walter, D.E. (eds). A Manual of Acarology. Lubbock, Texas : Texas Tech University Press Third edition, 807 pp.

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
07-May-2013 07-May-2013 MODIFIED
29-Jul-2010 29-Jul-2010 MOVED
07-May-2013 09-Jul-2010 ADDED
08-Jul-2010 MODIFIED

Genus Caeculus Dufour, 1832

 

Introduction

The genus Caeculus is known from Australia only on the basis of unidentified species, as reported by Mulaik & Allred (1954) and Noble et al. (1996).

 

General References

Mulaik, S. & Allred, D.M. 1954. New species and distribution records of the genus Caeculus in North America. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 56: 27-40

Noble, J.C., Whitford, W.G. & Kaliszewski, M. 1996. Soil and litter microarthropod populations from two contrasting ecosystems in semi-arid eastern Australia. Journal of Arid Environments 32: 329-346

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
07-May-2013 07-May-2013 MODIFIED
14-Apr-2011 ADDED

Genus Microcaeculus Franz, 1952

 

Introduction

In addition to the identified species listed here, Majer et al. (2013) collected unidentified specimens of Microcaeculus from Western Australia.

 

General References

Majer, J.D., Callan, S.K., Edwards, K., Gunawardene, N.R. & Taylor, C.K. 2013. Baseline survey of the terrestrial invertebrate fauna of Barrow Island. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 83: 13-112.

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
01-May-2017 Acari 20-Jan-2017 MODIFIED Dr Bruce Halliday
07-May-2013 07-May-2013 MODIFIED
29-Jul-2010 29-Jul-2010 MOVED
07-May-2013 09-Jul-2010 ADDED
08-Jul-2010 MODIFIED

Species Microcaeculus pica Otto, 1993

 

General References

Taylor, C.K., Gunawardene, N.R. & Kinnear, A. 2013. A new species of Neocaeculus (Acari: Prostigmata: Caeculidae) from Barrow Island, Western Australia, with a checklist of world Caeculidae. Acarologia 53: 439-452. (as Microcaeculus pica)

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
01-May-2017 Acari 01-Jul-2016 MODIFIED Dr Bruce Halliday
07-May-2013 07-May-2013 MODIFIED
29-Jul-2010 29-Jul-2010 MOVED
07-May-2013 09-Jul-2010 ADDED
08-Jul-2010 MODIFIED

Genus Neocaeculus Coineau, 1967

 

Introduction

In addition to the identified species listed here, Majer et al. (2013) collected unidentified specimens of Neocaeculus from Western Australia.

 

General References

Majer, J.D., Callan, S.K., Edwards, K., Gunawardene, N.R. & Taylor, C.K. 2013. Baseline survey of the terrestrial invertebrate fauna of Barrow Island. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 83: 13-112.

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
01-May-2017 Acari 20-Jan-2017 MODIFIED Dr Bruce Halliday
07-May-2013 07-May-2013 MODIFIED
29-Jul-2010 29-Jul-2010 MOVED
07-May-2013 09-Jul-2010 ADDED
08-Jul-2010 MODIFIED

Species Neocaeculus bornemisszai Coineau & Enns, 1970

 

General References

Taylor, C.K., Gunawardene, N.R. & Kinnear, A. 2013. A new species of Neocaeculus (Acari: Prostigmata: Caeculidae) from Barrow Island, Western Australia, with a checklist of world Caeculidae. Acarologia 53: 439-452. (as Neocaeculus bornemisszai)

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
01-May-2017 Acari 01-Jul-2016 MODIFIED Dr Bruce Halliday
07-May-2013 07-May-2013 MODIFIED
29-Jul-2010 29-Jul-2010 MOVED
07-May-2013 09-Jul-2010 ADDED
08-Jul-2010 MODIFIED

Species Neocaeculus imperfectus Taylor, Gunawardene & Kinnear, 2013

 

History of changes

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Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
Acari 01-Jul-2016 ADDED Dr Bruce Halliday

Species Neocaeculus kinnearae Taylor, 2014

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
Acari 01-Jul-2016 ADDED Dr Bruce Halliday

Species Neocaeculus knoepffleri Coineau & Enns, 1970

 

General References

Taylor, C.K., Gunawardene, N.R. & Kinnear, A. 2013. A new species of Neocaeculus (Acari: Prostigmata: Caeculidae) from Barrow Island, Western Australia, with a checklist of world Caeculidae. Acarologia 53: 439-452. (as Neocaeculus knoepffleri)

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
01-May-2017 Acari 01-Jul-2016 MODIFIED Dr Bruce Halliday
07-May-2013 07-May-2013 MODIFIED
29-Jul-2010 29-Jul-2010 MOVED
07-May-2013 09-Jul-2010 ADDED
08-Jul-2010 MODIFIED

Species Neocaeculus nudonates Taylor, 2014

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
Acari 01-Jul-2016 ADDED Dr Bruce Halliday

Species Neocaeculus womersleyi Coineau, 1974

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
Acari 24-Jul-2016 ADDED Dr Bruce Halliday