Family ICHTHYOSTOMATOGASTERIDAE Sellnick, 1953

Museums

Regional Maps

• Ichthyostomatogasteridae Sellnick, M. 1953. Ichthyostomatogaster nyhléni, eine neue Acaride aus Schweden. Entomologisk Tidskrift 74: 24-37.

Introduction

The family Ichthyostomatogasteridae includes the genera Archaeopodella Athias-Henriot, Asternolaelaps Berlese (= Ichthyostomatogaster Sellnick) and Japanoasternolaelaps Hirschmann & Hiramatsu, although the placement of Archaeopodella must be considered as provisional because its adults are unknown. Mites in this family have very robust mouthparts that are used for crushing and ingesting solid food such as fungi and mites (Walter & Proctor 1998). They are most often found in tree holes and rotting wood, or in mammal nests and bat caves. The family is represented in Australia by one described species of Archaeopodella, one described species of Asternolaelaps, and a few records of unidentified species. Lindquist et al. (2009) illustrated an undescribed Australian species provisionally belonging to this family.

General References

Lindquist, E.E., Krantz, G.W. & Walter, D.E. 2009. Order Mesostigmata. pp.124-232 in Krantz, G.W. & Walter, D.E. (eds). A Manual of Acarology. Lubbock, Texas : Texas Tech University Press Third edition, 807 pp.

Walter, D.E. & Proctor, H.C. 1998. Feeding behaviour and phylogeny: observations on early derivative Acari. Experimental and Applied Acarology 22: 39-50

History of changes