• Pyemotidae Oudemans, A.C. 1937. Kritisch Historisch Overzicht der Acarologie, Deerde Gedeelte, 1805-1850. Leiden : E.J. Brill Vol. C pp. 798-1348.

Introduction

The family Pyemotidae includes a single genus and about 20 species (Walter et al. 2009). They are parasites of insects, especially Lepidoptera and Coleoptera, including the species that commonly infest stored grain. The mites paralyse their prey by injecting venom. They often bite humans, and cause painful itching referred to as "straw itch" or "grain itch" in workers in the stored grain industry (Moser 1975). Some species have been used as biological control agents for insect pests such as fire ants, bollworms, and moths and beetles in stored grain (Gerson et al. 2003). The Australian Pyemotidae are poorly known, with only five species in a single genus. The taxonomy of the genus Pyemotes has been subject to much confusion. Many literature records are based on misidentifications, and some of the included species have a complicated synonymy. Some of the Australian species cannot be recognised, and all require thorough revision.

General References

Gerson, U., Smiley, R.L. & Ochoa, R. 2003. Mites (Acari) for Pest Control. Oxford : Blackwell Science 539 pp.

Moser, J.C. 1975. Biosystematics of the straw itch mite with special reference to nomenclature and dermatology. Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London 127: 185-191

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

• Pyemotes Amerling, C. 1862. Naturökonomie der von ihm beobachteten Milben, insbesondere der Trombidieen. Sitzungsberichte der Königlich Böhmischen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften in Prague 2: 54-56.
• Pediculoides Targioni Tozzetti, A. 1878. Relazione intorno ai lavori della Stazione di entomologia di Firenze per l'anno 1876. Acaridei. Annali di Agricoltura. Roma 1: 242-275.
• Heteropus Newport, G. 1850. Further observations on the habits of Monodontomerus, with some account of a new Acarus, Heteropus ventricosus, a parasite in the nests of Anthophora retusa. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 2 6: 395-396 [junior homonym].

Introduction

The taxonomy of the genus Pyemotes has been subject to much confusion. Many literature records are based on misidentifications, and some of the included species have a complicated synonymy. Some of the Australian species cannot be recognised, and all require thorough revision. Yu et al. (2010) showed that the common straw itch mite P. tritici is a complex of several closely related species.

In addition to the named species listed here, unidentified species of Pyemotes have been reported from Australia a number of times, including by Letchford et al. (1994).

General References

Letchford, J., Strungs, I. & Farrell, D. 1994. Pyemotes species strongly implicated in an outbreak of dermatitis in a Queensland country hospital. Pathology 26: 330-332

Prendergast, K.S. & Yeates, D.K. 2018. New records of bee fly (Diptera: Bombyliidae) and mite (Acari: Pyemotidae) parasites of Australian Megachile bees (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) in Western Australia. Australian Entomologist 45(1859): 51–56 [54]

Yu, L., Zhang, Z.-Q. & He, L. 2010. Two new species of Pyemotes closely related to P. tritici (Acari: Pyemotidae). Zootaxa 2723: 1–40

History of changes

• Heteropus alastoris Froggatt, W.W. 1894. Description of a new mite belonging to the genus Heteropus, found in wasps' nests. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 9: 259-260.

General References

Cross, E.A. 1965. The generic relationships of the family Pyemotidae (Acarina : Trombidiformes). University of Kansas Science Bulletin 45: 29-275 (as Pyemotes alastoris)

Krczal, H. 1959. Systematik und Ökologie der Pyemotiden. pp. 385-625 in Stammer, H.J. (ed.). Beiträge zur Systematik und Ökologie Mitteleuropäischer Acarina. Leipzig : Akademische Verlagsgesselschaft Vol. 1 pt 2. (as Pyemotes alastoris)

Rainbow, W.J. 1906. A synopsis of Australian Acarina. Records of the Australian Museum 6: 145-193 (as Pediculoides alastoris)

History of changes

• Pediculoides herfsi Oudemans, A.C. 1936. Neues über Pediculoides Targ.-Tozz. 1878. Festschrift für Prof. Dr. Embrik Strand, Riga 1: 391-404.

General References

Carne, P.B. (ed.) 1987. Scientific and Common Names of Insects and Allied Forms Occurring in Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO 120 pp. (as Pyemotes herfsi)

Cross, E.A. 1965. The generic relationships of the family Pyemotidae (Acarina : Trombidiformes). University of Kansas Science Bulletin 45: 29-275 (as Pyemotes herfsi)

Cross, E.A., Moser, J.C. & Rack, G. 1981. Some new forms of Pyemotes (Acarina : Pyemotidae) from forest insects, with remarks on polymorphism. International Journal of Acarology 7: 179-196 (as Pyemotes herfsi)

Hughes, A.M. 1961. The Mites of Stored Food Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Technical Bulletin no. 9. London : Her Majesty's Stationery Office 287 pp. (as Pyemotes ventricosus)

Hughes, A.M. 1976. The Mites of Stored Food and Houses. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Technical Bulletin. London : Her Majesty's Stationery Office Vol. 9 400 pp. (as Pyemotes herfsi)

Kaliszewski, M., Athias-Binche, F. & Lindquist, E.E. 1995. Parasitism and parasitoidism in Tarsonemina (Acari: Heterostigmata) and evolutionary considerations. Advances in Parasitology 35: 335-367 (as Pyemotes herfsi)

Krczal, H. 1959. Systematik und Ökologie der Pyemotiden. pp. 385-625 in Stammer, H.J. (ed.). Beiträge zur Systematik und Ökologie Mitteleuropäischer Acarina. Leipzig : Akademische Verlagsgesselschaft Vol. 1 pt 2. (as Pyemotes herfsi)

Naumann, I. 1993. CSIRO Handbook of Australian Insect Names. Common and Scientific Names for Insects and Allied Organisms of Economic and Environmental Importance. Melbourne : CSIRO Publications v 200 pp. [Date published 31/12/1993] (as Pyemotes herfsi)

History of changes

• Dermaleichus rhynchitinus Debey 1849. Über mehrere neue Acarus-Arten. Vers. Ges. d. Naturf. Ärtze Aachen 1847. 155-156 pp.
• Dermaleichus attelabrinus Debey 1849. Über mehrere neue Acarus-Arten. Vers. Ges. d. Naturf. Ärtze Aachen 1847. 155-156 pp.

General References

Cross, E.A. 1965. The generic relationships of the family Pyemotidae (Acarina : Trombidiformes). University of Kansas Science Bulletin 45: 29-275 (as Pyemotes attelabrinus)

Gay, F.J. & Greaves, T. 1942. The control of Pediculoides ventricosus (Newport) in insect cultures. Journal of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. Australia 15: 315-317 (as Pediculoides ventricosus)

Krczal, H. 1959. Systematik und Ökologie der Pyemotiden. pp. 385-625 in Stammer, H.J. (ed.). Beiträge zur Systematik und Ökologie Mitteleuropäischer Acarina. Leipzig : Akademische Verlagsgesselschaft Vol. 1 pt 2. (as Pyemotes rhynchitinus)

Oudemans, A.C. 1937. Kritisch Historisch Overzicht der Acarologie, Deerde Gedeelte, 1805-1850. Leiden : E.J. Brill Vol. C pp. 798-1348. (as Pyemotes rhynchitinus)

Oudemans, A.C. 1937. Verslag. Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 80: iv-xvi (as Pyemotes rhynchitinus)

History of changes

• Acarus tritici LaGrèze-Fossat, A. & Montané, R.J. 1851. Observations microscopiques sur la mite du blé. Recueil Agronomique de la Société des Sciences Agricoles et Belles-Lettres 32(2): 37-64.

General References

Emery, R.N. & Nayak, M.K. 2007. Pests of stored grains. pp. 40–62 in Bailey, P.T. (ed.). Pests of Field Crops and Pastures. Identification and Control. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing pp. 520. (as Pyemotes tritici)

Kaliszewski, M., Athias-Binche, F. & Lindquist, E.E. 1995. Parasitism and parasitoidism in Tarsonemina (Acari: Heterostigmata) and evolutionary considerations. Advances in Parasitology 35: 335-367 (as Pyemotes tritici)

Krczal, H. 1959. Systematik und Ökologie der Pyemotiden. pp. 385-625 in Stammer, H.J. (ed.). Beiträge zur Systematik und Ökologie Mitteleuropäischer Acarina. Leipzig : Akademische Verlagsgesselschaft Vol. 1 pt 2. (as Pyemotes tritici)

Lee, D.C. & Southcott, R.V. 1979. Spiders and other Arachnids of South Australia. In South Australian Yearbook, 1979. South Australian Government Printer : Adelaide. 15 pp. (as Pyemotes tritici)

Southcott, R.V. 1978. Australian Harmful Arachnids and Their Allies. Mitcham, South Australia : R. V. Southcott 36 pp. (as Pyemotes tritici)

Yu, L., Zhang, Z.-Q. & He, L. 2010. Two new species of Pyemotes closely related to P. tritici (Acari: Pyemotidae). Zootaxa 2723: 1–40 (as Pyemotes tritici)

History of changes

• Heteropus ventricosus Newport, G. 1850. Further observations on the habits of Monodontomerus, with some account of a new acarus, Heteropus ventricosus, a parasite in the nests of Anthophora retusa. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London 2: 70-71.

Introduction

Pyemotes ventricosus is the subject of a very large amount of literature, mainly through its suspected ability to bite humans. However Moser (1975) showed that the species of Pyemotes that occurs in straw and attacks humans is P. tritici and not P. ventricosus. It is therefore possible that the Australian records of P. ventricosus attacking humans actually refer to P. tritici. They have been listed here under P. ventricosus until further research can accurately identify the Australian species. The same strategy was adopted by Southcott (1976).

General References

Brimblecombe, A.R. & Roff, C. 1960. Mites associated with honeybees in Queensland. Queensland Journal of Agricultural Science 17: 447-448 (as Pediculoides ventricosus)

Champ, B.R. 1965. An investigation of peanut storage pests in Queensland. 1. Introduction, species and pest status. Queensland Journal of Agricultural and Animal Science 22: 227-240 (as Pyemotes ventricosus)

Champ, B.R. 1966. Insects and mites associated with stored products in Queensland. 4. Acarina and Pseudoscorpiones. Queensland Journal of Agricultural and Animal Science 23: 197-210 (as Pyemotes ventricosus)

Cross, E.A. 1965. The generic relationships of the family Pyemotidae (Acarina : Trombidiformes). University of Kansas Science Bulletin 45: 29-275 (as Pyemotes ventricosus)

Cross, E.A., Moser, J.C. & Rack, G. 1981. Some new forms of Pyemotes (Acarina : Pyemotidae) from forest insects, with remarks on polymorphism. International Journal of Acarology 7: 179-196 (as Pyemotes ventricosus)

Emery, R.N. & Nayak, M.K. 2007. Pests of stored grains. pp. 40–62 in Bailey, P.T. (ed.). Pests of Field Crops and Pastures. Identification and Control. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing pp. 520. (as Pyemotes ventricosus)

Kaliszewski, M., Athias-Binche, F. & Lindquist, E.E. 1995. Parasitism and parasitoidism in Tarsonemina (Acari: Heterostigmata) and evolutionary considerations. Advances in Parasitology 35: 335-367 (as Pyemotes ventricosus)

Krczal, H. 1959. Systematik und Ökologie der Pyemotiden. pp. 385-625 in Stammer, H.J. (ed.). Beiträge zur Systematik und Ökologie Mitteleuropäischer Acarina. Leipzig : Akademische Verlagsgesselschaft Vol. 1 pt 2. (as Pyemotes ventricosus)

Manning, R. 2006. An unusual occurrence of Pyemotes mites in an apiary in Western Australia. Australasian Beekeeper 108(5): 197–199 (as Pyemotes ventricosus)

Moser, J.C. 1975. Biosystematics of the straw itch mite with special reference to nomenclature and dermatology. Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London 127: 185-191 (as Pyemotes ventricosus)

Naumann, I. 1993. CSIRO Handbook of Australian Insect Names. Common and Scientific Names for Insects and Allied Organisms of Economic and Environmental Importance. Melbourne : CSIRO Publications v 200 pp. [Date published 31/12/1993] (as Pyemotes ventricosus)

Newport, G. 1850. Further observations on the habits of Monodontomerus, with some account of a new Acarus, Heteropus ventricosus, a parasite in the nests of Anthophora retusa. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 2 6: 395-396 (as Heteropus ventricosus)

Rathus, E.M. & Brimblecombe, A.R. 1958. An unusual dermatitis. Medical Journal of Australia 1958(2): 31 (as Pyemotes ventricosus)

Seddon, H.R. 1952. Diseases of Domestic Animals in Australia. Part 3. Tick and Mite Infestations. Commonwealth of Australia Department of Health, Service Publication (Division of Veterinary Hygeine) 7. 200 pp. (as Pediculoides ventricosus)

Seddon, H.R. 1968. Diseases of Domestic Animals in Australia. Part 3. Arthropod Infestations (Ticks and Mites). Commonwealth of Australia Department of Health, Service Publication (Veterinary Hygeine) (Revised by H. E. Albiston) Vol. 7 170 pp. (as Pediculoides ventricosus)

Southcott, R.V. 1976. Arachnidism and allied syndromes in the Australian region. Records of the Adelaide Children's Hospital 1: 97-186 (as Pyemotes ventricosus)

Swan, D.C. 1934. Dermatitis caused by a mite (Pediculoides ventricosus) and its occurrence in Australia. Medical Journal of Australia 1934(2): 573-578 (as Pediculoides ventricosus)

Swan, D.C. 1934. The hay itch mite, Pediculoides ventricosus (Newport) (Acarina, Pediculoididae) in South Australia. Journal of Agriculture of South Australia 37: 1289-1299 (as Pediculoides ventricosus)

Taylor, F.H. 1946. Spiders, ticks and mites, including the species harmful to man in Australia and New Guinea. Section 1. Descriptive. Commonwealth of Australia Department of Health, Service Publications (School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, University of Sydney) 6: 1-234 (as Pediculoides ventricosus)

History of changes