Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Consumption of nematodes by fungivorous mites, Tyrophagus spp. (Acarina: Astigmata: Acaridae)

  • Original Papers
  • Published:
Oecologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Free-living nematodes may be attacked and eaten by soil mites which are normally considered fungivores or saprophages. Three species in the genus Tyrophagus, common inhabitants of grassland soils and also common pests in stored products, museums and laboratories, are predators of nematodes. All active stages of the mites will voraciously consume nematodes. When offered nematodes and a choice of other food (baker's yeast and algae), 11% of the Tyrophagus putrescentiae, 23% of the T. zachvatkini, and 56% of the T. similis tested fed on nematodes. Tyrophagus zechvatkini and similis were reared on a diet consisting entirely of nematodes, and developed at rates similar to a fungal diet and produced viable offspring. Agar cultures of Aphelenchus avenae which were inoculated with five mating pairs of Tyrophagus zachvatkini had populations that were one-third less than mite-free controls. Observations indicate that nematodes may be attacked by tyrophagid mites when in a dry, anhydrobiotic state.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abbatiello MJ (1965) A culture chamber for rearing soil mites. Turtox News 43:162–163

    Google Scholar 

  • Coleman DC (1986) The role of microfloral and microfaunal interactions in affecting soil processes. In: Microflora and microfaunal interactions in natural ecosystems, Mitchell MJ, Nakas JP (eds). Martinus Nijhoff/Dr. W. Junk, Boston, pp 317–329

    Google Scholar 

  • Coleman DC, McGinnis JT (1970) Quantification of fungus-small arthropod food chains in the soil. Oikos 21:134–137

    Google Scholar 

  • Crossley DC, Merchant (1971) Feeding by caeculid mites on fungus demonstrated with radioactive tracers. Ann Ent Soc Amer 64:760–762

    Google Scholar 

  • Crowe JH, Madin KAC (1975) Anhydrobiosis in nematodes: evaporative water loss and survival. J Exp Zool 193:323–334

    Google Scholar 

  • Freckman DW, Whitford WG, Steinberger Y (1986) Effects off irrigation on nematode population dynamics and activity in desert soils. Biol Fert Soils (in press)

  • Herzberg MA, Klein DA, Coleman DC (1978) Trophic interactions in soils as they affect energy and nutrient dynamics. II Physiological responses of selected rhizosphere bacteria. Micro Ecology 4:351–359

    Google Scholar 

  • Hughes AM (1976) The mites of stored food and houses. Minist Agric Fish Food Tech Bull No 9, London, 400 pp

  • Hunt HW, Coleman DC, Ingham ER, Ingham RE, Elliot ET, Moore JC, Rose SL, Reid CPP, Morley C (1986) The detrital food web in a shortgrass prairie. Biol Fert Soil (in press)

  • Imbriani JL, Mankau R (1983) Studies on Lasioseius scapulatus, a mesostigmatid mite predaceous on nematodes. J Nematol 15:523–528

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingham RE, Trofymow JA, Ingham ER, Coleman DC (1985) Interactions of bacteria, fungi, and their nematode grazers: Effects on nutrient cycling and plant growth. Ecol Monog 55:119–140

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamburov SS (1971) Feeding, development, and reproduction of Amblyseius largoensis on various food substances. J Econ Ent 64:643–648

    Google Scholar 

  • Kevan DK, Sharma GD (1963) The effects of low temperature on Tyrophagus putrescentiae. In: Advances in acarology, Naegele J (ed), Vol I. Comstock Publ, Ithaca, NY, pp 112–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Krantz GW (1978) A manual of acarology. Oregon State Univ Bookstores, Corvallis, 509 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Leetham NJ, Milchunas DG (1985) The composition and distribution of soil microarthropods in the shortgrass steppe in relation to soil water, root biomass, and grazing by cattle. Pedobiologia 28:311–325

    Google Scholar 

  • Luxton M (1981) Studies on the astigmatid mites of a Danis beech wood soil. Pedobiologia 22:29–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Luxton M, Petersen H (1982) Survey of the main animal taxa of the detritus food web. Oikos 39:293–294

    Google Scholar 

  • Moser JC (1975) Mite predators of the southern pine beetle. Ann Ent Soc Am 68:1113–1116

    Google Scholar 

  • Muraoka M, Ishibasi N (1976) Nematode-feeding mites and their feeding behaviour. Appl Ent Zool 11:1–7

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Connor BM (1982) Evolutionary ecology of astigmatid mites. Ann Rev Ent 27:385–409

    Google Scholar 

  • Petersen H (1982) Structure and size of soil animal populations. Oikos 39:306–329

    Google Scholar 

  • Pimm SL (1982) Food webs. Chapman and Hall, New York, 219 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Rockett CL (1980) Nematode predation by oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida). Internat J Acarol 6:219–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Rivard I (1961) The influence of temperature and humidity on longevity, fecundity, and rate of increase of the mite Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acarina: Acaridae) reared on mold cultures. Can J Zool 39:869–876

    Google Scholar 

  • Robertson PL (1959) A revision of the genus Tyrophagus, with a discussion on its taxonomic position in the Acarina. Aust J Zool 7:146–181

    Google Scholar 

  • Santos PF, Whitford WG (1981) The effects of microarthropods on litter decomposition in a Chihuahuan desert ecosystem. Ecology 62:654–663

    Google Scholar 

  • Seethaler H, Knulle W, Devine TI (1979) Water vapor intake and body water (3HOH) clearance in the housemite Glycyphagus domesticus. Acarologia 21:442–450

    Google Scholar 

  • Sohlenius B (1980) Abundance, biomass and contribution to energy flow by soil nematodes in terrestrial ecosytems. Oikos 34:186–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Sokal RR, Rohlf FJ (1972) Introduction to biostatistics. Freeman, San Francisco, 368 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Walter DE, Kethley J, Moore JC (1986) Extraction efficiency and biomass estimation of prairie soil microarthropods. Pedobiologia (in press)

  • Wharton GW, Duke KM, Epstein HM (1979) Water and the physiology of house dust mites In: Recent advances in acarology, Rodriguez JG (ed) Vol I. Academic Press, New York, pp 325–335

    Google Scholar 

  • Whelan J (1985) Seasonal fluctuations and vertical distribution of the acarine fauna of three grassland sites. Pedobiologia 28:191–201

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitford WG, Freckman DW, Elkins NZ, Parker LW, Parmalee R, Phillips J, Tucker S (1981) Diurnal migration and responses to simulated rainfall in desert soil microarthropods and nematodes. Soil Biol Biochem 13:417–425

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitford WG, Steinberger Y, MacKay W, Parker LW, Freckman DW, Wallwork JA, Weems D (1986) Rainfall and decomposition in the Chihuahuan desert. Oecologia (Berlin) 68:512–515

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University, 80523, Fort Collins, CO, USA

    D. E. Walter & R. A. Hudgens

  2. Department of Nematology, University of California, 92521, Riverside, CA, USA

    D. W. Freckman

Authors
  1. D. E. Walter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. A. Hudgens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. D. W. Freckman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Walter, D.E., Hudgens, R.A. & Freckman, D.W. Consumption of nematodes by fungivorous mites, Tyrophagus spp. (Acarina: Astigmata: Acaridae). Oecologia 70, 357–361 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00379497

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00379497

Key words

Search

Navigation