THE svermmc AND THE
ECOLOGICAL ASSOCiATiON OF
THE BLAmsocmAE GARMAN
(g ACEOSEIEDAE WHARTON AND BAKER)
TO THE POLYPORACEAE

‘Fhesis for the Degree of Ph. D.
MICHmAN STATE U‘NWERSITY.
CHARLES SPURGEON SCARBOROUGH
1968

 

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This is to certify that the
thesis entitled
THE SYSTEMIC AND THE ECOLOGICAL
ASSOCIATION OF THE BLATTISOCIDAE GAR-

MAN (3 ACEOSEJIDAE WEARTON AND BAKER) TO
THE POLYPORACEAE

presented by

Charles Spurgeon Scarborough

has been accepted towards fulfillment
of the requirements for

PhD. degree in 200102!

Major professor

Date February 2];,_.‘

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ABSTRACT

THE SYSTEMATIC AND THE ECOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
OF THE BLATTISOCIDAE GARMAN (8 ACEOSEJIDAE WHARTON AND BAKER)
TO THE POLYPORACEAE

By

Charles Spurgeon Scarborough

The objective was to determine the species and numbers of mites
of the Blattisocidae and their relationship to the other mites and
arthropods that occupy the bracket fungi. During the years 1960-1962
approximately 175 samples of woody shelf fungi were collected from the
upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan from some 18 counties. The mites
and other arthropods were collected from these samples by a modified
Berlese funnel technique with a 60 watt incandescent bulb supplying the
heat to dry out the fungus. The mites were separated from the other
arthropods and a large number of mites were mounted on slides. The
Blattisocid females were then identified to Species and the other mites
and arthropods were then identified at least to families. Discussion
includes the fungus as a habitat for mites and other arthropods, the
possible food habits and predators of the blattisocids, the environmental
conditions for adequate survival and reproduction, the apparent lack of
overwintering of adults of species in this family, and the distribution

of the family.

 

 

 

 

THE SYSTEMATIC AND THE ECOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
OF THE BLATTISOCIDAE GARMAN (= ACEOSEJIDAE WHARTON AND BAKER)
TO THE POLYPORACEAE

BY

Charles Spurgeon Scarborough

A THESIS

Submitted to
Michigan State University
in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Department of Zoology

1968

 

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This author would like to thank Dr. T. W. Porter,the chairman of
my committee for his invaluable advice in carrying out this research,
the numerous collections he made in the upper and lower peninsulas of
Michigan, and the inspiration he provided throughout this study. I would
like to express sincere thanks to the other members of my committee namely
Drs. E. S. Beneke, M. Hensley and G. Guyer for their time and suggestions.
Acknowledgments are also due to Drs. Julius Hoffman and Manfred Engelmann
of the Department of Natural Science for their valuable suggestions and
use of their personal reprint libraries. I also wish to thank
Dr. Emanuel Hackel for the purchase of a phase-contrast microscope which
has been a valuable asset in the identification and study of mites by
this investigator. I also wish to thank Dr. G. 0. Evans and Dr. J. H.
Camin of the Institute of Acarology for their assistance in obtaining
the knowledge for the identification of the mites investigated in this
study. A special thanks is due to Mrs. Bernadette "Mac" Henderson for
her invaluable assistance in obtaining necessary materials for the com-
pletion of this study and the confidence she displayed in me during the

years of this work.

ii

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF FIGURES
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . .

History of the Investigation . . . . . . . . .
Scope of the Investigation . .

METHODS AND MATERIALS
POLYPORACEAE . .

Morphology . . . . . . . .
General Considerations . . .
Specific Morphology of a Sporophore .
Systematics of the Polyporaceae . .
Ecological Succession of the Sporophore

BLATTISOCIDAE . . . . . .

Biology of the Family . . . . . . . . . .
Food Habits . . . . . . . . . . .
Predators . . . . . . . .

Dispersal Mechanisms . . . . . . . . . .
Seasonal Variations of Population Size .

Systematic and Morphological Treatment of the Family

and Related Arthropods . . . . . . . . .
Classification of the Blattisocidae with

Characteristics of Each of the Higher Categories .

Morphology of the Blattisocidae . . . . .

Key to Adult Females of the Blattisocidae of

Selected Fungi . . . . . . . . . . . .
Plates and Plate Descriptions .
A Checklist of Arthropod Groups Including
Mites Other Than the Blattisocids that
Inhabit Polyporaceae . . . . . . . .

DATA..................

DISCUSSIONOFRESULTS . . . . . . . . . . . ..

iii

 

Page

\J

mmNNV

ll
11
ll
12
13
14
16

l6
18

23

25

42

47

71

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONCLUSIONS

SUMMARY .

BIBLIOGRAPHY .

iv

Page
75
77

79

 

Figure
10

2.

10.
ll.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.

18.

LIST OF FIGURES

A Photograph of the Berlese Apparatus . . . . . . .

(Left half)--Dorsal Surface of a ”Typical" Blattisocid
Mite (X150). (Right half)--Ventral surface of a
Parasitoid Mite (X150) . . . . . . . . . . . .

(Left half)--Gnathosoma1 Area of a Blattisocine Mite
(X150). (Right half)--Gnathosoma1 Area of a
Platyseiine Mite (X150) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Lateral View of a Blattisocid Mite--Taken from Evans
(1958) o o o o o o o o a o o a o o ’o o o o o o

Leg of the Blattisocinae Showing the Tarsal
Apparatus (X75) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Leg II of the Platyseiinae Showing the Tarsal
Apparatus and Long Recurved Setae (X75) . . . . . . .

Dorsal Area of Proctolaelaps pygmaeus (X75) . . . . .

 

Ventral Area of Proctolaelaps pygmaeus (X75) . .

 

Dorsal Area of Zercongpsis michaeli (X75) . . . . . .

 

Ventral Area of Zercongpsis michaeli (X75) . . . . .

 

Dorsal Area of Lasioseius muricatus (X75) . . . . . .

 

Ventral Area of Lasioseius muricatus (X75) . . . . . .

 

Dorsal Area of Lasioseius penicilliger (X75) . . . .

 

Ventral Area of Lasioseius penicilliger (X75) . . . . .

 

Dorsal Area of Lasioseius confusus (X75) . . . . . . .

 

Ventral Area of Lasioseius confusus (X75) . . . . . . .

 

Dorsal Area of Lasioseius lanciolatus (X75) . . . . .

 

Ventral Area of Lasioseius lanciolatus (X75)

 

Page

19

21

21

21

21
27
27
29
29
31
31
33
33
35
35
37

37

 

 

 

Figure Page

19. Dorsal Area of Lasioseius drosophili (X75) . . . . . . . . 39

 

20. Ventral Area of Lasioseius drosophili (X75) . . . . . . . . 39

 

21a. Leg II of Lasioseius drosophili (X75) . . . . . . . . . . . 39

 

21b. Leg III of Lasioseius drosophili (X75) . . . . . . . . . . 39

 

22. Dorsal Area of Lasioseius meridionalis (X75) . . . . . . . 41

 

23. Ventral Area of Lasioseius meridionalis (X75) . . . . . . . 41

 

vi

M'
.195"

 

 

INTRODU CT ION

History of the Investigation

The Polyporaceae,composed of many shelf fungi serve as a micro-
habitat for many arthropods as well as other invertebrates. Studies of
microhabitats such as tree hole litter and log mold were initiated by
Park (1931) in this country and has been continued by him and associates
until the present time. Numerous authors have investigated bracket
fungi as a habitat for Coleoptera. However, Graves (1956) in his thesis
investigated fauna associated with this habitat and published a paper in
1960 on the insects found here.

Mites are probably the most numerous of the inhabitants of the
polypores but little mention was made of the group by Graves. The
Blattisocidae, the primary focus of this treatise, is a relatively new
family being erected by Wharton and Baker (1952). Since 1959 numerous
species have been found and described by investigators working with
this family. Graves (1960) did not mention mites belonging to this
family in the fungi he collected and analyzed.

Wharton and Baker (1952) proposed the family Aceosejidae with

‘£§ceoseius muricatus (Koch) as the type species. Evans (1958) concluded

t:hat Aceoseius muricatus was a synonym of Lasioseius muricatus and thus

 

t:he latter became the type species of both the family and subfamily.
(Sarman (1948) proposed a suprageneric name for one of the genera in—

czluded by Evans in the Aceosejinae, Blattisocius Keegan. Therefore,

 

 

 

2

in accordance with the Law of Priority the type species Blattisocius

 

triodons became the basis for the family and subfamily names (Chant,

1963).

The Scope of the Investigation

 

This study encompasses approximately 175 samples of fungi col-
lected at random from some eighteen counties in the upper and lower
peninsulas of Michigan. The collections were made by this investigator
and Dr. T. W. Porter.

The study was concentrated primarily on the blattisocid mites
and their role in the fungus habitat. Apparent associations have been
discussed as to the possibility that particular species of blattisocid
mite may be restricted to a particular Polypore species. The relation-
ship of other mite families and arthropod groups has been examined to
determine their role in habitat restriction of blattisocids.

The various ecological stages or seres a polypore undergoes and
the importance of each of these stages as a habitat for blattisocid
mites is discussed. The possible effects of the physical environment
on the_presence and abundance of these mites is evaluated.

A major portion of this study is devoted to the review and

<Drganization of the systematics of the Blattisocidae.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A fungus Sporophore was collected and placed in a large plastic
bag. A label, containing date, locality information and number of
sample was placed in the bag with the fungus and the bag secured at the
top to avoid contamination until the collection was back in the labora—
tory. These bags were often stored in a cold room or refrigerator at
an approximate temperature of 5° C. until ready for treatment. The
entire contents of the bag were then placed in a modified Berlese funnel
under the heat of a sixty-watt bulb for three to five days. ‘The length
of time in a funnel depended on the amount of moisture in the fungus.

A 250 ml. wide-mouthed jar containing 70% ethyl alcohol was placed be-
neath the funnel to collect any specimens falling from it. See Plate I
for the set up of the apparatus. After the three to five day period,
the collection jar was capped with the specimen number inside for the
data record. The contents of each jar were then transferred to a finger
bowl where the mites were separated from the other arthropods by pipette
and placed in a series of vials with the sample number included. The
vials used for approximately the first 25 samples were small glass con—
tainers with bakelite screw tops. Eventually vials with corks were

used because (1) they can be labeled for easy identification, and (2)
they provide a tighter seal allowing less chance for evaporation of the
alcohol preservative. The letter "M" was penciled on the corks to
(designate mite vials and the letter "I" was used to designate vials con-

taining other invertebrates.

J‘w.

 

 

 

Fig. l.--A photograph of the Berlese apparatus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

Next, the mites were prepared for examination by placing them on
slides. The mounting medium chosen was a modified Berlese solution called
Hoyer's. This medium is miscible with water and alcohol and it continues
to clear the specimens. The formula for the medium from Baker and
Wharton (1959) is as follows:

50 grams distilled water,
30 grams gum arabic (clear crystals),
200 grams chloral hydrate,

and 20 grams glycerin
Since this medium has a tendency to absorb moisture from the air, the
slides so prepared were sealed with a ringing compound.

Preparation of slides began by placing a small drop of Hoyer's
in the center of the slide. Each slide was identified by etching the
appropriate sample number on it with a glass marking pencil. The con-
tents of the correspondingly numbered vial was then transferred to a
Syracuse watch glass and placed under a dissecting microscope. A single
mite was then picked up with a flattened dissecting needle and placed
on the slide ventral side up, since most of the characters used for
identification are located on that side. Using another dissecting
needle, a 32 x 24 mm. round cover slip was then lowered gently into
place on the slide. Slight pressure was applied to the cover slip to
spread both the Hoyer's solution and the legs of the mite. The slides
were placed in an oven set at approximately 28° C. for drying. After
drying, excess media was scraped from around the edges of the cover
Slip with a single-edged razor blade. .The slide was then ringed. For
approximately the first hundred slides fingernail polish was used for

ritlging the coverslip. However, the polish had a tendency to crack

 

JJ‘EL- ' «1:712 '.

   

 

 

after a short period of time, allowing moisture to get in and the cover-
slip had to be remounted. Other ringing materials were suggested and
discarded for the same reasons. Finally, in the summer of 1962,
aluminum paint was tried and found to be a more satisfactory ringing
compound. The only disadvantage with the aluminum paint is that it takes
slightly longer to dry than fingernail polish.

The finished slides were examined with a phase contrast micro-
scope and the specimen identified.

Illustrations were made with the aid of a camera lucida and were

photographed and reduced to one-half the size originally drawn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

POLYPORACEAE

Morphology
General Considerations

The most recognizable and significant portion of the fungus is
the "fruiting body" or "sporophore" (Overholts, 1953). It is commonly
called a conch or bracket. According to Overholts it can be sessile
(without a stalk) as in Fgmgg sp. or stipitate (stalked) as in most
Polyporus sp. It ranges from a few millimeters in width and one or
two millimeters in thickness to a width of 75 centimeters and 30 to
50 centimeters in thickness (Bessey, 1935). Bessey also reports that
the life span of a bracket may range from only a short time (a few
months) to a period of up to eighty years. They may be brightly
colored, as in Polyporus sulphureus, or of very dull grays, browns, or
blacks, as in numerous species of EQEEE: They may have a smooth pileal
surface, or it may be hirsute, and they may show many other inter-

specific'variations.
Specific Morphology of a Sporophore

A sporophore consists of a pileus (the upper surface plus the
context tissue directly beneath it, a tube layer, a pore surface, and
within the tubes a hymenium (Overholts, 1953). Overholts states that

the context varies in thickness due to the variation of the number of

 

 

layers of hyphae that comprise it. The hymenium, which lies within the

tube layer bears the basidia (the spore-forming structures).
Systematics of the Polyporaceae

The systematics found in this section are those of Alexopoulos
(1962). The Polyporaceae belong to the Division: Mycota, Subdivision:
Eumycotina, Class: Basidiomycetes, Subclass: Homobasidiomycetidae, ”J
Series: Hymenomycetes, Order: Polyporales and Family: Polyporaceae. A

The eumycotina or "true fungi" are characterized by being fila- 3a.
mentous and having cell walls. They reproduce both asexually and
sexually. The Class Basidiomycetes include fungi whose spores are borne
on the outside of special structures called basidia. The subclass
Homobasidiomycetidae is characterized by a simple non-septate basidium
with no resting spores. The series Hymenomycetes which are classified
in two orders. The Polyporales bear their basidia in a well defined
hymenium in pores or on gills with the texture of the basidiocarp not
soft and putrescent. The family Polyporaceae are fungi in which the

basidia line the inner surface of deep tubes.
Ecological Succession of the Sporophore

There are five microseres or stages through which a polypore
passes (Graves, 1960). Stage I encompasses the newly formed sporophore
which is fleshy and moist. Arthropods tend to be found on the surface
Of the pileus and tubes and are apparently temporary in their occupation.
State II entails-the development and dissemination of spores and most of
the arthropod fauna are highly transitory in nature. Stage III begins a

breaking down of the tissues of the sporophore and the tube layer.

.Q‘3 :'.

 

 

9

The tube layer and context are often riddled by insects and other
arthropods. Stabe IV is divided into "A" and "B" portion by Graves,

"A" being the dry shell of the sporophore and "B" being the wet shell,
obviously corresponding to the amount of moisture available at the time.
The arthropod fauna is not as numerous at this stage as they are in
Stage III since there are few tissues remaining to provide shelter and
food. Stage V occurs when the sporophore is detached, falls to the
ground and becomes a part of the forest floor.

This investigation found the above classification relatively un-
important since the mites are apparently only temporary occupants in
Stages I and II and a possible confusion could result from the occupants
in Stage V since there is no way of ascertaining whether these are
occupants of the forest floor or true fungus dwellers.

Stage III was of significant value in this study only when one is
considering annual Polypores since their succession can be followed
through the various stages. This is not meant to imply that the peren—
nial species do not undergo the same succession but since their life
span is very long it would be difficult and very time—consuming to
approach this problem in such a manner.

This investigator, during the summer of 1960, collected fungi
from a dead tree in which they (fruiting bodies) ranged from the base
of the tree beneath the forest floor vegetation into the brighter sun-
light. It was noted that the area beneath the vegetation where the
fungi was more moist contained numerous Mesostigmatid and Trombiculiform
mites whereas the area most exposed contained mostly ants and Oribatid

mites. This sample was recorded in the data section originally as

 

10

number 3 and 3a, 3 being below the vegetation cover and 3a being above.
They were combined by the author because the fungi were all of the same

species.

BLATTISOCIDAE

Biology of the Family
Food Habits

The paragraph that follows is modified from Baker and Wharton
(1952).

The mouth parts of an arachnid consists of a pair of chelicerae
and pepipalps. In the acarines, the most primitive type of chelicerae
terminate in chelae that are quite similar structurally to the chelae
of many decapod crustaceans. The chela is composed of a dorsal, fixed
digit and a ventral, movable one, each equipped with teeth which may
be opposable. This type of chela is used for grasping prey and
crushing other types of food. This primitive type of chela may be
modified to form a needle-like structure, or the fixed digit may be
lacking in certain parasitic forms. The pedipalps of acarines originate
laterally from the palpal coxae. The pedipalps become enlarged in the
Trombiculiformes and function as accessory chelicerae. These often
function as a hand enabling the mite to pick up and hold food and other
objects. The other suborders generally have unmodified pedipalps.

The-blattisocids found in this study have typical chelate
chelicerae and nondmodified six-segmented pedipalps. The chelicerae
Suggest therefore those of the typical predatory mite. The blattisocids
Senerally live in the soil, under bark, in stored animal or plant
Pr0<iucts of all kinds, insect cultures and colonies (Chant, 1963).

ll

12

Three species of blattisocids, Lasioseius boomsani, Lasioseius

 

ometgs, and Lasioseius dendroctoni are all associated with bark-boring
beetles (WOmersley, 1956 and Chant, 1963). Chant also suggests that

L, dendroctoni.which gets its specific name from being under the elytra

 

of Dendroctonus sp., a scolytid beetle, and I? drosophili which is

 

 

associated with Drosophila gp,, may be parasitic on these respective

 

hosts because of their specialized leg armaments.
Considerable research has also been reported on the food habits

of the genus Blattisocius and three of its species. Blattisocius

 

 

tarsolis was reported to feed on the larvae of moths of the genera
Ephestia and Sitotroga (Hughes, 1959). Blattisocius tarsalis was re-
ported by Hughes (1961) to be parasitic on the two genera above, and

also on Plodina sp. Cunliffe and Baker (1953) reported Blattisocius

 

keegani on citrus trees and in nests of pack rats of the genus Neotoma.

Rivard (1963) identified Blattisocius dendriticus feeding on the eggs

 

of larvae on the eggs and nymphal stages of Tyrophagus putrescentiae,

 

a sarcoptiform mite. Hughes (1961) reported that on the two occasions

when she collected Lasioseius penicilliger, they were in abundance but

 

no visible food supply was detected. She therefore surmised that they

must feed on microscopic molds.

Predators

During this investigation no direct evidence was found to in-
dicate that blattisocids are preyed upon by any other mites or insects.
waever, Lord (1949) reported that the lack of information about in-
cidental bark-inhabiting species is due to their relative lack of

attesntion. He pointed out that not only are mites predators of other

13

mites, but insects such as thrips, coccinellids, chrysopids, and
cecidomyid larvae are often predators as well. Although he also men-
tioned that spiders feed on fruit mites (red and clover mites), he
thought they are of little importance in the control of any mites.

Within the fungi sampled, this study found only three of the
above groups represented. There was an abundance of thrips and
cecidomyid larvae and an occasional spider. Whether these groups
tended to reduce the population of blattisocids by predation is in the

realm of future investigation.

Dispersal Mechanisms

The Mesostigmata have no special developmental stages that are
specially designed as is the hypopus of some of the Sarcoptiformes
(Acaridiae) for dispersal. These hypopal stages are called phoretic
nymphs. This means that prior to the adult stage the mite goes through
a stage that is capable of attaching itself (usually by suckers and
setae) to other animals and is therefore carried wherever that animal
chooses to go. It is not a feeding parasitic stage since the only
benefit the mite seems to derive is getting from place to place.

Certain parasitic Mesostigmata are provided with modified setae
on their legs or body as well as modified mouth parts for attachment to
their hosts. There are sometimes other bizarre modifications used for
attachment and therefore dispersal, in parasitic or mutualistic forms.
However, only two species of blattisocids known at this time, Lasioseius

dendroctoni and Lasioseius drosophili seem to show any great leg modi-

 

 

fications.‘ The free-living blattisocids which were the concern of this

study may be found-attached to the surface of a beetle's elytra which

Jl

 

 

 

14

seems to indicate a phoretic habit but these same species occur fre—

 

quently alone in this habitat. Since they have no special morphological
adaptations for this habit, it-seems a rather haphazard way of getting
from fungus to fungus. Some of these same species are found in the soil
or on the bark of trees so perhaps their habitation of the fungi is

temporary. Proctolaelaps pygmaeus is quite often found in the nests of

 

small mammals, suggesting it might use these mammals as a means of dis- A

persal (Hughes, 1961). l
Seasonal Variation of Population Size

The more heavily sclerotized mites such as the Oribatei were
found throughout the winter months by this investigator in the fungi
collected. They were not, however as abundant between November and
February of the years 1960-61 and 1961-62 as they were the other eight
months in each of these years. Numerous beetles were also found in the
fungi during this time but they were also less abundant than in the
warmer months.

Hughes (1959) reported that the larval and nymphal stages of
Oribatei require a habitat where the atmosphere approaches saturation.
He also stated that their food is usually plant material that is
nearly saturated with moisture and they show a preference for plant
material that has been attacked by bacteria and fungi and also the
mycelia and fruiting bodies of the fungi itself. Phytoseiidae,
according to Hughes (1959) as well as other predaceous Mesostigmata
can exist and also seem to prefer a drier environment. Winston (1963)

in his studies on the clover mite, Brypbia praetiosa in Boulder,

 

Colorado found that they were active during the winter in the mild

 

 

 

 

 

 

W!

15
climate of this area. They also fed and reproduced throughout the winter
and laid "summer" (diapause) eggs which did not hatch until early Fall.
He found no active forms during the summer. By running humidity tests
in the laboratory, Winston found that the death of this species occurred
more rapidly in the lower humidities but leveled off at the upper
levels. This is a species in which males are unknown, females repro-
ducing by parthenogenesis. Winston and Nelson (1965) reports that re- “_A
striction of water loss is accomplished by the active work of a mechanism ‘
in the cuticle, possibly the epidermal cells. They also postulated that
above 50% relative humidity the mechanism can regulate water loss but
below this humidity water loss seems rapid and the mechanism has little

effectiveness.

Hughes (1961) reported that the life cycle of Melichares agilis

 

of the family Blattisocidae takes from seven to nine days at 23° C. at
a relative humidity of 87%.

Belle (1968) reported that in Tetranychus urticae when occurring

 

in the temperate zones may pass the winter in the egg stage. He shows
that this is both a response to the photoperiod and to the temperature.
He found within this species certain strains that undergo diapause and
other strains that do not. It was found that between a photoperiod of
12-14 hours at 19.5° C. the number of dispensing females seem to range
from 12.5% to 100% for different strains. At 21° C. be reported no
diapausal response and at 17° C. the number of dispensing females in-

creased considerably for the same photoperiod.

 

.'.."

 

l6
Systematic and Motphological Treatment
of the Family and Related Arthropods

Classification of the Blattisocidae with Characteristics
of Each of the Higher Categories
The classification that follows is taken and modified from

Wharton and Baker (1952), Evans (1957, 1958) and Hughes (1961).

Phylum: Arthropoda--Metameric animals with an exoskeleton and jointed
appendages.

Subphylum: Chelicerata--Arthropods without antennae or mandibles,
their mouth parts consist of chelicerae and pedipalps.

Class: Arachnida--Chelicerates without gill books; may possess lung
books or trachae as a respiratory apparatus; prosoma with a
pair of chelicerae, a pair of pedipalps and four pairs of
walking legs.

Order: Acarina--A single prosomal carapace and broad junction between
the prosoma and opisthosoma; spiracles and trachae present
among free-living forms, parasites often respire through very
thin cuticles; one to four pairs of coxal glands in malpighian
tubes for excretion or both.

Suborder: Mesostigmata--A single pair of stigmata lateral to the legs
that are usually associated with an elongated peritreme;
hypostome not.developed for piercing.

Supercohort: Monogynaspida—Females with a primary genital cover usually
well-developed and functional bearing a pair of genital setae;
chelicerae without filamentous excrescences on movable digit;
corniculi usually arising from anterior or antero-lateral margin

of hypostome and projecting forward.

17

Cohort: Gamasina—-Fema1es epigynal (genital) plate well—developed or
reduced, with one pair of genital setae; male chelicerae with
or without spermatodactyl; male genital aperture within sternal
plate or at anterior margin.

Superfamily: Parasitoidea--Coxae cylindrical and widely removed from
each other so that the tritosternum is clearly visible;
gnathosoma terminal in position so that it is clearly visible ‘

when viewed from above; dorsal shield with one or two shields

and ventral surface with a large number of distinct, separate
plates in the female; the stigmata open on the sides between
Coxae III and IV.
Family: B1attisocidae--Two tined claw on the palpal tarsus; dorsal
shield entire with more than twenty-three pairs of setae;
female with ventri-anal shield in most species.
(The characteristics of the subfamilies are found in the key to the
selected females of the fungi found in part #3 of this section.)
In the discussion above this investigator found no legal justifi-
cation in the rules of zoological Nomenclature for including the higher
categories, supercohort or cohort. However, there is a natural separation
between the two large supercohorts, Monogynaspida and Trigynaspida based
primarily on the number of genital plates in the female but other
characteristics as well. There is also a natural distinction between
the cohorts, Uropodina, Liroaspina, and Gamasina. It seems, therefore,
unsatisfactory to ignore these natural distinctions even if it means
adding higher categories that are not legally recognized by the rules of

nomenclature.

 

18

Morphology of the Blattisocidae

In terrestrial Parasitoidea, the female is used in the identi-
fication of families, genera, and species because it is the most abun-
dant of the sexes, males often being unknown. The degree of sclerotize-
tion of the various ventral plates found in the right half of Figure 2
is significant in the identification of the three taxonomic categories
mentioned above. The dorsal chaetotaxy also plays an important role in
the group's systematics, as well as the characteristics of the gnathosoma.
The right half of Figure 2 represents the ventral surface of a Para-
sitoid mite with all parts labeled and the left half of Figure 2 repre-
sents the dorsum of "typical" blattisocid mite with the posterodorsal
setae used in the systematics properly labeled. The left half of
Figure 3 shows the gnathosoma of a mite of the subfamily Blattisocinae
and the right half of the same figure the gnathosoma of one of the sub—
family Platyseiinae. Figure 4 represents a lateral view of.a blattisocid;
Figure 5, a leg of a blattisocine mite, and Figure 6, leg II of a
platyseiine mite.

Numerous variations are found among the species of blattisocids
from the "typical" parasitoid mite of Figure 2. The area posterior to
the gnathosoma is probably the most variable although the subfamilial
classification is based on gnathosomal setal characteristics (See

Figure 3). The genus Proctolaelaps differs from Lasioseius by the

 

absence of a ventral plate and a large anal opening. Lasioseius~
muricatus is the only blattisocine mite this investigator found that
has a large pair of jugular plates upon which rest the first pair of

sternal setae. Another difference that exists between species of

 

 

19

Fig. 2.--Left half—-Dorsal view of a "typical" Blattisocid mite
showing the labeling of the setae in the posterior half of the dorsal
shield (after Evans, 1957). Right half--Ventral view of a "typical"
Parasitoid mite showing plates as follows (after Wharton and Baker,
1959):

Tritosternum
Praeendopodal plate
Jugalar plate
Exopodal plate
Endopodal plate
Peritrematal plate
Sternal shield
Metasternal shield
Metapodal plate
10. Genital plate

11. Ventri-anal shield
12. Anal opening

\OQNOUIL‘UJNH

20

Must“

 

 

 

 

 

Fig. 2.--(Left half)--Dorsa1 surface of a Blattisocine mite.
(Itight half)--Ventral surface of a Parasitoid mite.

 

 

 

21

 

Fig. 3.-—(Left half) Gnathosomal area of Blattisocine mite.
(Right half) Gnathosomal area of Platyseiine mite.
l. The palpal trochanter showing long setae.
2. Internal rostral seta long compared to the internal rostrae
of Blattisocine mites. ;

 

Gnathos;
Fig. 4.--Latera1 view of a Blattisocid mite. the. q
l. Tritosternum meaof.
2. Exopodal plate
3. Genital plate
4. Metapodal plate
5. Ventri-anal plate
6. Peritrematal plate
7. Dorsal shield
Fig. 5.--Leg of a Blattisocine mite.
la. Tarsal claw apparatus with pad-like pulvillus and two claws
flanking the pulvillus.
Fig. 6. Leg II of a Platyseiine mite.
l. Triradiate pulvillus spread out around the tarsal claws.
2. Long recurved setae on the tibia which is not present in a
leg of the Blattisocinae.
c
Q

Blatti

 

SUEQ

aodm

3W5 o
Ema

 

Fig. 3.--(Left half)
Gnathosomal area of Blattisocine
nflte. (Right half) Gnathosomal
area of Platyseiine mite.

Fig. 5.--Leg of a
Blattisocine mite.

22

’f/3

’4‘
,./.5

 

’

 

Fig. 4.—-Lateral view of
a Blattisocid mite.

m—----—-- I

\

 

Fig. 6.—-Leg II of a
Platyseiine mite.

23

Lasioseius is the size and number of the metapodal plates. The number

 

of preanal setae among the species of Lasioseius this investigation

 

recorded may be four or six. The size and shape of the sternal plate
and its degree of sclerotization is another specific variation, as well
as the degree of sclerotization of the endopodal plates.

0n the dorsal surface Proctolaelaps differs from Lasioseius by

 

 

having more than 15 pairs of setae on the "posterodoral shield." This
is so because the marginals of the posterodorsal region are found on

the dorsal shield in Proctolaelaps but are on the interscutal membrane

 

in Lasioseius. The "anterodorsal" shield of blattisocines shows varia-

 

tions ranging from eight to twenty-three pairs of setae. This wide
‘variation in numbers of setal pairs plus the gnathosomal characters,
‘ventral plate variations, and by other characters that are specific
in nature.

The genus Zerconopsis belongs to the subfamily Platyseiinae

 

(the-characteristics of the subfamily, genus and species will appear

111 the key in the next section).

Key to the Adult Females of the Blattisocidae
of Selected Fungi

The following key is adapted from Evans (1957, 1958), Evans and .

Hyatt (1960), Hughes (1961) and Chant (1963).

 

 

 

 

 

 

24

1. Rostral setae and internal setae on palptrochanter long, whip—
like (Figure 3) tarsi II and III, and often IV provided with a
pair of long lanceolate setae usually incurved distally (Figure 6);
para-anal setae situated in line with the posterior margin of
the anus; peritrematal shield may extend beyond the posterior
margin of coxae IV and the peritreme may be developed posterior
to the stigma; median lobe of pulvillus of legs II-IV often
lanceolate (Figure 6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Platyseiinae
A. Dorsal shield with three pairs of paddle-like setae;

genital shield narrow, without setae; with two pairs

of metapodal plates . . . . . . . . . . . Zerconopsis michaeli

 

l. Rostral setae and internal setae on palptrochanter never long
and whip-like (Figure 3); tarsi II-IV without specialized
setae; peritreme and peritremal shield normal; para-anal setae
normal in position; pulvillus never lanceolate (Figure 5)

Blattisocinae . . 2

2. Marginal (M) series of setae on lateral margin of posterior
region of dorsal shield; posterodorsal area with 20 pairs of
setae; and plate only with enlarged opening (Figures 7 and 8)

. Proctolaelaps pygmaeus

 

2. Marginal (M) series of setae on lateral interscutal membrane
(see Figure 2); posterior region with never more than 15 pairs
0f ,setae; ventri-anal shield present in most forms without

ernlarged anal opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lasioseius . . 3

 

25
Ventri-anal shield with four pairs of pre-anal setae; four
pairs of accessory plates on margin of dorsal shield

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lasioseius meridionalis

 

Ventri-anal shield with six pairs of preanal setae; without

dorsal, marginal accessory plates . - . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Dorsal shield with 36 or more pairs of dorsal setae . . . . . . 5

Dorsal shield with only 33 pairs of dorsal setae . . . . . . . . 7

Legs II and III with large, thick spurs. . . Lasioseius drosophili

 

Legs II and III without spurs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

First pair of sternal setae on strongly sclerotized jugular

plates; with 38 pairs of dorsal setae . . . . Lasioseius muricatus

 

First pair of sternal setae on sternal shield; 36 pairs of

dorsal setae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lasioseius_penicilliger.

 

One pair of large, triangular, metapodal plates;

posterior Z and S setae not lanceolate . . . . Lasioseius confusus

 

Two pairs of small metapodal plates; posterior Z and

S setae lanceolate . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lasioseius lanciolatus

Plate and Plate Descriptions

The following plates and descriptions are taken and modified from

Evans (1958), Evans and Hyatt (1960) and Chant (1963).

 

 

26

Proctolaelaps pygmaeus (Mfiller)
(Figures 7 and 8)

 

Gamasus pygmaeus Mfiller, J. 1859

Holostaspis pygmaea Mfiller, J. 1860

 

,Hypoaspis hypudaei Oudemans, A. C. 1902

Hypoaspis pygmaeus (Mfiller), Oudemans, A. C. 1914

 

Lasioseius innumerabilis Berbese, A. 1918

 

Typhlodromus bulbicolus Oudemans, A. C. 1929

 

Haemolaelaps pygmaeus (Mfiller), Wolf, B. 1934-1938

 

 

Thinozercon pygmaeus Mfiller, Buitendijk, A. M. 1945
Garmania bulbicola (Oudemans), Nesbitt, H. H. J. 1951

Lasioseius alpiners Schweizer, J. 1949

 

Lasioseius ventritrichosis Schweizer, J. 1949

 

Garmania hypudaei (Oudemans), Evans, G. O. 1954

 

Jordensia hypudaei (Oudemans), Evans, G. O. 1957

 

Garmania pygmaeus (Mull.), Samsinak, K. 1960

Proctolaelaps (P) pygmaeus (Muller), Athias-Henriot, C. 1961

 

Dorsal shield with 43 pairs of simple setae, 20 on the posterior
region (see Figure 7). Setae fairly long, those of the J series
slightly longer than distances between their bases. The ventral sur-
face is normal for the genus except that the anus is very large, and
the peritrematal plates are not found posteriorly with the exapodal
plates (Figure 8). Corniculi sinous, unbranched. First pair of
rostral setae stout, spine-like. Fixed digit of chelicerae multi-
dentate. Five marginal setae on the dorsal shield and not on the

interscutal membrane as in Blattisocius sp,

 

27

ea of

>413
VI, \
‘xi,
Q3

\

 

.
\O\\ .M
\\\\9\t\\\ \\ m
.\ \ \o\ um.
}\\\ a
\\\ll: D
0/ all 0/0/0/ 7E
I .a
/'II F.“
m
P

 

.1 1m
0 s l c. 0 f t
p e a 8 Dr 0 1 I

 

 

1' 'AOVKY'W_ 351m

28

Zerconopsis michaeli Evans and Hyatt
(Figures 9 and 10)

 

Dorsal shield with a heavy distinct pattern of depressions;
lateral margins irregular, posterior margin crenate (see Figure 9).
”Anterodorsal" shield with nineteen pairs of setae of which one is
paddle-like, the remainder simple (see Figure 9). "Posterodorsal"
shield with fourteen pairs of setae, two of which are paddle-like,
the others simple. Sternal shield plain bearing three pairs of simple
setae (see Figure 10). Genital shield narrow, setae just off the
shield. Ventri-anal shield with a pattern of reticulations and dots,
and bearing eleven setae of which the post anal is long and stout.
There are two pair of plates between the genital and ventri-anal
shields. Venter of gnathosoma with rostral and palptrochanter long
and whip-like. All setae on pedipalp simple.

Locality: Evans and Hyatt (1960) reported a single female from
England and this author reported also a single female from Polyporus

adustus in sample #19 in Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.

fiszb
tm

1nd fio:s

mfl

calm

Fig. 9.--Dorsal area of
Z erconops is mi chaeli .

29

 

Fig. 10.——Ventral view of
Zerconopsis michaeli.

 

 

 

 

 

m“ ‘-—

30

Lasioseius muricatus (C. L. Koch)
(Figures 11 and 12)

 

Sejus muricatus Koch, C. L. (1839)

 

Laelaps ligoniformis Michael, A. D. (1892)

Ameroseius pseudocometa Schweizer, J. (1922)

 

Aceosejus muricatus, Sellnick, M. (1941)

 

A large strongly sclerotized species. Dorsal shield reticulated
and punctured with thirty-eight pairs of setae (see Figure 11). "Antero-
dorsal" shield with twenty-three pairs of setae. Setae of rows 2 and
S on the "posterodorsal" shield spinose and situated on tubercles.

Angular plates large and heavily scletptized. Sternal shield
punctured and two pairs of simple setae. Metasternals free and bearing
a pair of simple setae. Genital plate wedge-shaped and with a pair of
simple setae. Four platelets between genital and large ventri-anal
shield. The latter with six pairs of pre-anal setae. Peritrematal
shield large, fused with the exopodal shield in the region of coxae IV.
Endopodal shields well developed in the region of coxae III and IV.

Distribution: Evans (1958) reported these from Polyporus sp.
in Germany, Switzerland, and the British Isles. This author found
them in numerous Polyporaceae throughout the counties collected from

in the state of Michigan.

:ulatec'
"Antes
Z and
as.
hield
l beatitg
1 pair of
t-anal

'ematal

E coxae 1‘5-

and IV-
tresp-
r found

cred W

 

31

 

Fig. ll.——Dorsa1 area of Fig. 12.-—Ventra1 area of
Lasioseius muricatus. Lasioseius muricatus.

 

 

 

 

 

- fry-Eta...» _ ~

 

 

32

Lasioseius penicilliger Berlese
(Figures 13 and 14)

 

Lasioseius (Zercoseius) penicilliger Berlese, A. (1916)
Dorsal shield strongly sclerotized, reticulate-scabrid and

bearing thirty-six pairs of serrated setae of which those in the

posterior third of the shield tend to be lanceolate (Figure 13). Setae

Z5 very long up to 65p in some specimens. With two pairs of marginal
setae on the membrane lateral to the "Anterodorsal" shield. Pre-
endopodal plates weakly sclerotized. Sternal shield has a slightly
concave posterior margin and bears three pairs of setae. Fourth pair
of setae on metasternal plates. Ventri—anal shield with six pairs of
pre-anal setae. Two pairs of metapodal plates.

Distribution: Evans (1958) reports this species from Glasgow,
Scotland and this investigator found two specimens, both from

Marquette County, Michigan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

33

 

Fig. 14.--Ventral view

of Lasioseius penicilliger.

 

 

 

 

 

 

34

Lasioseius confusus Evans (1958)
(Figures 15 and 16)

 

Dorsal shield lightly reticulated, with 33 pairs of simple
setae, 15 on the posterior region (Figure 15). Shield lightly
punctate near posterior margin. Posterior setae strong, spine-like.

Marginal setae on interscutal membrane, 2 pairs on anterior area and

6 pairs on posterior area. Sternal shield well sclerotized, sculptured,

punctate, and with three pairs of setae. Fourth pair on metasternal
plates. Genital shield sculptured with genital setae. Six pairs of
preanal setae. Two pairs of small plates between genital and ventri-
anal shield. Two pairs of setae on membrane surrounding ventri-anal
shield. One pair of large triangular metapodal plates.

Distribution: Evans (1958) reported specimens from Cornwall

England and also in Wales. Chant (1963) reported specimens collected

in soil from Roane County, Tennessee and from soil in Manitoba, Canada.

This investigator found single specimens from Fomes applanatus in

 

Marquette Co. and Polyporus tulipiferae in Clinton Co., Michigan.

 

 

‘——_-.‘__ _____‘__

 

 

 

 

>f simle
ightly
spine-132.
ior are: ::
zed, sculg:
. metasteza'
Six pairs :5
*1 and var:

r, vents-E;

tom Cour;
mans collar;
lanitoba, £5

>1anatus l:
—___.——

, Michigan.

Fig. 15.-—Dorsa1 area
of Lasioseius confusus.

 

 

Fig. l6.-—Ventra1 area
of Lasioseius confusus.

 

 

 

 

r. “.1mm-r —

36

Lasioseius lanciolatus Chant (1963)
(Figures 17 and 18)

Dorsal shield as in L, confusus except that the posterior Z and
S setae are lanceolate (Figure 17). Pre-endopodal plates weakly
sclerotized. Sternal shield densely punctate, with three pairs of
setae. Fourth pair of sternal setae on metasternal plates. Endo-
podal plates conspicous in the region of coxae III and IV. Genital
shield narrow with genital setae. Two pairs of small, elongate plates
between genital and ventri-anal shield. Six pairs of preanal setae.
Two pairs of metapodal plates. .

Distribution: Chant (1963) reported specimens collected from
a greenhouse in Davis, California, on barley at Corvallis, Oregon and
from poplar at Alvarado, California. This investigator has two

specimens found along with L, confusus in Marquette and Clinton

Counties, Michigan.

 

 

37

   

Fig. l7.--Dorsal area Fig. 18.--Ventral view
of Lasioseius lanciolatus. of Lasioseius lanciolatus.

 

 

38

Lasioseius drosophili Chant (1963)
(Figures 19, 20, and 21a and b)

Dorsal shield lightly reticulate, with 36 pairs of setae, 21
pairs on the "anterodorsal” shield (Figure 19). A11 setae on anterior
region short. Most setae on posterior region short, those along
posterior margin longer. Pre-endopodal plates poorly developed.
Sternal shield lightly reticulate having three pairs of setae, fourth
pair on minute metasternal plates. Endopodal plates well developed in
region of Coxae III and IV. Two pairs of elongate plates between
genital and ventri-anal shields. Ventri-anal shield with six pairs of
pre-anal setae. Two pairs of metapodal plates, one pair much larger
than the other. Legs I and IV normal, without macrosetae. Legs II
and III swollen basally, with a number of strong spurs on femur, genu
and tarsus (Figure 21).

Distribution: Chant (1963) reported that the holotype and two
other females were collected in 1934 on Drosthila gp, at College Park,
Maryland. This investigator found this species in sample #152 from

Clinton Co. and #161 from Ogemaw Co. in Michigan and there were larvae

of Drosophila sp, in both samples.

 

 

 

 

39

 

 

’1 / \ N ~
1

/ l/m \\ \

I «I \

/
/ 7 l ‘ Fig. 21a.--
/’ I l ‘ Egdgsgjihin.

1

 

 

Fig. 21b.--
Leg III of
Fig. l9.--Dorsal Fig. 20.--Ventral L, drosophili.
area of Lasioseius area of Lasioseius
drosgphili. drosophili.

 

 

 

 

 

..v.. x r, v .
- v.-m,-..\£«—-- ? Q;

 

 

"TI

L}! 1'!!!"

   

 

40

Lasioseius meridionalis Chant (1963)
(Figures 22 and 23)

Dorsal shield slightly sculptured, and with 36 pairs of setae,
(Figure 22) 21 on anterior region. Four pairs accessory plates on
margin of dorsal shield, two in the anterior region. All setae
slightly thickened, Z5 serrated. Eight pairs of setae on interscutal
membrane, two pairs in the anterior region. Sternal shield smooth
with three pairs of setae, fourth pair on metasternal plates. Endo-
podal plates evident in the region of coxae III and IV. Two pairs of
elongate platelets between genital and ventri-anal shields (these are
sometimes fused to form a continous strip). Ventri-anal shield
triangular with four pairs of pre-anal setae. A11 setae on tarsus
IV longer than normal.

Distribution: Chant (1963) reported collections from Coral
Gables, Florida and also from "bulb roots" and orchid plants from

Mexico. Of all the Blattisocids collected from the fungi these were

.‘_~_.i.

exceeded in number and places found only by Lasioseius muricatus in

this study.

 

 

 

41

 

Fig. 22.--Dorsal area Fig. 23.--Ventral area
of Lasioseius meridionalis. of Lasioseius meridionalis.

 

 

 

42

A Check List of_the Arthropod Groups Including Mites
Other Than Blattisocids that Inhabit Polyporaceae_

The following arthropods were classified using Wharton and Baker
(1952), Borror and DeLong (1937), Baker gt_§L, (1958), Peterson (1960)
and Eddy (1965).

Phylum ArthrOpoda
Subphylum Mandibulata I
Class Hexapoda fl

Order Collembola

 

Families I
Poduridae
Entomobryidae
Sminthuridae

Order ThysanOptera

Families
Merothripidae
Phloethripidae
Thripidae

Order Coleoptera

Families
Mycetophagidae
Ptilidae
Tenelerionidae.

Diaperis sp.
Boletherus cornutus

Cisidae

Erotylidae

43
Staphylinidae

Elateridae
Order Diptera
Families
Mycetophilidae
Cecidomyidae
Drosophilidae

Drosophila sp.

 

Sciaridae
Phoridae
Fungivoridae
Platypezidae
Otitidae
Order Hymenoptera
Families
Formicidae
Braconidae
Class Chilopoda
Order Lithobiomorpha
Family
Lithobidae

Lithobius gp,

 

Order Geophilomorpha
Family
Geophilidae

Geophilus sp.

‘W‘n‘; as Annual"

 

44

Class Diplopoda
Order Chilognath
Family
Julidae
Parajulus 3p,
Class Eucrustacea
Order Isopoda
Subphylum Chelicerata
Class Arachnida
Order,Acarina
Suborder Mesostigmata
Superfamily Parasitoidea
Families
Parasitidae

Parasitus eugamasus

 

Veigaiaidae
Neoparasitidae
Digamasellidae
Digamasellus 8p.
Laelaptidae
Podicinidae
SuperfamilyLZerconoidea
Family

Zerconidae

Suborder Trombidiformes

Superfamily Chelytoidea

:rrq-Iur
Ii

45
Family
Chelytidae
Superfamily Erythraeoidea
Family
Erythraeidae
Superfamily Trombidioidea
Family
Trombiculidae
Superfamily Eupodoidea
Families
Eupodidae
Rhagidiidae
Superfamily Bdelloidea
Family
Bdellidae
Suborder Sarcoptiformes
Supercohort Oribatei
Superfamily Phthiracaroidea
Family
Phthiracaridae
Superfamily Belbidoidea
Families
Belbidae.
Licaridae

Superfamily Pelopoidea

 

 

Family

Galumnidae
Superfamily Camisoidea

Family

 

Camasidae

 

 

 

DATA

The arthropods and fungi collected were identified using
Comstock (1950), Wharton and Baker (1952), Alexopoulous (1952),

Overholts (1953), Borror and DeLong (1957), Baker gt EL. (1958), Evans

3

(1958), Peterson (1960), Chant (1963), and Eddy (1965).

T- ‘1 mine-o n... I.
I
I

In the following data tables one will find that the samples are
not all in chronological order. This occurred as a result of a back
log of samples and they were recorded as they were treated in the
Berlese funnels. Also, there are numbers missing. Three factors were
responsible namely (1) The samples were examined and nothing of signifi-
cance to this work was found; (2) to avoid number duplication this in-
vestigator often skipped a block of numbers when samples were stored
and others were being collected and (3) some of the samples were
suspected to be contaminated from insects flying into the collecting

jar and these were therefore discarded.

47

1960

48

 

 

 

 

Name of Fungus Locality Date
Sample #1 Fomes spplanatus Ingham Co. May 6
Baker Wood Lot

Collector: C. S. Scarborough MSU Campus
Acarina Hexapoda

Mesostigmata Coleoptera

Digamasellidae Tenebrionidae (adults
Trombiculiformes and larvae)

Chelytidae Rhagidiidae

Staphylinidae (adults)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Diptera
Galumnidae Cecidomyidae
Belbidae Collembola 31
Entomobryidae it
i 4
Sample #2 Fomes applanatus Ingham Co. May 6 5
Baker Wood Lot E“
Collector: C.S.S. MSU Campusv
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Coleoptera
Blattisocidae Tenebrionidae
Lasiosieus muricatus Diaperis _p, (3 adults)
Digamasellidae Boletherus cornutus
Digamasellus _p, (2 adults)
Trombiculiformes Mycetophagidae (adults only)
Chelytidae Collembola
Rhagidiidae Poduridae
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Chilopoda
Belbidae Geophilus gp,
Sample #3 Polyporus conchifer Kalamazoo Co. June 30
Gull Lake
Collector: C.S.S. Biological Station
Acarina
Mesostigmata Hexapoda
Blattisocidae Collembola
Lasioseius muricatus Entomobryidae
Parasitidae- Poduridae
Digamasellidae Hemiptera
Digamasellus _p, Aradidae
Vegaiaidae Coleoptera
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Staphylindae (adults)
Belbidae Cisidae (adults)
Trombiculiformes Silphidae (adults)
Chelytidae Hymenoptera

Formicidae

 

 

 

 

 

 

49

 

 

1960 Name of Fungus Locality Date
Sample #4 Polyporus _p, Kalamazoo Co. June 30

Collector: C.S.S.

Gull Lake
Biological Station

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acarina
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Hexapoda
Belbidae Collembola
Sminthuridae
Coleoptera
Tenebrionidae
Diaperis sp. (adults)
Boletherus cornutus (adults)
Sample #5 Polypprus adustus Kalamazoo Co. July 7
Collector: C.S.S. TIS:R9W:58
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Collembola
Blatisocidal Entomobryidae
Lasioseius muricatus Poduridae
Digamasellidae Thysanoptera
Parasitidae Phloethripidae
Podocinidae- Hemiptera
Trombiculiformes Aradidae
Chelytidae Coleoptera
Eupodidae Tenebrionidae
Diptera
Fungivoridae
Sample #6 Polyporus adustus Kalamazoo Co. July 7
Collector: C.S.S. TlS:R9W:S8
Acarina Hexapoda.
Mesostigmata Collembola
Digamasellidae, Entomobryidae
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Sminthuridae
Belbidae Hemiptera
Aradidae
Chilopoda Thysanoptera
Lithobius sp. Phloethripidae
Diptera

 

Platypezidae

TWEWL.»
I. '

50

 

 

1960 Name of Fungus Locality Date
Sample #7 Polyporus_gp. Kalamazoo Co. July 9

Collector: C.S.S.

Augusta Creek
Kellogg Forest

 

Acarina
Mesostigmata
Blattisocidae
Lasioseius meridionalis
Digamasellidae-

Digamasellus _p,

Hexapoda

Collembola
Sminthuridae

Coleoptera
Staphylinidae (adult)
Cisidae (adults)
Tenebrionidae (adults)

Boletherus cornutus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Diptera
Belbidae Cecidomyidae (larvae)
Galumnidae Hymenoptera
Braconidae
Sample #8 Polyporus radiatus‘ Wintergreen Lake July 9
Kellogg Bird
Collector: C.S.S. Sanctuary
Acarina Hexapoda
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Coleoptera
Belbidae Staphylinidae (adults)
Golumnidae Hymenoptera
Formicidae (workers)
Sample #9 Polyporus radiatus Otis Lake Bog July 9
Barry Co.
T3N:R9W:S3
Acarina Hexapoda
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Coleoptera
Belbidae Tenebrionidae (adults)

 

I'D—E47

 

51

 

 

 

 

1960 Name of Fungus Locality Date
Sample #10 Polyporus radiatus Otis Lake Bog July 9
Barry Co.
Collector: C.S.S. T3N:R9W:S3
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Collembola
Blattisocidae Entomobryidae
Lasioseius muricatus Poduridae
Digamasellidae Thysanoptera
Digamasellus sp. Thripidae
Trombiculiformes Coleoptera
Erythraeidae Mycetophagidae
Trombiculidae Staphylinidae
Bdellidae Hymenoptera
Eupodidae Braconidae
Diptera
Platypezidae
Sample #11 Polyporus versidolor Hastings Fish July 13
Ponds
Collector: C.S.S. Barry Co.
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Collembola
Blattisocidae Entomobryidae
Lasioseius muricatus Poduridae
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Coleoptera

 

 

Belbidae Tenebrionidae (adults)

Sample #12 Polyporus fibrillosus Allegan Co. July 20
Swan Creek
Collector: C.S.S. T2N:R14W:Sl8
Acarina Hexapoda
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Coleoptera
Belbidae Tenebrionidae (adults)
Galumnidae. Staphylinidae (adults)

Cisidae (adults)
Hymenoptera
Formicidae (workers)

 

52

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1960 Name of Fungus Locality Date
Sample #13 Polyporus betulinus Allegan Co. July 20
Swan Creek
Collector: C.S.S. T2N:R14W:S9
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata. Collembola
Blattisocidae Entomobryidae
Lasioseius muricatus Poduridae
Digamasellidae Thysanoptera
Digamasellus Phloethripidae
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Coleoptera
Belbidae Tenebrionidae (adults)
Sample #14 Polyporus volvatus Pine Point July 20
Allegan Co.
Collector: C.S.S. T2N:R13W:Sl9
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Coleoptera
Digamasellidae Tenebrionidae
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Cisidae
Belbidae
Samples #16-18 Polyporus versicolor Swan Creek July 20
Allegan Co.
Collector: C.S.S. T2N:R14W:SB
Acarina Hexapoda
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) (none present)
Belbidae
Pthiracaridae
Sample #19 Polyporus adustus Agusta Creek July 23

 

Collector: C.S.S.

Kellogg Forest
Kalamazoo Co.

 

Acarina
Mesostigmata
Blattisocidae
Zerconopsis michaeli
Digamasellidae
LLgamasellus sp.

 

 

Hexapoda
Hymenoptera
Formicidae

 

1r innumjanm. 1.3. a
I
I

 

1960 Name of Fungus

r

Sample #24

-—
‘

 

53

Locality Date

 

 

Polyporus adustus

 

Kalamazoo Co. July 29

 

 

Collector: C.S.S. TlS:R9W:S8
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Collembola
Blattisocidae Entomobryidae
Lasioseius muricatus Poduridae
Digamasellidae Thysanoptera
Digamasellus sp. Thripidae
Trombiculiformes Phloethripidae
Chelytidae Hemiptera
Aradidae
Coleoptera

Staphylinidae (adults)

 

 

 

 

 

Sample #25 Polyporus adustus Kalamazoo Co. July 29
Collector: C.S.S. TlS:R9W:SS
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Collembola
Parasitidae Poduridae.
Trombiculiformes Thysanoptera
Rhagidiidae Merothripidae
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Coleoptera
Eupodidae Tenebrionidae (adults)
Diptera
Platypezidae
Sample #26 Polyporus gLLvus Kalamazoo Co. August 4

Gull Lake Biol.

 

 

Collector: C.S.S. Station
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Collanbola
Blattisocidae Poduridae
Lasioseius meridionalis Thysanoptera
Digamasellidae Phloethripidae
Sarcoptiformes (Oribitei) Diptera
Belbidae Fungivoridae
Licaridae. Colloptera
Camasidae Mycetophagidae (adults)

 

I

It: rem-“~73 7““- -

54

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1960 Name of Fungus Locality Date
Sample #31 Polyporus radiatus Kalamazoo Co. August 9
Gull Lake Biol.
Collector: C.S.S. Station
Old Married Housing
Acarina Hexapoda
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Absent
Belbidae
Galumnidae
Sample #35 Fomes fomentarius Mackinaw Co. Sept. 15
Hog Island Point
Collector: T. W. Porter Park
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Collembola
Digamasellidae Poduridae
Digamasellus gp, Coleoptera
Podocinidae Elateridae
Trombiculiformes
Bdellidae
Eupodidae
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei)
Galumnidae
Sample #37 Fomes applanatus Mackinaw Co. Sept. 15
Hog Island Point
Collector: T.W.P. Park
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Collembola
Blattisocidae Poduridae
Lasioseius muricatas ColeOptera
Lasioseius meridionalis Staphlinidae
Digamasellidae Erotylidae
Parasitidae Elateridae
Neoparasitidae
Sample #38 Polyporus semispinus Deer Lake Park Sept. 9
Collector: T.W.P. Alge Co.
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Collembola
Digameselbidae Entomobryidae
Trombiculiformes Hemiptera
Rhagidiidae Aradidae

 

u-

. _.—-

tr. e

 

 

 

an»

 

 

 

{/7

rn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1960 Name of Fungus Locality Date
Sample #40 Fomes officianalis Deer Lake Park Sept. 9
Collector: T.W.P. Alge Co.
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Coleoptera
Digamasellidae Tenebrionidae (adults)
Parasitidae Boletherus cornutus
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Cisidae
Belbidae Diptera
Mycetophilidae
1
Sample #41 PoLylporus tsugae Rush Lake Sept. 9 raj
Huron Mts. ‘
Collector: T.W.P. Marquette Co.
Acarina Hexapoda ””
Mesostigmata Collembola
Digamasillidae Entomobrijidae
Digamasellus sp. Poduridae
Blattisocidae Coleoptera

Lasioseius muricatus
Lasioseius meridionalis

 

 

Tenbrionidae (adults)
Boletherus cornutus

 

 

 

 

Neoparasitidae Staphylinidae
Sarcoptiformes Diptera
Belbidae Otitidae
Galumnidae
Sample #43 Fomes fomentarius Rush Lake Sept. 9
Huron Mts.
Collector: T.W.P. Marquette Co.
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Coleoptera
Lasioseius muricatus Tenbrionidae

 

Lasioseius_pencilliger
Lasioseius meridionalis
Trombiculiformes
Chelytidae Rhagidiidae
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei)
Phthiracaridae

 

 

(adults and larvae)

 

Sample #44 Polyporus tsugae

Rush Lake
Huron Mts.

Sept. 9

 

Collector: T.W.P. Marquette Co.
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesotigmata Thysanoptera
Blattisocidae Phloethripidae
Lasioseius muricatus Diptera

 

Lasioseius meridionalis
Zerconidae

 

Cecidomyidae (larvae)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

56
1960 Name of Fungus Locality Date
Sample #45 Polyporus tsuggg Howe Lake Sept. 14
Huron Mts.
Collector: T.W.P. Marquette Co.
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Collembola
Blattisocidae Poduridae
Lasioseius muricatus Coleoptera
Digamasellidae Cisidae.
Digamasellus _p, Diptera,
Cecidomyidae A
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) m-fl
Belbidae ‘
Sample #46 Polyporus tulipiferae Deer Lake Park Sept. 15 j
Collector: T.W.P. Alge Co. “-
Acarina
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Hexapoda
Belbidae Collembola
Galumnidae Poduridae
Thysanoptera
Merothripidae
Coleoptera
Tenebrionidae (adults
and larvae)
Sample #49 Fomes iggarius Purdy Bog Sept. 27
Collector: T.W.P. Barry Co.
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Coleoptera
Blattisocidae Tenebrionidae (adults)
Lasioseius muricatus Boletherus cornutus
Digamasellidae Silphidae (adults)
Neoparasitidae
Trombiculiformes
Chelytidae

Bdellidae

 

om-rnrv.w ~;.- ---~- '
, .- ..-_ ._ . . k‘k

 

 

 

 

 

‘ “r l _ i ‘ 7‘-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1960 Name of Fungus Locality Date
Sample #50 Fomes applanatus Ingham Co. Oct. 24
Sanford WOod Lot
Collector: C. S. Scarborough MSU Campus
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Coleoptera
Neoparasitidae Tenebrionidae
Digamesellidae Boletherus cornutus
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Carabidae
Belbidae Cisidae
Camasidae Collembola
Chilopoda Entomobryidae
Lithobius gp,
Sample #53 Polyporus pubescens Howe Lake Sept. 14
Huron Mts.
Collector: T. W. Porter Marquette Co.
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata ThysanOptera
Blattisocidae Phloethripidae
Lasioseius muricatus
Lasioseius meridionalis
Lasioseius_p§nicilligg£
Digamasellidae
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei)
Galumnidae
Sample #54 Polyporus tsuggg Howe Lake Sept. 14
Huron Mts.
Collector: T.W.P. Marquette Co.
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Thysanoptera
Blattisocidae Phlothripidae
Lasioseius muricatus Coleoptera
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Staphylinidae (adults)
Galumnidae Diptera

Sciaridae (larvae)

 

 

 

 

Sample #68 Polyporus tsuggg Huron Mts. Sept. 12
Collector: T.W.P. T52N:R29W:SlS
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Coleoptera
Blattisocidae Ptilidae
Lasioseius muricatus
Digamasellidae

Digamasellus sp.

 

 

 

Jaw"

 

 

 

58

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1960 Name of Fungus Locality Date
Sample #70 Polyporus versicolor Huron Mts. Sept. 12
Collector: T.W.P. T52N:R29W:815
Acarina
Mesostigmata Hexapoda
Blattisocidae Coleoptera
Lasioseius meridionalis Cisidae
Digamasellidae
Zerconidae
Sample #72 Polyporus versicolor Garden Lake Nov. 20
Collector: T.W.P. Delta Co.
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Thysanoptera
Digamasellidae Phloethripidae
Trombiculiformes Coleoptera
Chelytidae Staphylinidae
Bdellidae
Eupodidae
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei)
Galumnidae
Belbidae
Sample #73 Fomes annosus Garden Lake Nov. 20
Collector: T.W.P. Delta Co.
Acarina Hexapoda
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Coleoptera
Galumnidae Ptilidae
Hymenoptera
Braconidae
Sample #74 Polyporus betulinus Delta Co. Nov. 19
Collector: T.W.P. T39N:R18W:SZ
No visible arthropods of any kind.
Sample #76 Daedola confragosa Howe Lake Sept. 14
Huron Mts.

Collector: T.W.P.

Marquette Co.

 

Acarina
Mesostigmata
Blattisocidae
Lasioseius meridionalis
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei)
Phthiracaridae

Hexapoda
Thysanoptera
Phloethripidae
Coleoptera
Silphidae

 

1960 Name of Fungus

 

Locality Date

 

 

Sample #77

Polyporus semispinus

 

Collector: T.W.P.

Howe Lake Sept. 25
Huron Mts.
Marquette Co.

 

Acarina
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei)
Galumnidae

Hexapoda
Coleoptera
Cisidae (adults)
Elateridae (larvae)

 

 

 

 

 

Sample #79 Polyporus adustus Gratiot-Saginaw Sept. 25
Game Area
Collector: T.W.P. TION:RIE:S9
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Thysanoptera
Blattisocidae Phlotthripidae
Lasioseius muricatus Coleoptera
Zerconidae Cisidae
Trombiculiformes
Chelytidae
Rhagidiidae
Sample #86 Fomes applanatus Howe Lake Sept. 15

 

Collector: T.W.P.

Huron Mts.
Marquette Co.

 

Acarina
Mesostigmata
Blattisocidae
Lasioseius lanciolatus
Lasioseius confusus
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei)
Belbidae
Galumnidae

 

 

Hexapoda
Collembola
Poduridae
Diptera
Platypezidae

 

Samples #87-111 were collected between Nov. 19, 1960 and Feb. 28, 1961
and while the Hexapoda and the Oribatei were adequately represented,
no Mesostigmata were found in these samples.

 

 

\
%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

60
1961 Name of Fungus Locality Date
Sample #112 Fomes applanatus Rose Lake May 1
Collector: T.W.P. Clinton Co.
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Collembola
Blattisocidae Sminthuridae
Lasioseius muricatus Coleoptera
Digamasellidae Tenebrionidae
Parasitidae Boletherus cornutus
Tromibiculiformes Chilopoda
Chelytidae Geophilus sp.
Bdellidae rrJ
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) 1
Galumnidae '
Phthiracaridae j
g“.
Sample #113 Polypgrus versicolor Rose Lake May 1
Collector: T.W.P. Clinton Co.
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Coleoptera
Digamesellidae Cisidae
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Eroytilidae
Licaridae
Camasidae
Samples #114-#ll7 Rose Lake May 1
Fomes applanatus
Collector: T.W.P. Clinton Co.
Acarinav Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Collembola
Blattisocidae Poduridae
Lasioseius muricatus Entomobryidae
Lasioseius meridionalis Coleoptera
Digamasellidae Tenebrionidae (adults
Parasitidae and larvae)
Neoparasitidae Cisidae (adults)
Trombiculiformes Staphylinidae (adults)
Chelytidae Diptera
Trombiculidae Fungivoridae
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Cecidomyidae
Galumnidae Platypezidae

Belbidae

 

"W ".W‘“ ~

 

 

 

61

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1961 Name of Fungus Locality Date
Sample #119 Polyporus betulinus Saginaw Co. June 4
Collector: T.W.P. TION:RZE:S32
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Collembola
Digamasellidae Poduridae
Zerconidae Thysanoptera
Parasitidae Thripidae
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Coleoptera
Galumnidae Tenebrionidae
Belbidae Diaperis _p.
Erotylidae
Sample #122 Polyporus betulinus Alge Co. Sept. 9
Adam's Trail
Collector: T.W.P. Beyond Kingston
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Collembola
Digamasellidae Poduridae
Parasitidae Hemiptera
Vegaiaidae Aradidae
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Coleoptera
Belbidae Staphylinidae
Sample #123 Polyporus semisupinus Schoolcraft Co. Sept. 9
Collector: T.W.P. N. Seney
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Collembola
Blattisocidae Entomobryidae

Lasioseius muricatus

 

 

 

 

Sample #124 Polyporus versicolor Schoolcraft Co. Sept. 9
Collector: T.W.P. N. Seney
Acarina Hexapoda
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Collembola
Galumnidae Poduridae
Belbidae Thysanoptera

Phloethripidae

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

62

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1961 Name of Fungus Locality Date
Sample #125 Polyporus betulinus Union River Sept. 5
Collector: T.W.P. Porcupine Mts.
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Collembola
Blattisocidae Poduridae
Lasioseius muricatus Thysanoptera
Parasitidae Phloethripidae
Vegaiaidae ColeOptera
Trombiculiformes Tenebrionidae
Bdellidae Diaperis sp,
Rhagidiidae Cisidae
Chelytidae Silphidae
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Hymenoptera
Phthiracaridae Braconidae
Sample #127 Fomes applanatus Union River Sept. 5
Collector: T.W.P. Porcupine Mts.
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Collembola
Digamasellidae Entomobryidae
Trombiculiformes Coleoptera
Eupodidae Mycetophagidae (adults)
Chelytidae Diperta

Sciaridae (larvae)
Fungivoridae (larvae)

 

 

 

 

Sample #128 Polyporus tsugae Lake of the Clouds Sept. 4
Collector: T.W.P. Porcupine Mts.
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata (absent)
Blattisocidae
Lasioseius muricatus
Trombiculiformes

Rhagidiidae

 

 

63

 

 

1961 Name of Fungus Locality Date
Sample #129 Fomes officinalis Delta Co. Sept. 9
Collector: T.W.P. Garden Lake
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Collembola
Blattisocidae Poduridae
Lasioseius muricatus Thysanoptera
Trombiculiformes Merothripidae
Erythraeidae Coleoptera
Chelytidae Tenebrionidae (adults
Trombiculidae and larvae)
Diptera
Mycetophilidae
Hymenoptera
Braconidae

 

Samples #130-#145 were collected between the 11th of Nov. 1961 and
the 18th of Nov. 1961. They show a variety of insects plus both
sarcoptiform and trombicuform mites but no Mesostigmata.

 

 

 

 

 

1962 Name of Fungus Locality Date
Sample #146 Polyporus adustus Rose Lake April 15
md#M8
Collector: T.W.P.
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Collembola
Blattisocidae Poduridae
Proctolaelaps pygmaeus Thysanoptera
Trombiculiformes Thripidae
Eupodidae Phloethripidae
Rhagidiidae Coleoptera
Sarcopiformes (Oribatei) Tenebrionidae m
Galumnidae Cisidae %
Sample #149 Polyporus velutinus Dansville Game Area April 12 L
Collector: T.W.P. Boy Scout Camp H
No arthropods present
Samples #150— Polyporus versicolor Danville Game Area April 12

 

#151 Boy Scout Camp
Collector: T.W.P.
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Collembola
Digamasellidae Entomobryidae
Parasitidae Sminthuridae
Zerconidae Thysanoptera
Trombiculiformes Phloethripidae
Chelytidae Coleoptera
Bdellidae Tenebrionidae (adults

and larvae)

 

 

Sample #152 Polyporus versicolor Clinton Co. April 12
Rose Lake
Collector: T.W.P. Boy Scout Area
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Collembola
Blattisocidae Entomobryidae
Lasioseius drosophili Thysanoptera
Lasioseius meridionalis Thripidae
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Coleoptera

Belbidae
Galumnidae

Tenebrionidae (adults)

Lampyridae (adults)
Diptera

Drosophilidae (larvae)

 

 

 

 

_—*—.—

 

 

 

m‘ Ah. Wm ._.,.~_._

 

 

65

1962 Name of Fungus

Locality Date

 

 

Sample #153

No apparent arthropods

 

Sample #154

Collector: T.W.P.

Polyporus tulipiferae Rose Lake April 14

Clinton Co.
Scout Area

 

Acarina
Mesostigmata
Blattisocidae
Lasioseius confusus
Lasioseius muricatus
Lasioseius lanciolatus
Digamesellidae
Digamasellus sp,
Trombiculiformes
Chelytidae
Eupodidae
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei)
Galumnidae
Belbidae

 

 

Hexapoda
(none present)

 

Sample #155 Polyporus adustus

Collector: T.W.P.

Rose Lake April 14
Clinton Co.
Scout Area

 

 

Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Diptera
Digamasellidae Platypezidae
Sorcoptiformes (Oribatei)
Phthiracaridae
Sample #156 Polyporus versicolor Rose Lake April 14

 

Collector: T.W.P.

Clinton Co.
Scout Area

 

Acarina
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei)
Galumnidae
Belbidae

Hexapoda
Coleoptera
Staphylinidae (adults)
Cisidae (adults)

 

T.‘ mm ‘IILIA: - . .
l
-

 

66

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1962 Name of Fungus Locality Date
Sample #158 Polyporus cinnabarinus Ogemaw Co. May 19
Collector: T.W.P. West Branch
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Coleoptera
Blattisocidae Cisidae (adults)
Lasioseius penicilliger Tenbrionidae (adults
Lasioseius meridionalis and larvae)
Parasitidae Thysanoptera
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Phlotthripidae
Phthiracaridae.
Isopoda (1 specimen)
Sample #161 Polyporus gp, Ogemaw Co. May 19
Collector: T.W.P. West Branch
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Collembola
Blattisocidae Poduridae
Lasioseius drosophili Coleoptera
Digamasellidae Tenebrionidaes (adults)
Trombiculiformes Cisidae (adults)
Chelytidae Diptera
Trombiculidae Drosophilidae (larvae)
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei)
Galumnidae
Belbidae

 

Samples #162-#l72 yielded nothing but insects and Oribatid mites.

 

 

 

 

Sample #173 Polyporus gp, Barry Co. June 2
CollectOr: T.W.P. T4N:R8W:SZ
Acarina Hexapoda
MeSostigmata Thysanoptera
Blattisocidae Phloethripidae
Lasioseius muricatus Coleoptera
Lasioseius meridionalis Tenebrionidae (adults)
Neoparasitidae Hymenoptera
Trombiculiformes Formicidae (workers)
Erythraeidae
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei)
Galumnidae

Belbidae

 

 

67

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1962 Name of Fungus Locality Date
Samples #174 Polyporus versicolor Barry Co. June 2
and #175 T4N:R8W:SZ
Collector: T.W.P.
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Collembola
Blattisocidae Poduridae
Lasioseius muricatus Thysanoptera
Digamasellidae Phloethripidae
Parasitidae
Sample #180 Fomes applanatus Livingston Co. June 7
Collector: T.W.P. T4N:R4E:824
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Thysanoptera
Blattisocidae Phloethripidae
Lasioseius muricatus Coleoptera
Digamasellidae Tenebrionidae (adults)
Sample #182 Polyporus versicolor Washtenaw Co. June 6
Collector: T.W.P. T28:R3E:S6
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Thysanoptera
Blattisocidae Phloethripidae
Lasioseius muricatus Coleoptera
Lasioseius meridionalis Tenebrionidae (larvae
Neoparasitidae and adults)
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Cisidae (adults)
Galumnidae Silphidae
Camasidae
Sample #183 Polyporus versicolor Washtenaw Co. June 6
Collector: T.W.P. TZS:R3E:S6
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Collembola
Lasioseius muricatus Poduridae
Lasioseius meridionalis Thysanoptera
Parasitidae Phloethripidae
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Coleoptera
Galumnidae Staphylinidae (adults)

Belbidae

 

(I: I f“‘”“"
.3 _ .‘r

 

 

 

 

 

 

68
1962 Name of Fungus- Locality Date
Sample #184 Polyporus versicolor Washtenaw Co. June 6
Collector: T.W.P. T28:R3E:SS
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Collembola.
Digamasellidae Entomobryidae
Blattisocidae Coleoptera

Lasioseius gp, (0")

 

Staphylinidae (adults)

Silphidae (adults)
Hymenoptera

Braconidae (adults)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sample #185 Polyporus semispenus Washtenaw Co. June 6
Collector: T.W.P. TZS:R3E:S6
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Collembola
Blattisocidae Poduridae
Lasioseius muricatus Coleoptera
Neoparasitidae Silphidae
Zerconidae Cisidae
Trombiculiformes
Chelytidae Diploploda
Bdellidae Parajulus sp,
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei)
Galumnidae
Belbidae
Sample #187 Polyporus versicolor Jackson Co. June 6
Collector: T.W.P. TZS:R2E:S6
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Thysanoptera
Digamasellidae Phloethripidae
Trombiculiformes Hemiptera.
Trombiculidae Aradidae
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Coleoptera
Galumnidae Tenebrionidae (adults)

 

n- -’-Al- I ..
I11.
I
_.

 

69

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1962 Name of Fungus Locality Date
Sample #189 Polyporus adustus Jackson Co. June 6
Collector: T.W.P. TlS:RlE:831
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Collembola
Digamasellidae Entomobryidae
Trombiculiformes Thysanoptera
Chelytidae Phloethripidae
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Coleoptera
Belbidae Tenebrionidae (adults
and larvae)
Cisidae
Sample #190 Polyporus semisupinus Jackson Co. June 6
Collector: T.W.P. T28:RlE:Sl
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata (absent)
Blattisocidae
Lasioseius muricatus
Neoparasitidae
Sample #191 Polyporus hirsutus Jackson Co. June 6
Collector: T.W.P. TZS:R1E:Sl
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata Collembola
Blattisocidae Sminthuridae
Lasioseius muricatus Coleoptera
Digamasellidae Tenebrionidae (adults)
Vegaiaidae Cisidae (adults)
Sarcoptiformes (Oribatei) Silphidae (adults)
Belbidae

 

Samples #192 Daedalea confragosa
and #193 Fomes fomentarius

 

 

#192 no mites or insects found.

Ingham Co. June 6
T2N:R1E:SZ9
and S30

#193 Acarina--Mesostigmata--Digamasellidae only.

 

1-17-3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

70

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1962 Name of Fungus Locality Date
Sample #195 Polyporus versicolor Jackson Co. June 6
Collector: T.W.P. TlS:RZE:831
Acarina Hexapoda
Mesostigmata absent
Blattisocidae
Lasioseius‘meridionalis
Sample #198 Polyporus versicolor Jackson Co. June 6
Collector: T.W.P. TlS:R2E:SBl
f
Acarina Hexapoda fir
Mesostigmata Collembola 1
Blattisocidae Entomobryidae 4.
Lasioseius meridionalis Thysanoptera L-
Lasioseius muricatus Phloethripidae
Trombiculiformes Coleoptera
Chelytidae Staphylinidae
Diptera

Cecidomyidae (larvae)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DISCUSSION

The Blattisocidae were found in the bracket fungi collected to

be represented by the following species: Zerconopsis michaeli,

 

Proctolaelaps pygmaeus, Lasioseius muricatus, L, meridionalis, l?

 

drosgphili, L, lanciolatus, L, confusus, and L, pgnicilliger.

 

 

 

Zerconopsis michaeli is the only representative of the Platyseiinae

 

found in the fungi collected. It was present in sample #19 (Polyporus

 

adustus). This is the first known record of this species in North
America. It was reported from England by Evans (1960) and then deter-
mined a new species.

Proctolaelaps pygmaeus was represented by two Specimens, one each

 

from samples #146 and #148. It was first described in 1859 and has been
reported since from Europe, South Africa, Indonesia, Australia, New
Zealand and North America. It not only has a varied distribution but

it also has been found in a wide variety of habitats, being found in
small mammal nests, feeding on tyroglyphid mites in leaf litter samples,
in soil samples, on rotting trees, and on bark of healthy trees. This
is the first known record of its appearance in bracket fungi.

Lasioseius muricatus was the most widely represented of the

 

Blattisocinae found in the samples collected. As far as can be ascer-
tained from the literature, this is the first record of this species in

North America although Evans (1958) reported it from Polyporus gp, in

 

Germany, Switzerland, and the British Isles. There seems to be no

71

 

 

72

restricting factors as far as this species is concerned except that

they are always found in bracket fungi and secondly, the weather. This
seems to be indicated by the fact that no representatives of this species
or any other blattisocids were found in the samples collected between
November and February of 1960-'61 or 1961-'62. They were found with
other mites and arthropods, and in least one sample, were the only
arthropods represented.

Lasioseius meridionalis was the second best represented of the

 

blattisocines after L, muricatus, occurring enough to warrant its in-
clusion as a true inhabitant of bracket fungi. It occurred with L,
muricatus and also with other mites and/or arthropods but unlike L,

muricatus it was never found alone.

Lasioseius drosophili was represented by a number of specimens

 

found in only two samples. Of the various species found in this study
this is the only one in which the female shows leg setal modifications
(spurs) on legs II and III (Figure 21). Also found in this particular

habitat are larval representatives of Drosophila sp. indicating that

 

this mite species is perhaps restricted to a particular habitat by the
presence of these larvae. The presence of the leg spurs in these female
specimens apparently have some adaptive significance although none can
be accounted for from this study. Chant (1963) suggested that they are

parasitic on Drosophila sp, and that this accounted for the leg spurs,

 

but of the numerous specimens found none were attached to the insect
larvae.

Three other species, Lasioseius lanciolatus, L, confusus and

 

L, pgnicilliger were found sparsely represented in the fungi collected.

 

Since these three forms represent both soil and bark inhabiting species

 

 

 

 

73

and are not widely represented here, perhaps they are only accidental
or temporary inhabitants.

From the data collected and analyzed for this work, it seems
that the woody shelf fungi rivals the tree hole, log mold, and leaf
litter as a successful habitat for arthropods. The most numerous of
the mites are the Oribatei, often appearing in the thousands in a
single large sporophore. Also found in conjunction with the Oribatids
are a wide variety of larval and adult insects and numerous other mites.

The fungus provides shelter and often food for a number of these

 

arthropods whereas some are predaceous or parasitic on others.

The heavily sclerotized mites (Oribatids) and insects were found
to overwinter as adults but are in fewer numbers. Few other mites, in-
cluding most of the Mesostigmata, were found in the fungi during the
winter months with the collecting techniques employed. However, most
of the mesostigmatids seem adequately sclerotized to survive the winter
in the fungus habitat. Some Tetranychidae (Trombidiformes), which show
about the same degree of sclerotization as the Blattisocidae, overwinter
in the egg stage in the temperate zone and this suggests that, perhaps,
the blattisocids do likewise. Some mites are known to overwinter as
immatures but no evidence of this was found for the mesostigmatids.

Graves (1960) reported that some soft-bodied mites and certain
insects were not collected with the Berlese technique using an incan-
descent bulb since it created too much heat for the specimen to tolerate
and they crawled back into the fungus and died. Even though the softer-
bodied mites and insects were not collected in the greatest abundance
with the method used in this study practically all samples showed some

of these specimens.

 

 

 

 

74
The relative humidity, temperature, and the photoperiod plays
an important role in the survival and reproductive cycle of mites and
insects. Winston (1963) reported that for the clover mite (BEyobia
praetiosa), the greater the relative humidity, the greater the survival
rate of this mite even under conditions of starvation. Another study by
Helle (1968) pointed out that the photoperiod was responsible for in-

duction of diapause (resting stage) in eggs of Tetranychus _p, in

 

temperate regions. In experiments conducted by Helle, he found that at
a temperature of 19.5° C. (i 0.75° C.) most eggs would enter diapause
at'a photOperiod of 12 hours or less and most would not enter diapause
at a photOperiod above 12 hours. Another significant idea that resulted
from this work of Helle and others is that diapause cannot be broken
once it has set in until the winter season has passed or an equivalent
time at a photoperiod greater than 12 hours. This suggests that certain
mesostigmatids that are not found during the winter months in this study
(see Data) might also overwinter as eggs.

Melichares agilis (Blattisocinae), although not found in this

 

study, was reported by Hughes (1961) to complete its life cycle in seven
to nine days at a temperature of 23° C. and a relative humidity of 87
per cent. This indicates that a point near room temperature and a

high relative humidity is necessary for the survival and reproductive

success of blattisocine mites.

. flu-WT}- '

 

 

CONCLUSIONS

There are two major Blattisocid inhabitants of the woody shelf

fungi. They are Lasioseius muricatus and Lasioseius meridionalis.

 

 

Lasioseius muricatus is apparently restricted to the bracket fungi,

 

for it has not as yet been reported from other habitats. It is not
species specific, however, occurring in a wide variety of
Polyporaceae.

Lasioseius drosophili is restricted to fungi containing Drosophila

 

 

_p, larvae, although at this point it is not known whether the
association is predaceous or parasitic.

Blattisocidae do not overwinter as adults in the Polyporaceae.
although are well represented from early March to late October in
this habitat.

Oribatei and other heavily sclerotized arthropods overwinter as
adults, being adequately represented in the period between late
October and early March in the Polyporaceae.

There was no evidence found in the Polyporaceae to indicate pre-
dation by other arthropods on the Blattisocidae.

Lasioseius meridionalis as well as the other lesser represented

 

species are not restricted to the woody shelf fungi.-
The Blattisocidae are well represented in the woody shelf fungi

of Michigan on both peninsulas.

75

 

10.

11.

12.

76
The survival and reproductive success of mites depends upon a high
relative humidity which makes the woody shelf fungi an ideal
habitat for mites.
Blattisocidae are very well represented in the Polyporaceae by
females but males were seldom found.
The most numerous mite representatives belong to the supercohort
Oribatei.
There are no specialized immature stages in the Blattisocidae
(bracket fungal species) that are used primarily for dispersal

as in the case in some Sarcoptiformes.

 

SUMMARY

One hundred fifty specimens of woody shelf fungi were collected
in the years 1960 to 1962. These were placed in a Berlese funnel under
the heat of an incandescent bulb and allowed to stand until the fungus
had completely dried. The fungi were classified to species in most
instances and the annual collections were identified.

Eight species of Blattisocids were collected from the fungi,
mounted on slides, and identified. Other mites and arthropods that
occupied the same fungus were identified at least to family and the
presence of these arthropods was correlated with the presence or absence
of Blattisocidae. The blattisocids that occupy the fungi have varied
habits except perhaps Lasioseius drosophili which apparently are re-

stricted to fungi that contain larvae of Drosophila _p, These show leg

 

modifications that suggest a specific adaptation to this habitat. On

the other hand, Lasioseius muricatus and L, meridionalis appear in the

 

 

fungus among a variety of arthropods including other mites and show no
apparent adaptations in setae or mouth parts.

Zerconopsis michaeli of the Platyseiinae was represented by only
one specimen and very little information on this species is found in

the literature. Proctolaelaps pygmaeus, L, lanciolatus and L, confusus

 

 

are so Sparsely represented in the fungi collected here that very little
is known of their habits. Their sparse representation suggests, how-
ever that they may be accidental inhabitants of the fungi being nor-

mally, either bark or forest floor.inhabitants.

77

 

 

 

78

The majority of the overwintering adult mites belonged to the
Oribatei. No adult or immature (larval or nymphal) stage of Blattisocidae
were found-to overwinter. This suggests that they overwinter in the
fungus in the egg stage or perhaps in the forest floor as adults.

It has been suggested by numerous authors that the optimum con-
ditions for adequate survival and reproduction of mites is a combination
of a high relative humidity, temperature above 20° C. and a photoperiod
of 12 hours or above. Although some mites may overwinter it is highly
unlikely that they are active during the winter months in the fungi
since their numbers were much less than during the warmer months.

No predation on Blattisocids was observed by this author and
although they exhibit the typical predaceous mite mouth parts there is

no evidence to suggest that any specimens except Lasioseius drosophili

 

are restricted to feeding on any insect species or mite, or if they

derive their nourishment from the tissues of the fungus itself.

 

 

 

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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Alexopoulous, C. J. 1962. IntroductoryMycology. 2nd ed. John Wiley
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Baker, E. W., gt El: 1958. Guide to the Families of Mites. Contri-
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Baker, E. W., gt EL- 1961. Acarology (various keys to families,
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1958. A Revision of the Aceosejinae (Acarina:Mesostigmata).
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Graves, R. C. 1960. Ecological Observations of the Insects and other
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Hughes, A. M. 1961. The mites of stored Food. Her Majesty's
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Hughes, T. E. 1959. Mites or the Acari. Atheone Press, London,
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Lindquist, E. E. 1961. Taxonomic and biological studies of Mites of
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Aceosejidae). Hilgardia #30, pp. 301-350.

 

 

Lord, F. T. 1949. The Influence of Spray Programs on the Fauna of
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The Canadian Entomologist #81, pp. 202-230.

 

 

 

Overholts, L. O. 1953. The Polyporaceae of the U.S., Alaska, and
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Park, 0. 1931. Studies in the Ecology of Forest Coleoptera. II.
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Rivard, I. 1963. A Technique for rearing of the predacious mite,
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Winston, P. W. 1963. Humidity relations in the clover mite Bryobia
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Winston, P. W. and Nelson, V. E. 1965. Regulation of Transpiration in
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Womersley, H. 1956. On some new Acarina-Mesostigma from Australia,
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sum} I

 

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