Anystis

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Anystis
Temporal range: Cretaceous–present
Anystis baccarum.jpg
Anystis baccarum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Arachnida
Subclass:
Acari
Order:
Trombidiformes
Family:
Anystidae
Genus:
Anystis

von Heyden, 1826

Anystis (Whirligig Mites) is a genus of mites. They are predatory on other mites and small insects. Species in this genus are often red, long-legged, and range in size from 500μm – 1500μm.[1] Both the genus and the family Anystidae are referred to as whirligig mites with the genus being the only of the family.

Species include:[2]

Identification[]

Members of the genus can be identified by a rounded, anterior prodorsal shield – the large covering on the anterior of the body – which is indented posteriorly. Two pairs of eyes are located posteriorly and laterally to the prodorsal shield. From the shield two long pairs of hair-like setae and a pair of similarly shaped sensory organs called sensilla. Another pair of sensilla are found on the anterior portion of the mites main body, the idiosoma. The idiosoma of varies from short and broad, to shorter than it is broad among species within the genus. The chelicerae, specialized mouthparts, have a pair of hook-shaped chela on the distal portion and one or two pairs of setae as well. The tarsi, the last joint of the leg, ends in two claws which have varied kinds of empodium, a spine between the claws of the tarsi (combed, toothed, pilose with claw, or bell-like.)[1]

Agricultural Use[]

The species has been used as a form of biological pest control in apple orchards[5] due to their predation of Panonychus ulmi, a mite species that causes massive economic loss in apple trees.[6] Though A. baccarum is the most well known and exemplary member of the genus it is unknown if other species may be able to fill a similar role to it in terms of pest control.

References[]

  1. ^ a b Meyer, Smith) & Ueckermann, Eddie. (1987). A taxonomic study of some Anystidae (Acari: Prostigmata). Entomology Memoir. 68. 1-37.
  2. ^ Anystis. Fauna Europaea.
  3. ^ Filimonova SA (2008). "The fine structure of the midgut in the mite Anystis baccarum (L.) (Acari, Actinedida: Anystidae)". Arthropod Structure & Development. 37 (4): 299–309. doi:10.1016/j.asd.2007.11.005. PMID 18396461.
  4. ^ Otto, J. C. (1992). A new species of Anystis von Heyden compared with Anystis salicinus (Linnaeus) (Acarina: Anystidae). International Journal of Acarology 18(1) 25-35.
  5. ^ Cuthbertson, Andrew G. S.; Qiu, Bao-Li; Murchie, Archie K. (2014-07-24). "Anystis baccarum: An Important Generalist Predatory Mite to be Considered in Apple Orchard Pest Management Strategies". Insects. 5 (3): 615–628. doi:10.3390/insects5030615. ISSN 2075-4450. PMC 4592577. PMID 26462829.
  6. ^ Mason, Peter G.; Huber, J. T. (2001). Biological Control Programmes in Canada, 1981-2000. CABI. p. 213. ISBN 1845933214.

External links[]


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