Mite fauna (Parasitiformes: Gamasida) associated with nests of selected species of native bumblebees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombus spp.)

Abstract

Bumblebee nests are annual microhabitats that can be attractive for various microarthropods including mites. Bumblebee nests ensure a stable microclimate, food and possibility to spread to new habitat with adult bumblebees.The fauna of Gamasida mites inhabiting wild bumblebee nests is almost unknown - mite species associated with wild bumblebees have been described only based on phoretic forms collected from foraging individuals. This study was conducted on three bumblebee nests of three different bumblebee species: Bombus hortorum (Linnaeus, 1761), Bombus ruderarius (Muller, 1776) and Bombus pascuorum (Scopoli, 1763). The mite species composition and abundance were determined from a total of 355 mites. Nine mite species was Leiodinychus orbicularis (C.L. Koch, 1839) (Trematuridae). The second most numerous was Dinychus woelkei Hirschmann & Zirngiebl-Nicol, 1969 (Dinychidae). Representatives of families Laelapidae and Parasitidae were least numerous. Most of the identified mite species were at the deutonymphal developmental stage