Pyemotes tritici

Life cycle

Pyemotes tritici is ovoviviparous, this means that the embryos fully develop inside the female, emerging from the birth canal as adults. Males are born after a gestation period that is two days less than that of the females, the males help the females to emerge and copulation takes place as soon as the females are born. In fact any unmated female is unable to copulate later in life. Fewer than 10% of the offspring are male, although the proportion rises under conditions of gross overcrowding. On average, each female produces about 250 offspring, but after mating with about fifteen females, male fertility rates decline.

Ecology

Pyemotes tritici is a parasite of arthropods. The females puncture the host with her stylet, injecting a toxic venom that paralyses the host, which eventually dies.

Use in biological pest control

The mite is being investigated as a potential biological pest control agent for stored product pests; its high rate of population growth is likely to exceed that of its host arthropod, and it has been found possible to mass rear it in the laboratory.

References

References

1. (30 April 2012). "''Pyemotes tritici'' (LaGrèze-Fossat & Montagné, 1851)". UMMZ Insect Division.
2. S. Rosen, I. Yeruham & Y. Braverman. (2002). "Dermatitis in humans associated with the mites ''Pyemotes tritici'', ''Dermanyssus gallinae'', ''Ornithonyssus bacoti'' and ''Androlaelaps casalis'' in Israel". [[Medical and Veterinary Entomology]].
3. (1 April 1990). "Reproductive Potential, Sex Ratio, and Mating Efficiency of the Straw Itch Mite (Acari: Pyemotidae)". Journal of Economic Entomology.
4. Schuster, Reinhart. (2012). "The Acari: Reproduction, development and life-history strategies". Springer Science & Business Media.
5. Berenbaum, May. (1993). "Ninety-nine More Maggots, Mites, and Munchers". University of Illinois Press.