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searchable PDF - Association for Mexican Cave Studies

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only one species. All known epigean rhagidiidspossess eyespots and are either red, orange, or yellow.This species lacks eyespots and pigment and givesevery indication of being a troglobite. It is, there<strong>for</strong>e,listed here with reservations.Family SmaridiidaeSpecimens of Fessonin sp. were collected fromcave swallow guano in Cueva del Salitre, Chihuahua.This group of mites is parasitic on insects as larvae,but predaceous as adults.Family TrombiculidaeThe family Trombiculidae is a significant elementof the cave fauna of Mexico. The larvae of this familyare parasites of vertebrates, and many are known onlyfrom bats. The adults of many trombiculids havebeen collected from caves in Mexico, but the presentsystematics of the family is based on larval charactersso that identification of the free-living adults is practicallyimpossible. Wharton (1938) described oneadult species, Trombicula camilla, from caves in Yucatan,but it cannot now be identified with any ofthe described larval species. Either this species orothers are frequently present as adults on guano inmany caves in Yucatan and are certainly importantto the ecology of the caves. Nicholas (1962) lists T.camilla and Hannemanin (=Whartonin) nudosetosaWharton as troglobites, but these are obviously notcave adapted. Hoffmann (1970) has begun a revisionof the trombiculids of Mexico.Family TrombidiidaeThe trombidiid mites are parasites of arthropodsin the larval stages. Nicholas (1962) lists two Yucatanspecies, Platyseta yucatanicus Wharton and Monunguisstreblida Wharton, as troglobites; neither speciesis cave adapted. Robaux et al. (1977) described aninteresting trombidiid, Ceuthothrombium cavaticum,from camel crickets (Rhaphidophoridae) from cavesin Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico (Cueva del Ojode Agua, Dulces Nombres, uevo Leon).Suborder AstigmataFamily AcaridaeBonet (1953a) reported the presence of Acarus sp.in Cueva de la Hoya, San Luis Potosi. Nesbitt (1949)described three species of the genus Caloglyphus from<strong>Mexican</strong> caves: C. armipes longisetosus from Cueva dela Calera, Michoacan; C. longipilus from Grutas deJuxtlahuaca, Guerrero, and Cueva del Carrizal, NuevoLeon; and C. paranomalus from Grutas de Atoyac,Veracruz, Cueva de la Calera, and Cueva del Carrizal.Species of Caloglyphus have been reported to feed ondecaying insects.Family AnoetidaeHistiostoma sp. has been recently collected in SOtanode Yerbaniz, San Luis Potosi. The anoetids areusually found on decaying organic matter.Family GlycyphagidaeBonet (1953a) reported the presence of undeterminedspecimens of this family in caves in Queretaroand San Luis Potosi. Glycyphagus domesticus(DeGeer) has been collected in Cueva del Tempisque,Chiapas, and Cueva del Pedregoso, Coahuila. This isa cosmopolitan species usually found on organic matter;when present in large numbers it can causedermatitis.Family RosensteiniidaeNycteriglyphus sp. was found in Cueva de LosSabinos, San Luis Potosi, and Cueva de la Mina, Tamaulipas.This genus of mite is commonly associatedwith caves and is present at times on bat guano inenormous numbers.Suborder CryptostigmataThe oribatid mites certainly abound in the caves ofMexico, but few have been identified. None show anysigns of adaptation to the cave environment, but theyare doubtless of considerable importance to the caveecosystem.Family BelbidaeBonet (1953a) reported undetermined species ofthe family to be present in six caves of the Xilitla region,San Luis Potosi. Belba sp. has been identifiedfrom Cueva de La Lagunita, San Luis Potosi.Family GalumnidaePearse (1936c) reported Galumna sp. from twocenotes in Yucatan. Galumna jacoti Wharton wasdescribed from Cenote de Sambula (Motul), Yucatan(Wharton, 1938).Family OribateUidaeBonet (1953a) reported the presence of this familyin caves in Queretaro and San Luis Potosi. Oribatellamonospicus Wharton was described from Cenote deSambula (Motul), Yucatan (Wharton, 1938).170

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