A revision of the phoretic deutonymphs (hypopi) of the genus Sennertia Oudemans, 1905 (Acari, Astigmata, Chaetodactylidae)

Abstract

The genus Sennertia Oudemans, 1905 (Acari, Chaetodactylidae) is revised. Up to now, 49 species have been described in this genus, almost all from their hypopial stage. Adults are known only for four species. The adults live in the nests of bees, mainly Xylocopidae, and their heteromorphic deutonymphs ( = hypopi) are phoretic on the bees. The parasitic role of these mites is not known but they probably feed on the bee larvae as do the members of the allied genus Chaetodactylus wich are parasitic in the nests of Megachilidae. The holotypes or lectotypes of 35 species have been examined and most of them are redescribed and redepicted. Four species have been placed in synonymy: S. moandensis Fain, 1971 with S. morstatti Vitzthum, 1914; S. xylocopae (Donnadieu, 1868) with S. cerambycina (Scopoli, 1763); S. sumatrensis Oudemans, 1924 with S. horrida (Vitzthum, 1912); S. donaldi Turk, 1948 with S. argentina Vitzthum, 1941. The genus Sennertia is redefined from the hypopial stage and four new subgenera (Afrosennertia, Asiosennertia, Amsennertia and Spinosennertia) and two new species S. (Asiosennertia) vitzthumi and S. (Asiosennertia delfinadoae) are described. A key to the species is given. ac]19810331