Mate-guarding in the genus Creutzeria (Astigmata: Histiostomatidae), an aquatic mite genus inhabiting the fluid-filled pitchers of Nepenthes plants (Nepentheaceae)

Abstract

Abstract A number of genera of Histiostomatidae inhabit phytotelmata, being found fully submerged and filtering organic matter from the fluid. One such phytotelm habitat is the fluid-filled pitchers of species of Nepenthes, a carnivorous plant genus widely distributed in the Old World tropics. As in most histiostomatid species, males of Nepenthes-inhabiting mites seek out tritonymphal females and guard them from other males, a behavior termed “precopulatory mate-guarding”. Upon ecdysis of the tritonymph to adult, mating takes place. Successful mate-guarding prevents other males from gaining access to a virgin female and helps ensure the guarding male's paternity of any resultant offspring. While most Nepenthes-inhabiting genera are ambulatory, walking about on decomposing arthropods in the pitchers, species of the genus Creutzeria are natatory and propel themselves through the fluid using legs greatly modified for this purpose. Males of purely ambulatory species typically climb onto the dorsum of a triton...