Phylogeny, taxonomy and biology of mites of the genera Chelacheles and Neochelacheles (Acari : Cheyletidae)

Abstract

Taxonomic revision and parsimony-based phylogenetic analysis of species in two closely related genera of predaceous Cheyletidae, Chelacheles Baker and Neochelacheles Smiley & Williams, are conducted. Among species of these genera, C. algericus Fain & Bochkov, syn. nov. and C. humilis Rasool, Chaudhri & Akbar, syn. nov. are synonymised with C. strabismus Baker and C. bakeri Attiah, respectively. Six new species are described: C. aigamuxa, sp. nov.; C. klimovi, sp. nov.; C. seminole, sp. nov.; C. temoak, sp. nov.; N. corpuzrarosae, sp. nov.; and N. mendicus, sp. nov. The genus Chelacheles includes two species-groups, strabismus (seven species) and peritremaculatus (seven species), and two ungrouped species, C. michalskii Samsinak and C. stigmaeoides Barilo. The genus Neochelacheles (three species) is represented by a single species from North America and by two Philippine endemics. New diagnoses of the genera are given as well as descriptions of postembryonic stages of a model species in each genus, a key, and redescriptions for most species. The biology of these mites is briefly discussed. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that the associations of some species with polypore bracket fungi have arisen independently in the genera Chelacheles and Neochelacheles.