Taxonomic studies of the Laelapidae mites (Acari: Mesostigmata)

Abstract

The family Laelapidae includes edaphic predatory mites with potential to be used in the biological control of soil pests. One species of this family [Stratiolaelaps scimitus (Womersley)] has been used regularly in Brazil for the biological control of fungus gnat (Diptera: Sciaridae). The same and two other species [Gaeolaelaps aculeifer (Canestrini) and Stratiolaelaps miles (Berlese)] have been used around the world for the control of that group of pests and of Acaridae mites. The study of these mites is considered important in Brazil, where the biodiversity seems to be high and where there is the possibility of finding other species with potential for use in agriculture, reducing the use of pesticides for pest control. The taxonomic studies of Laelapidae are necessary to allow the estimatation of biodiversity as well to facilitate subsequent activities in the search of prospective species to be used as biological control agents. This project refers to activities to be conducted at the Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology in the College of Arts and Sciences, Ohio State University (OSU), Columbus campus, Ohio, U.S.A from June 20 to October 20, with the following objectives: a) participate in a formal workshop about Soil Acarology, offered within the "Acarology Summer Program" of the OSU; b) complement a taxonomic catalog of the Laelapidae subfamiles Hypoaspidinae and Melittiphinae under elaboration within my thesis work program; c) examine specimens of this family deposited in the Mite Reference Collection of OSU, to facilitate the identification species found in Brazil. The work will be done at OSU under the supervision of Prof. Hans Klompen. (AU)