Prevalence and abundance of the mite neomegistus julidicola (mesostigmata: paramegistidae) on doratogonus rugifrons (diplopoda: spirostreptidae) are highly male-biased.

Abstract

We have explored the patterns of association between the giant spirostreptid millipede Doratogonus rugifrons (Attems, 1922) and a common symbiotic mite Neomegistus julidicola Trägårdh, 1906. In our study, mites clearly preferred male millipedes: 97 % of the recorded mites occurred on males and 66 % were on the anterior part of the millipede body. No mites’ feeding on the millipede excretions was observed. We conclude that mites prefer males because those are more mobile during surface activity in the wet summer season when they are searching for mates. The six new records of mites on other species of spirostreptid millipedes (Cacuminostreptus vumbaensis, Doratogonus flavifilis, Doratogonus rhodesianus, Doratogonus uncinatus, Spirostreptus kruegeri and Zinophora sp.) suggest that such associations are widespread. Our results also support the view that phoretic mites on millipedes are not host specific. Given the highly male-biased association between the mite species and spirostreptids, future studies should explore what attracts the mites specifically to males.