Biology:Trombidium breei

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Short description: Species of mite

Trombidium breei
Melanargia galathea - La Salette 03.jpg
On a butterfly
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Trombidiformes
Family: Trombidiidae
Genus: Trombidium
Species:
T. breei
Binomial name
Trombidium breei
Southcott, 1986

Trombidium breei is a species of red mite in the genus Trombidium in the family Trombidiidae. It is found in Europe. The larvae are parasites/hosts of certain butterflies (Lepidoptera), particularly meadow brown (Maniola jurtina), gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus), marbled white (Melanargia galathea), common blue (Polyommatus icarus) and small skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris). They attach themselves to the thorax or legs of the butterfly and transfer from host to host when the butterflies alight to nectar at flowers.

References

  • Synopsis of the described Arachnida of the World: Trombidiidae

Name

The species is named after Reverend William Thomas Bree (1754–1822).

Further reading

  • Ronald Vernon Southcott (1986). "Studies on the taxonomy and biology of the subfamily Trombidiinae (Acarina : Trombidiidae) with a critical revision of the genera". Australian Journal of Zoology. Supplementary Series 34 (123): 1–116. doi:10.1071/AJZS123. 

Wikidata ☰ Q7845319 entry