S. Mahunka szerk.: Folia Entomologica Hungarica 48. (Budapest, 1987)

FOLIA ENTOMOLOGICA HUNGARICA ROVARTANI KÖZLEMÉNYEK XLVIII 1987 p. 245-246 Scutacarus longitarsus Berl. (Acarina: Scutacaridae) phoretic on the sphaerocerid fly, Leptocera nigra Olivier (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae), on fig trees in Egypt By A. M. ZAKI, A. A OSMAN and E. T. E. DARWISH (Received October 1, 1986) Abstract: Scutacarus longitarsus Berl. (Acarina: Scutacaridae) phoretic on the sphaerocerid fly, Lentocera nigra Olivier, (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae), on fig trees in Egypt, Scutacarus longitarsus Berl. (Acarina: Scutacaridae) is first recorded on sphaerocerid fly Leptocera nigra Olivier (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae)

. Notes on phoretic relationship between flies (females an males) and mites (females) are given. Female scutacarid mites are usually collected as species having phoretic association with Insects, particularly beetles (KARAFIAT 1959), Hymenoptera (DELFINADO and BAKER 1976), and dipterous flies (HUSSEY 1959, BINNS 1972 and 1973). Several recent studies had dealt with the acarine fauna associated with dipterous flies. NORTON and IDE (1974) found small number of females of the new subspecies Scutacarus baculitarsus agaricus both in mushroom compost and on the host, a phorid fly Megaselia dakotensis Borgmeier (Diptera, Phoridae). BINNS (1979) discussed the association of Scutacarus baculitarsus Mahunka and its phorid fly Megaselia halterata (Wood) of both sexes on a mushroom farm. He added that, further observation of scutacarids occurring both on a phorid and a sphaerocerid (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae) had been confirmed in New Zealand (personal communication). The aim of this study is to throw light on the relationship between scutacarids mites and sphaerocerid flies. This association (phoresy) is generally considered harmless to the flies (host) and is thought to be beneficial to scutacarid mites. Samples were collected monthly, from March to July, 1985, in the experimental orchard of the Faculty of Agriculture, Menoufla University, Shebin El-Kom, Egypt. About 2500 cm"' of debris around fig trees, Ficus carica L. (more than 20 years old), were used of which samples were extracted by Tullgren funnels and examined under stereomicroscope to remove all the other acari groups. The proportions of flies (females and males) with the attached mite females were counted. Examinations of in situ mites with a compound microscope were illustrated. The first record of Scutacarus longitarsus Berl. was observed; both sexes were attached to the sphaerocerid flies Leptocera nigra Olivier, while the larvae have not been known to be phoretic. Usually a single mite was attached medially on the second or third abdominal sclerite as well as ventrally on the metacoxae of the flies. Multiple attachment also occurred, i.e. more than one mite was attached (maximum four mites were observed), they were clustered on the second and the third abdominal sternites. The anterior rim of the scutacarid body is raised by the bracing of leg I, using its big claws, while the straightened long tarsus of leg IV was brought forward and below the raised venter. Data in Table 1 showes that the highest percentage of total flies was observed with attached scutacarids females during March (reaching 35.43 %). The lowest percentage was ?n July when the total of the extracted flies (32) was free of mites. Generally the rates of sphaerocerid females with attached scutacarid mites were more than those of male's. 39.28 % of the females and 30.76 % of the