Phoresy of Trichouropoda shcherbakae Hirschmann, 1972 (Acari: Mesostigmata) on beetles of the genus Tetropium Kirby, 1837 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in Białowieża Forest, Poland

Research in the Białowieża Forest, a UNESCO-listed natural area, reveals a significant phoretic relationship between mites of the species Trichouropoda shcherbakae and beetles of the genus Tetropium. The study found that 9.4% of analyzed beetles (524 specimens, including T. castaneum and T. fuscum) carried 785 mites, with T. fuscum hosting 82% of these. Most mites were attached to the beetles' legs, indicating a preference for this phoretic association. The findings highlight temporal and spatial variations in mite attachment intensity, contributing to our understanding of mite-beetle interactions in one of Europe's last pristine forests.

Błoszyk, J., Gutowski, J., Gwiazdowicz, D., & Mądra, A. (2013). Phoresy of Trichouropoda shcherbakae Hirschmann, 1972 (Acari: Mesostigmata) on beetles of the genus Tetropium Kirby, 1837 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in Białowieża Forest, Poland. Open Life Sciences, 8(10), 986–992. https://doi.org/10.2478/s11535-013-0226-5