Host Relations and Distribution of the Australian Species of Eutrombidium (Acarina, Microtrombidiidae), a Parasite of Grasshoppers

Abstract

The geographical distribution of parasitism of Australian grasshoppers by the microtrombidiid mite Eutrombidium australiense is delineated. It appears to extend over almost the whole of mainland Australia. At least 248 species are attacked, in the subfamilies Morabinae, Pyrgomorphinae, Oxyinae, Catantopinae (including Cyrtacanthacridini), and Acridinae. The dominant sites of attachment are the insertion of leg III and the prosternum, between them accounting for 80% of cases, with the first the more frequent. Most of the host individuals were attacked by only one mite, but more than 20 were occasionally recorded.