LARDOGLYPHUS ZACHERI (ACARI, LARDOGLYPHIDAE), A PEST OF MUSEUM DERMESTID COLONIES, WITH OBSERVATIONS ON ITS NATURAL ECOLOGY AND DISTRIBUTION

Lardoglyphus zacheri Oudemans caused the destruction of colonies of De rmestes spp. used to clean vertebrate skeletons in natural history col lections. In these closed systems, mites experienced a population expl osion, followed by extensive production of dispersing deutonymphs. Deu tonymphs attached to both adult and larval beetles, concentrating arou nd mouthparts, legs, and wings. Large numbers of mites in these critic al areas hindered movement and interfered with feeding and mating, lea ding to the death of the beetles. This mite is widespread throughout t emperate and boreal North America, where it occurs naturally in verteb rate carrion. The species is also known from Europe and Mexico, where it occurs in proteinaceous food materials and animal by-products. Sugg estions for prevention and control of colony infestations are provided .