LIFE-HISTORY OF AFROCYPHOLAELAPS AFRICANA (EVANS) (ACARI, AMEROSEIIDAE), A MITE INHABITING MANGROVE FLOWERS AND PHORETIC ON HONEYBEES

In October 1993, umbels of the river mangrove Aegiceras corniculatum w ere infested by the ameroseiid mite Afrocypholaelaps africana (up to 3 2,000 m-2 of mangrove canopy) at each of 11 sites sampled in southeast ern Queensland. Mite populations declined as flowering decreased and w ere locally extinct by 20 January. Individual mangrove florets lasted about 6 d; umbels were in newer for about 10 d. Unopened buds were mit e-free, but newly opened florets were colonised by all post-embryonic stages of the mite. In the laboratory, the mites fed on pollen and sug ar water. Mites dispersed on honeybees (Apis mellifera) primarily as e gg-bearing adult females; however, a relatively small proportion of ma les and immature stages also occurred on bees. Only adult females have sucker-like ambulacral pads lacking claws, an apparent adaptation for phoresy. Most mites bearded and departed the bee via the tongue and w ere found on the venter of the head and thorax of the bee. Additionall y, bees collected mites with pollen, and crushed many immature mites i nto their pollen baskets. Large populations of mites occurred on honey bees al beehives during late April.