OBSERVATIONS ON THE MITE FAUNA ASSOCIATED WITH ADULT STOMOXYS-CALCITRANS IN THE UK

Adult females of the blood-sucking muscid Stomoxys calcitrans sampled between June and September 1993 from a cattle farm (n = 839) and from a pig farm (n = 542) in North-West England were examined for mites. Tw elve species of mites from ten families and three orders were identifi ed as follows. In the Prostigmata, Eryenetes sp., Family Ereynetidae a nd Pediculaster mesembrinae, Family Pygmephoridae. In the Astigmata, P rocalvolia zacheri Family Saproglyphidae, Acarus farris, Family Acarid ae, Bonomoia sphaerocerae and Myianoetus sp., Family Anoetidae. In the Mesostigmata, Macrocheles muscaedomesticae and Macrocheles subbadius Family Macrochelidae, Digamasellus sp., Family Digamasellidae, Halolae laps sp., Family Halolaelapidae. Prodinychus sp., Family Uropodoidea a nd Thinoseius sp., Family Eviphididae. Mean infestation rates at the t wo sites (all mite species) for the entire sampling period were 31.6 /- 13.9% and 19.8 +/- 3.6% respectively. 51% of synbovine flies sample d in July were infested with mites. Mean numbers of flies infested in August at both farms were significantly lower compared to other months . The presence of tritonymphs of Ereynetes sp. on S. calcitrans demons trates for the first time that this life cycle stage is naturally asso ciated with insects in the field. All mites were recovered from the ve ntral thorax and abdomen, and two or more species commonly infested in dividual flies. Associations of mites with their dipteran hosts are de scribed and discussed.