EXPERIMENTAL-EVIDENCE THAT THE MITE POECILOCHIRUS-DAVYDOVAE (MESOSTIGMATA, PARASITIDAE) EATS THE EGGS OF ITS BEETLE HOST

The relationship between the mite Poecilochirus davydovae Hyatt and it s burying beetle carrier (Nicrophorus vespilloides) was investigated. Beetles experimentally stripped of deuteronymphs of Poecilochirus had larger apparent clutch sizes than beetles carrying mites. Furthermore, apparent clutch sizes were not affected by the presence or absence of carrion flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae). These results support the hyp othesis that P. davydovae is a specialist predator feeding on the eggs of N. vespilloides.