Systematics and phylogeny of Chrysomelobia species (Acari:Podapolipidae), sexually transmitted parasites of chrysomelid beetles

Abstract

Chrysomelobia Regenfuss and Parobia Seeman & Nahrung are sexually transmitted mites, the former being parasites of chrysomelid beetles in the Americas, Europe and Africa, the latter a radiation on the Paropsini (Chrysomelidae) in Australia. A cladistic analysis of Chrysomelobia and Parobia shows the type species of Chrysomelobia, C. mahunkai Regenfuss, is placed within Parobia. Therefore, Parobia is synonymised with Chrysomelobia, which has priority. I describe another nine new species of Chrysomelobia from Australian paropsine beetles: C. aquariolus, sp. nov., C. orthagoriscus, sp. nov. and C. cubile, sp. nov. from Paropsis porosa Erichson; C. lipsettae, sp. nov. from Dicranosterna pedestris (Chapuis); C. armstrongi, sp. nov. from Paropsisterna sp. nr minerva (Blackburn); C. pagurus, sp. nov. from Paropsis charybdis Stål; and C. nahrungae, sp. nov., C. vafer, sp. nov. and C. verecundus, sp. nov. from three species of Trachymela. Chrysomelobia captivus (Seeman & Nahrung) is recorded from Paropsisterna nobilitata (Erichson) for the first time. Most Australian members of Chrysomelobia are host-specific and beetles may host up to three mite species. Within species-groups of mites, species that share the same host genus are closely related. However, mite species that share the same host species are usually from different species-groups of mites. Although these patterns suggest co-speciation at terminal nodes and host transfers at deeper nodes, little can be made of these patterns without a host phylogeny. Keys to Chrysomelobia adults are provided.