Study on the post-embryonic development of Striatoppia milii Sanyal and Basu, 2014 (Acari: Oribatida: Oppiidae) on the microfungus Trichoderma harzianum

Abstract

The present work is a study on the post-embryonic development of the oribatid mite Striatoppia milii from the family Oppidae. Striatoppia milii specimens were reared under laboratory conditions at a relative humidity of 80±2% and temperature of 27±2 °C. During the study time, both adult and immature forms of S. milii fed on the microfungus Trichoderma harzianum. The total developmental duration of the life stages of S. milii from egg to adult was 21.4±1.5 days with five active instars: larva, protonymph, deutonymph, tritonymph and adult. Given their nutritional preferences and short development cycle, they might be used in agriculture by improving the process of biodegradation.