Observations on the mating behavior, sex ratio, phoresy and dispersal of Tropilaelaps clareae (Acari: Laelapidae)

The mating behavior of the parasitic mite T. clareae was observed. The mating was done by podospermy where the sperm material is transferred to the female spermatheca through the two external openings located between coxae III and IV by means of the male chelicerae. The entire mating lasted for about 15 minutes; the insemination sequence 10 minutes after the male had positioned itself facing the female. No premating activities were observed. Mating took place as soon as the male encountered a female. Males mated a second time with different females; no mating was observed with previously mated females. One female insemination may serve to fertilize the entire egg production. The mating sequence is illustrated. A female - biased sex ratio in T. clareae was found in the debris of A. dorsata and A. mellifera; the ratio varying from 1:1.8 to 1:6.7 (males: females). For mites reared in the laboratory T. clareae production is skewed toward females; the sex ratio was nearly 1:5 (sons:daughters). Females were over-represented as first and as second offspring and males occur in a higher relative frequency as second offspring. Males developed faster than females and eclose first. The characters associated with phoresy in T. clareae are the elongated body shape and the large ambulacra of the legs necessary in gaining attachment on the host body. T. clareae is not strictly host species specific and therefore the mites are presumably non-selective in their site of attachment. Both male and female mites are dispersed by drifting bees. Phoretic females greatly outnumbered males, the ratio was 1:18.4 (males:females). There is a significant correlation between the phoretic dispersal of T. clareae and the level of colony infestation at a beeyard (r = 0.6776). Behavior of bees may affect mite dispersal, and the role of drifting drones and workers as major dispersers is not known.