Mesostigmata, G.Canestrini, 1891

Howell, Lindsey, Jelden, Katelyn, Rácz, Elizabeth, Gardner, Scott L. & Gettinger, Donald, 2016, Arthropods infesting small mammals (Insectivora and Rodentia) near Cedar Point Biological Station in southwestern Nebraska, Insecta Mundi 2016 (478), pp. 1-16 : 12

Acari: Mesostigmata : Macrochelidae

Macrochelid mites are predators of small invertebrates, and many species are fimicolous and phoretic on dung-beetles, so it is not surprising that they are commonly found in association with small mammals and their nests ( Krantz and Whitaker 1988). Several specimens were collected from G. lutescens , O. leucogaster , and Pm. maniculatus , but without a good series of specimens, we hesitate to attempt species identifications. All three mites are different species and they all clearly fit within the genus Macrocheles . Using Krantz and Whitaker (1988), the macrochelids associated with O. leucogaster key to Macrocheles mammifer Berlese , but our specimens are smaller (HWML 101724, 101725, and 92029); those on Pm. maniculatus (HWML 101823 and 101824) are near Macrocheles nemerdarius Krantz and Whitaker , but smaller in body size. Only a few specimens (larger than those on the neotomines) were collected from G. lutescens (HWML 101738 and 92015).