Phoretic Poecilochirus mites specialize on their burying beetle hosts

“…But beetles are not alone in their consumption of the carcass. Many species of mites have established phoretic associations with burying beetles, and their well-studied effects on beetles range from harmful to beneficial, depending on the context and the study Nehring, Müller, & Steinmetz, 2017;Wilson & Knollenberg, 1987). Many species of mites have established phoretic associations with burying beetles, and their well-studied effects on beetles range from harmful to beneficial, depending on the context and the study Nehring, Müller, & Steinmetz, 2017;Wilson & Knollenberg, 1987).…”

“…Nicrophorus adults trapped in the field are conspicuously associated with high densities of mites and nematodes that are attached to their carapace or reside internally (Gasperin, Duarte, & Kilner, 2015;Richter, 1993). Many species of mites have established phoretic associations with burying beetles, and their well-studied effects on beetles range from harmful to beneficial, depending on the context and the study Nehring, Müller, & Steinmetz, 2017;Wilson & Knollenberg, 1987). By contrast, only one species of phoretic nematode has been described in Nicrophorus and its effects on beetles are unknown (Richter, 1993).…”