Nicrophorus vespilloides Herbst was reared with and without its phoretic mite Poecilochirus carabi G. & R. Canestrini in the laboratory. Clutch and brood size of N. vespilloides in P. carabi-infested (P+) cultures were smaller than in P. carabi-free (P-) cultures, but only brood size differed significantly. The number of eggs per clutch that failed to hatch was significantly higher and mean larval weight was greater in P+ than in P- cultures. Female P. carabi are oophagous and have been observed to consume Nicrophorus eggs; the differences between treatments may result from consumption or damage or both to Nicrophorus eggs by P. carabi.
Nicrophorus vespilloides Herbst was reared with and without its phoretic mite Poecilochirus carabi G. & R. Canestrini in the laboratory. Clutch and brood size of N. vespilloides in P. carabi-infested (P+) cultures were smaller than in P. carabi-free (P-) cultures, but only brood size differed significantly. The number of eggs per clutch that failed to hatch was significantly higher and mean larval weight was greater in P+ than in P- cultures. Female P. carabi are oophagous and have been observed to consume Nicrophorus eggs; the differences between treatments may result from consumption or damage or both to Nicrophorus eggs by P. carabi.
Beninger, C. 1993. Egg predation by <em>Poecilochirus carabi </em>(Mesostigmata: Parasitidae) and its effect on reproduction of Nicrophorus vespilloides (Coleoptera: Silphidae). <em>Environmental Entomology</em>, 22(4): 766-769.