Notification of mites present in the pastures of the semi-arid zones of Tecozautla, Hidalgo, Mexico, and their relationship with Thysanosoma actinioides

Abstract

In order to update the knowledge about the distribution of mites present in the pastures  of a semi-arid zone in the state of Hidalgo and their possible relationship as intermediate hosts of Thysanosoma actinioides mites were collected between 2014-2016 in a pasture zone located in the community La Mesilla, Tecozautla municipality. Sampling was performed twice a year (March and September) and the samples were moved properly labeled and packaged to the laboratory to be processed and identified.  One hundred thirty individuals, grouped in 12 families, were obtained with the Oribatulidae and Tetranychidae families, being the most numerous in the pasture, with 57 % of the individuals present. The plant species highlighting in these pastures are: Bouteloua, with 37.12 % and Munroa squarrosa with 26.52 %. The most frequent mites were the oribatid mites from the Oribatulidae family. In some specimens, structures compatible with T. actinioides (cysticercoid) were observed. The results provide information on the mite species associated to this ecosystem and set the basis for the study of the role of these mites in the life cycle of the cestode.

Key words: Thysanosoma actinioides, Oribatulidae, Tetranychidae, intermediate host.