Comparison of the cuticular profiles of several dung beetles used as host carriers by the phoretic mite Macrocheles saceri (Acari: Mesostigmata)

Abstract

Macrochelid mites have developed phoretic interactions with coprophilous arthropods in order to disperse and colonize new substrate. Macrocheles saceri (Acari: Mesostigmata) is a mite phoretically specialized on the dung beetles of the Scarabaeus genus. A previous study has demonstrated that M. saceri can discriminate among available hosts and showed host preferences using the host cuticular material. In this present study, we have compared the cuticular chemicals including the volatiles present among several species of Scarabaeus and Bubas genera. By comparing the host chemical profiles to the host preferences, several hypotheses regarding the role of some of these volatile chemicals in host discrimination based on attractiveness and repellency, are proposed.