Ovoviviparity in Macrocheles glaber (Müller) (Acari: Macrochelidae), with notes on parental care and egg cannibalism

In Macrocheles glaber (Müller), oviposition can involve either oviparity or egg production followed by immediate hatching of the larva, a process that may be called ovoviviparity. We observed three phases in the process of ovoviviparity: preoviposition behaviour, oviposition followed by holding the egg under the gnathosoma and hatching of the larva assisted by the female. Two factors appear to favour the occurrence of ovoviviparity in this species: poor feeding and poor substrate quality. We witnessed egg cannibalism four times in two of the four females that we observed. We discuss the consequences of variable oviposition strategy, parental care and egg cannibalism in M. glaber in the context of maximization of reproductive success.

在光滑巨螯螨（Macrocheles glaber, Müller）中，其产卵行为可分为两种模式：一是卵生（oviparity），二是先产卵后幼虫随即孵化的过程，该形式可被定义为卵胎生（ovoviviparity）。我们在该物种的卵胎生过程中观测到三个阶段：产卵前行为、产卵后将卵保留于颚体（gnathosoma）下方，以及雌性协助幼虫孵化的行为。有两项因素似乎更利于该物种采取卵胎生策略：取食条件不佳与基质质量较差。在我们观测的4头雌性个体中，有2头共发生4次卵同类相食行为。本文结合繁殖成功率最大化的研究背景，探讨了M. glaber可变产卵策略、亲代抚育以及卵同类相食行为所带来的影响。