Body size-dependent effects on the distribution patterns of phoretic mite species assemblages on Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier, 1790)

Phoretic mites attach to different body parts of the red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier, 1790), to disperse. However, the question of how the patterns of attachment sites are formed remains intriguing. Here, we examined RPW-associated phoretic mites in four districts in Northern Portugal (macrohabitat), and investigated the patterns of mite distribution on six body parts of RPW (microhabitat). At the macrohabitat level, we detected seven phoretic mite taxa using the RPW host in each of the four studied districts, all documented for the first time in association with this invasive exotic species in Portugal. However, their relative abundance (species evenness) varied between districts, as did species diversity. All examined weevils carried mites, and the prevalence of the different taxa did not differ between districts or sex of weevils. Measured by mean abundance and degree of aggregation, Centrouropoda sp. proved to be the dominant taxon, while Acarus sp. and Cur..., Samples were from eight sites in the Northern Portugal districts of Viana do Castelo, Braga, Porto and Aveiro. The name and geographical localisation of these eight sites are as follows: Moledo do Minho (41.847698, -8.864375) in Viana do Castelo; Famalicão (41.361287, -8.539348) in Braga; Marquês (41.161283, -8.604427), Porto Botanical Garden (41.153008, -8.642730) and Foz do Douro (41.147716, -8.670845) in Porto; Esmoriz (40.955908, -8.650886), Barra Beach (40.632630, -8.748307) and Santiago Campus - University of Aveiro (40.635053, -8.659500) in Aveiro. The captured weevils were transported to the laboratory in plastic containers and fed with apple slices. The specimens were then stored in the refrigerator at 8 degrees Celcius until dissection. The cold-anaesthetised weevils were separated by sex and dissected individually under a stereomicroscope. Phoretic mites were counted on six body parts of the weevils, i.e. neck, head-antenna, thorax, legs, ventral surface (abdominal sterna), a..., , This readme file was generated on [2023-07-03] by [CAMILO AYRA-PARDO]

GENERAL INFORMATION

Title of Dataset:
Data from: Body size-dependent effects on the distribution patterns of phoretic mite species assemblages on Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier, 1790)

Author/Principal Investigator Information
Name: CAMILO AYRA-PARDO
ORCID: 0000-0001-5579-677X
Institution: CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Center of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto
Address: Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixes, Avda. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208, Matosinhos, Portugal
Email:

Author/Associate or Co-investigator Information
Name: Ins Matos
ORCID: 0000-0001-7024-2599
Institution: CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Center of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto
Address: Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixes, Avda. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208, Matosinhos, Portugal
Email:

Author/Associate or Co-investigator Information
Name: Luis Filipe Rangel
ORCID: 0000-0002-8503...