Deuterosminthurus bisetosus
Encyclopedia
Deuterosminthurus bisetosus is a species of springtail
discovered recently living on the broom
Genista hispanica in the autonomous community of Navarre
in Spain
.
This small globular springtail (up to 1.4 mm in length) is yellow, usually, though not always, with variable reddish-brown markings on its back. Around 10% of the examples observed have been found to be host to a new species of red mite
which has been named Polydiscia deuterosminthurus
. These mites, which ride on the back of their hosts attached just behind the head, are clearly a major burden as they average a third of the length of D. bisetosus.
This springtail has been observed on its host plant in May and June but leaves it as the air temperature rises (springtails of this type are especially susceptible to desiccation
). Where these creatures (and their parasites) spend the rest of the year has yet to be discovered.
Springtail
Springtails form the largest of the three lineages of modern hexapods that are no longer considered insects...
discovered recently living on the broom
Broom (shrub)
Brooms are a group of evergreen, semi-evergreen, and deciduous shrubs in the subfamily Faboideae of the legume family Fabaceae, mainly in the three genera Chamaecytisus, Cytisus and Genista, but also in many other small genera . All genera in this group are from the tribe Genisteae...
Genista hispanica in the autonomous community of Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
This small globular springtail (up to 1.4 mm in length) is yellow, usually, though not always, with variable reddish-brown markings on its back. Around 10% of the examples observed have been found to be host to a new species of red mite
Mite
Mites, along with ticks, are small arthropods belonging to the subclass Acari and the class Arachnida. The scientific discipline devoted to the study of ticks and mites is called acarology.-Diversity and systematics:...
which has been named Polydiscia deuterosminthurus
Polydiscia deuterosminthurus
Polydiscia deuterosminthurus is a species of mite recently discovered in the autonomous community of Navarre in Spain.Only the six-legged larval stage is so far known. This lives as a parasite on the springtail Deuterosminthurus bisetosus, which was discovered at the same time as the parasite...
. These mites, which ride on the back of their hosts attached just behind the head, are clearly a major burden as they average a third of the length of D. bisetosus.
This springtail has been observed on its host plant in May and June but leaves it as the air temperature rises (springtails of this type are especially susceptible to desiccation
Desiccation
Desiccation is the state of extreme dryness, or the process of extreme drying. A desiccant is a hygroscopic substance that induces or sustains such a state in its local vicinity in a moderately sealed container.-Science:...
). Where these creatures (and their parasites) spend the rest of the year has yet to be discovered.