Observations on mites (Arachnida: Acari) associated with three ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Saudi Arabia

Ants form complex colonies,harboring resources that can potentially be exploited by myrmecophiles (organisms living in association with ants). myrmecophily has been studied in detail for coleoptera,but for mites,remain largely unstudied. this work examined astigmatid mites associated with three saudi ant species,monomorium niloticum,messor meridionalis and tapinoma simrothi. mites belonging to two families were found associated with the three ant species,forcellinia egyptiaca eraky (acari: acaridae) and histiostoma sammari eraky (acari: histiostomatidae) on monomorium niloticum and messor meridionalis,respectively. cosmoglyphus barbisetus eraky (acari: acaridae) was recorded on tapinoma simrothi and occurred in large numbers. the abundance of mites varied among colonies,ant species and ant body parts. mite populations varied not only among ant colonies and also over time. these findings are considered the first record of mites associated with these three ant species. © 2011 zoological society of pakistan.