Proctolaelaps nemathrix Krantz

Halliday, R. B., 2005, Predatory mites from crops and pastures in South Africa: potential natural enemies of redlegged earth mite Halotydeus destructor (Acari: Penthaleidae), Zootaxa 1079, pp. 11-64 : 21

Proctolaelaps nemathrix Krantz

Proctolaelaps nemathrix Krantz, 1962: 26 .

Proctolaelaps nemathrix: Jordaan & Loots, 1987: 53 .

Specimens examined: Site 94­11, 16 females; Site 94­13, 4 females; Site 94­16, 1 female; Site 94­31, 18 females, 2 males, 2 N; Site 2000­20, 30 females, 1 male.

Proctolaelaps nemathrix is a member of the P. pygmaeus species group, in the sense of Karg (1988), although it is not explicitly listed in his classification. Among other features, members of this group are characterised by having a very large anus. This condition is associated with fungal feeding, and indeed many of the specimens examined here have visible fungal spores and hyphae in their gut. This appears to be primarily a fungal­feeding species, and is not likely to be an important predator.