Table Of Content1998. The Journal of Arachnology 26:452-459
RESEARCH NOTE
PHORETIC PSEUDOSCORPIONS ASSOCIATED WITH
FLYING INSECTS IN BRAZILIAN AMAZONIA
The oldest record of a phoretic association Lustrochernes intermedins, Lustrochernes aff.
between pseudoscorpions and flying insects in reimoseri Beier 1932 and Parawithius (V.)
Brazilian Amazonia is that of Cordylochernes gracilimanus Mahnert 1979 associated with
scorpioides (Linnaeus 1758) traveling under twelve species of passalid beetles, in Ama-
the wings of the cerambycid beetle Acrocinus zonas. Moreover, Aguiar et al. (1992) found
longimanus (Linnaeus 1758) in Belem (Para Dolichowithius (D.) mediofasciatus Mahnert
State) (Ellingsen 1905). Beck (1968) and 1979, being transported by a species of Pla-
Mahnert (1979) reported the same association typodidae, Platypus sp., in Amazonas; and,
from Manaus (Amazonas State) and Aguiar & more recently, Aguiar et al. (1998), in a study
Biihmheim (1992b) extended this occurrence of the occurrence of these Withiidae in wood
to Rio Branco (Acre State) and mentioned the industries situated in urban areas of Manaus
same pseudoscorpion being transported by an- (Amazonas), collected another platypodid.
other cerambycid species, Macrodontia cer- Platypusparallelus (Fabricius 1801), also car-
vicornis (Linnaeus 1758), from Amazonas. rying D. mediofasciatus. Aguiar & Buhmheim
Aguiar & Biihmheim (1992b) also recorded
(1998) reported Parachernes aff. albomacu-
A. longimanus carrying two other pseudoscor-
latus (Balzan 1892) in a phoretic association
pions, Parachelifer lativittatus (Chamberlin
with an unidentified chrysopid neuropteran
1923) and Lustrochernes intermedins (Balzan
1892), in Amazonas. A photograph ofC scor- from Roraima (Maraca Island). Finally, Mah-
nert (1979) found Lustrochernes similis (Bal-
pioides under the wings ofA. longimanus was
given by Hofer & Beck (1995). zan 1892) and Phymatochernes crassimanus
Mahnert 1979 inside a Malaise trap in Ama-
Recently, other phoretic associations have zonas (Manaus) and Aguiar & Buhmheim
been reported from several localities in Bra-
& (1998) similarly found, in Roraima (Maraca
zilian Amazonia. Mahnert Aguiar (1986)
described a new pseudoscorpion species, Neo- Island), four phoretic pseudoscorpion species
cheiridium triangulare Mahnert & Aguiar in the collecting bottles ofseveral insecttraps,
1986, found associated with a hawkmoth, the their hosts remaining unknown.
sphingid Cocytius duponchel (Poey 1932), in The insects and phoretic pseudoscorpions
Amazonas and Para. Mahnert (1987) cited Se- studied here were collected in many different
meiochernes militaris Beier 1932 [a synonym localities of Brazilian Amazonia, the majority
ofS. armiger (Balzan 1892), according to Zeh in Amazonas State (AM), with some in Acre
& Zeh (1992)], being transported by a bra- (AC), Para (PA) and Ronddnia (RO) States
chyceran fly, in Para. Aguiar & Buhmheim (Table 1). They were captured using several
(1991) reported the cerambycid beetle, Sten- collecting techniques, including Malaise trap;
odontes spinibarbis (Linnaeus 1758), carrying Shannon trap; Pennsylvania black light BLB
three pseudoscorpion species, Lechytia trap; mercury vapor/tungsten light on a white
chthoniiformis (Balzan 1887), Neocheiridium sheet; attraction/interception trap (Aguiar et
corticum (Balzan 1887) and Lustrochernes in- al. 1992; Aguiar et al. 1998); insect collecting
termedins (Balzan 1892), all from Roraima net bag and hand picking. They are lodged in
State (Maraca Island, Uraricoera river). the Entomological Collection of the Univer-
Aguiar & Buhmheim (1992a) studied five sidade do Amazonas. Only the Diptera, Ta-
pseudoscorpion species, Tridenchthoniusmex- banidae and the insects coming from the Jau
icanus Chamberlin & Chamberlin 1945, National Park (Novo Airao, Amazonas) are
Americhernes aff. incertus Mahnert 1979, lodged in the Invertebrate Collection of the
452
AGUIAR & BUHRNHEIM—PSEUDOSCORPIONS AND FLYING INSECTS 453
—
Table 1. Pseudoscorpion species in phoretic association with flying insects in the BrazilianAmazonia.
* Denotes the first known association between the host and pseudoscorpion species. Abbreviations: AC
= Acre State; AM = Amazonas State; PA = Para State; RO = Rondonia State.
New geographical distribution
data of the association
Phoretic pseudoscorpions Host insects in Amazonia
Chthoniidae
Lechytia chthoniiformis Coleoptera, Cerambycidae
(Balzan 1890)
AM
Stenodontes spinibarbis (L. 1758) (Coari, Tefe, Uarini)
AM
Stictosomus semicostatus Serville (Coari)
1832*
AM
Diploschema sp.* (Novo Airao)
Tridenchthoniidae
Tridenchthonius mexicanus Coleoptera, Passalidae
Chamberlin & Chamberlin
)
1945
AM
Passalus abortivus Percheron 1835* (Novo Airao)
Passalus aff. coarctatus Percheron
1835
AM
Passalus convexus Dalman 1817 (Coari)
Passalus elfriedae Luederwaldt 1931
AM
Passalus interruptus (L. 1758) (Coari, Itacoatiara, Jurua,
Novo Airao)
Passalus interstitialis Eschscholtz AM (Coari, Jurua, Novo Airao)
1829
Passalus latifrons Percheron 1841
AM
Passalus (M.) spinifer Percheron (Coari)
1841*
AM
Passalus aff. nasutus Percheron (Coari)
1835*
AM
Passalus rhodocanthopoides (Kuwert (Coari, Jurua)
1891)
& AM
Passalus unicornis Lep. Serv. (Coari)
1825
AM
Passalus variiphyllus (Kuwert 1891)* (Coari)
Veturiusplatyrhinus Westwood 1845
AM
Veturius transversus (Dalman 1817) (Coari)
Unknown host AM (Carauari, Uarini)
Geogarypidae
Geogarypus amazonicus Coleoptera, Cerambycidae
Mahnert 1978*
AM
Acanthoderes thammi Bates 1880* (Coari)
Atemnidae
Paratemnoides minor
AM
(Balzan 1892) Homoptera, Cicadidae* (Uarini)
AM
Coleoptera, Endomychidae* (Manaus)
AM
Coleoptera, Meloidae: Epicauta sp.* (Coari)
AM
Coleoptera, Cerambycidae: Styliceps (Manaus)
sp.*
AM
Coleoptera, Curculionidae: Cratoso- (Manaus)
mus sp.*
454 THE JOURNAL OF ARACHNOLOGY
—
Table 1. Continued.
New geographical distribution
data of the association
Phoretic pseudoscorpions Host insects in Amazonia
Cheiridiidae
Neocheiridium triangulare Lepidoptera, Sphingidae
Mahnert & Aguiar
1986
AM
Amphimoea walkeri (Boisduval (Coari, Sao Gabriel da
1875)* Cachoeira)
AM
Cocytius anteus (Drury 1773)* (Coari)
AM
Cocytius duponchel (Poey 1832) (Coari, Itacoatiara, Jurua,
Novo Airao, Sao Gabriel da
RO
Cachoeira, Uarini); (Porto
Velho); AC (Cruzeiro do Sul)
AM
Isognathus allamandae Clark 1920* (Sao Gabriel da Cachoeira)
AM
Isognathus menechus (Boisduval (Coari)
1875)*
Neocheiridium corticum Coleoptera, Cerambycidae
(Balzan 1887) Stenodontes spinibarbis (L. 1758)
Neocheiridium sp. Hemiptera (Heteroptera), Reduviidae
Panstrongylus geniculatus (Latreille AM (Iranduba, Novo Airao)
1811)*
Chemetidae
Americhermes aff. incertus Coleoptera, Passalidae
Mahnert 1979
Passalus aff. coarctatus Percheron
1835
AM
Passalus convexus Dalman 1917 (Coari)
Passalus elfriedae Luederwaldt 1931
AM
Passalus glaberrimus Eschscholtz (Coari)
1829*
AM
Passalus aff. nasutus Percheron (Coari)
1835*
&
Passalus unicornis Lep. Serv.
1825
AM
Passalus variiphyllus (Kuwert 1891) (Coari)
AM
Veturiusparaensis Luederwaldt (Coari, Uarini)
1927*
Veturiusplatyrhinus Westwood 1845
AM
Americhemes bethaniae unknown host (Coari)
Mahnert 1979*
Lustrochernes intermedius Coleoptera, Passalidae
(Balzan 1892)
AM
Passalus abortivus Percheron 1835* (Novo Airao)
Passalus interruptus (L. 1758)* AM (Coari, Novo Airao)
AM
Passalus interstitialis Eschscholtz (Barcelos, Carauari, Coari,
1829 Jurud)
AM
Passalus rhodocanthopoides (Kuwert (Coari)
1891)
AM
Paxillus leachi MacLeay 1819* (Uarini)
AM
Spasalus robustus (Percheron 1835)* (Uarini)
Coleoptera, Cerambycidae
Acrocinus longimanus (L. 1758)
AM
Callipogon (Orthomegas) sp.* (Coari)
AM
Macrodontia sp.* (Manaus)
AM
Stenodontes spinibarbis (L. 1758) (Tefe)
AGUIAR & BUHRNHEIM—PSEUDOSCORPIONS AND FLYING INSECTS 455
—
Table 1. Continued.
New geographical distribution
data of the association
Phoretic pseudoscorpions Host insects in Amazonia
Lustrochemes aff. Coleoptera, Passalidae
reimoseri Beier 1932
AM
Passalus abortivus Percheron 1835 (Novo Airao)
Passalus aff. coarctatus Percheron
1835
AM
Passalus convexus Dalman 1817 (Coari)
Passalus elfriedae Luederwaldt 1931
AM
Passalus glaberrimus Eschscholtz (Coari)
1829*
AM
Passalus interruptus (L. 1758) (Coari)
AM
Passalus interstitialis Eschscholtz (Novo Airao)
1829
Passalus latifrons Percheron 1841
AM
Passalus (M.) spinifer Percheron (Coari)
1841*
AM
Passalus aff. nasutus Percheron (Coari)
1835*
Passalus rhodocanthopoides (Kuwert
1891)
& AM
Passalus unicornis Lep. Serv. (Coari)
1825
AM
Passalus variiphyllus (Kuwert 1891) (Jurua)
AM
Popilius marginatus (Percheron (Coari)
1835)*
AM
Popilius tetraphyllus (Eschscholtz (Tefe)
1829)*
Veturiusplatyrhinus Westwood 1845
AM
Veturius transversus (Dalman 1817) (Coari)
AM
Veturius sp.* (Coari)
Verresfurcilabris (Eschscholtz 1829)
Lustrochemes similis Coleoptera, Cerambycidae
(Balzan 1892)
AM
Acanthoderes thammi Bates 1880* (Coari)
AM
Steirastoma melanogulys Withe (Coari, Novo Airao, Presi-
1855* dente Figueiredo, Uarini)
AM
Compsibidion maronicum (Thomson (Manaus)
1867)*
Cordylochernes Coleoptera, Cerambycidae
scorpioides (L. 1758)
AM
Acrocinus longimanus (L. 1758) (Jurua, Novo Airao, Sao
Gabriel da Cachoeira, Tefe)
AM
Macrodontia cervicomis (L. 1758) (Itacoatiara)
AM
Titanus giganteus (L. 1771)* (Manaus)
Parachemes adisi unknown host AM (Guajara)
Mahnert 1979
Parachemes aff, adisi unknown host AM (Coari)
Mahnert 1979
Parachemes aff. Neuroptera, Chrysopidae
albomaculatus
(Balzan 1892)
AM
unknown host (Tefe)
456 THE JOURNAL OF ARACHNOLOGY
—
Table 1. Continued.
New geographical distribution
data ofthe association
Phoretic pseudoscorpions Host insects in Amazonia
AM
Parachernes inpai Diptera, Culicidae* (Novo Airao)
Mahnert 1979*
Diptera, Tabanidae
AM
Phorcotabanus cinereus (Wiedemann (Manaus)
1821)*
Tabanus occidentalis L. 1758* PA (Monte Alegre)
Parachernes melano- Diptera, Tabanidae
AM
pygus Beier 1959* Phorcotabanus cinereus (Wiedemann (Manaus)
1821)*
AM
Stenotabanus cretatus Fairchild (Manaus)
1961*
AM
Tabanus amapaensis Fairchild 1961* (Manaus)
unknown host AM (Manaus); RO (Ariquemes)
Parachernesplumosus Diptera, Tabanidae
AM
(White 1908)* Phorcotabanus cinereus (Weidemann (Manaus)
1821)*
AM
Stenotabanus cretatus Fairchild (Novo Airao)
1961*
AM
Tabanus trivittatus Fabricius 1805* (Uarini)
AM
Phymatochernes unknown host (Carauari, Coari)
crassimanus
Mahnert 1979
Semeiochemes armiger Diptera, Pantophthalmidae
(Balzan 1892)
Parazaona sp. Hemiptera (Heteroptera), Reduviidae
AM
Panstrongylus geniculatus (Latreille (Novo Airao)
1811)*
Withiidae
Parawithius (V.) Coleoptera, Passalidae
gracilimanus Passalus elfriedae Luederwaldt 1931
Mahnert 1979 Passalus interruptus (L. 1758)
Passalus interstitialis Eschscholtz
1829
Passalus rhodocanthopoides (Kuwert
1891)
&
Passalus unicornis Lep. Serv,
1825
Unknown host AC (Rio Branco)
Parawithius sp. Hemiptera (Heteroptera), Reduviidae
AM
Caridomma sp.* (Itacoatiara)
Dolichowithius (D.) Coleoptera, Platypodidae
mediofasciatus
Mahnert 1979
Platypusparallelus (Fabricius 1801) AC (Placido de Castro)
Platypus sp. AC (Placido de Castro)
unknown host AM (Coari, Sao Sebastiao do
Uatuma)
Dolichowithius (D.) unknown host AM (Coari)
aff. longichelifer
(Balzan 1887)*
—
AGUIAR & BUHRNHEIM—PSEUDOSCORPIONS AND FLYING INSECTS 457
Table 1. Continued.
New geographical distribution
data of the association
Phoretic pseudoscorpions Host insects in Amazonia
Cacodemonius sp. 1 Coleoptera, Cerambycidae
AM
Callipogon (Orthomegas) sp.* (Coari)
Coleoptera, Passalidae
AM
Passalus rhodocanthopoides (Kuweit (Coari)
1891)*
Cacodemonius sp. 2 Coleoptera, Passalidae
AM
Passalus abortivus Percheron 1835* (Novo Airao)
& AM
Passaluspunctiger Lep. Serv. (Coari)
1825*
AM
Paxillus leachi MacLeay, 1819* (Coari)
Coleoptera, Cerambycidae
AM
Stenodontes spinibarbis (L. 1758)* (Coari, Tefe, Uarini)
AM
Callipogon (Orthomegas) sp.* (Coari)
Cheliferidae
Parachelifer Coleoptera, Cerambycidae AM (Jurua, Novo Airao, Sao
lativittatus Acrocinus longimanus (L. 1758) Gabriel da Cachoeira, Tefe,
(Chamberlin 1923) Uarini)
Institute Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia frequently carrying both Cordylochernes
(INPA). scorpioides under the wings and Parachelifer
Phoretic associations with flying insects lativittatus behind the pronotal lateral spine
were found in 19 of the 64 described pseu- (Aguiar & Buhmheim 1992b). Another cer-
doscorpion species that are known to occur in ambycid beetle, Stenodontes spinibarbis, was
the Brazilian Amazonia (Harvey 1991), along found to carry four pseudoscorpion species,
with 10 other morphospecies, which are pre- sometimes with three species under the wings
sumably undescribed. Twenty four of these of a single host (Aguiar & Buhmheim 1991).
species were found with 56 insect species, be- A third cerambycid beetle, Steirastoma me-
longing to five orders (Hemiptera, Neuroptera, lanogulys White 1855, was observed for the
Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and Diptera); and the first time to be carrying Lustrochernes similis
remaining five species were associated with gripped to the third antennal segment (first
unknown hosts, since they were found free in segment ofthe antennal flagellum), a mode of
flying insects traps, probably brought by some transport found to be quite frequent. Platypod-
of the countless insects collected. Only more id beetles proved to be important carriers of
detailed studies will allow us to ascertain the Dolichowithius (D.) mediofasciatus (Aguiaret
host insect species. al. 1992; Aguiar et al. 1998). Many ofthe host
The Coleoptera proved to be the most fre- beetles, such as Passalidae and Cerambycidae,
quent insect carriers ofpseudoscorpions in the are inhabitants offallen rotting tmnks and, not
Amazonian region, representing 40 of the 56 surprisingly, many ofthe pseudoscorpions that
host species (Table 1). The 23 species ofpas- they carry also live in this environment (Mah-
&
salid beetles collected were each found to car- nert Adis 1985).
ry as many as five pseudoscorpion species, Among the Lepidoptera, five species of
and individual hosts sometimes carried three Sphingidae were found carrying only Neo-
pseudoscorpion species, one on the pronotum cheiridium triangulare. Cocytius duponchel
and the others under the wings (Aguiar & (Poey 1832) was the most common carrier of
Biihmheim 1992a). Twelve species of cer- this pseudoscorpion species, whose habitat
ambycid beetles were found to carry pseudo- has not yet been discovered.
scorpions, some of which were involved with Amongst the Diptera, the Tabanidae were
the regular phoretic transport of certain pseu- represented by five species carrying three
doscorpions, such as Acrocinus longimanus. pseudoscorpions: Parachernes plumosus
458 THE JOURNAL OF ARACHNOLOGY
(With 1908) was always found attached to an Aguiar, N.O. & PF. Biihrnheim. 1992b. Pseudo-
abdominal tergite, whereas P. inpai Mahnert scorpioes foreticos de Cerambycidae (Coleop-
1979 and F. melanopygus Beier 1959 were tera) e ocorrencia de Parachelifer lativittatus
always found attached to the hind legs of the Chamberlin, 1932 (Pseudoscorpiones, Cheli-
host. These pseudoscorpion species were nev- feridae) na Amazonia. Bol. Mus. Emilio Goel-
ewrerfeounadlwsahyasrinaglotnhee osnameeafclhy, falny.d Ointdhievridhuoaslst Agudiia,rs,er.N.ZOo.ol.&, 8P.:F3.4B3i-i3h4r8n.heim. 1998. Pseudo-
scorpions (Arachnida) of the Ilha de Maraca.
Diptera included a culicid carrying P. inpai, a Pp. 381-389. In Maraca: The Biodiversity and
forest canopy inhabitant, and apantophtalmid, Environment ofa Rainforest. (Milliken & Rat-
reported only as Diptera by Mahnert (1987), ter, eds.). John Wiley & Sons Ltd. England.
carrying nine individuals of Semeiochernes Aguiar, N.O., J. Vicente-da-Silva & P.F. Biihrn-
militaris {= S. armiger) on the same host heim. 1992. Dolichowithius mediofasciatus
specimen. Mahnert, 1979 (Arachnida, Pseudoscorpiones,
Some Hemiptera were also found carrying Withiidae) em foresiacomPlatipodidae (Insec-
pseudoscorpions, including an unidentified ta, Coleoptera), no Amazonas, Brasil. Ama-
Cicadidae (Homoptera) carrying Paratemno- zoniana, 12:181-185.
ides minor (Balzan 1892), a bark tree-trunk Aguiar, N.O., A.M.R. Arruda & P.F. Biihrnheim.
inhabitant, and two Reduviidae (Heteroptera), 1998. Pseudoscorpiones (Arachnida) em dis-
persao por foresia sobre insetos voadores, em
one Triatominae, Panstrongylus geniculatus
industrias madeireiras de Manaus, Amazonas.
(Latreille 1811), which occurred once carry-
Revta Univ. Amazonas, Ser, Cienc. Agrarias, 6
ing Neocheiridium sp. and on another occa- (l):79-89.
sion, carrying Parazaona sp., as well as a spe- Beck, L. 1968. Aus den Regenwaldern am Ama-
cies of Cetherinae, Caridomma sp., carrying zonas I. Natur und Museum, 98:24-32.
an unidentified species of Parawithius. Ellingsen, E. 1905. Pseudoscorpions from South
In some of the more frequent associations America. Collected by A. Borelli, A. Bertoni
studied, nymphal pseudoscorpions were found de Winkelried, and Prof. Goeldi. Boll. Mus.
in phoretic associations as frequently as adult Zool. Anat. Comp. R. Univ. Torino, 20 (500):
males and females (Mahnert & Aguiar 1986; 1-17.
Aguiar et al. 1992; Aguiar & Biihmheim Harvey, M.S. 1991. Catalogue of the Pseudos-
1992a). corpionida. (V, Mahnert, ed.) Manchester Uni-
Future studies on the phoretic behavior of Hofveerr,siHt.y&PreLs.s,BeMcakn.ch1e9s9t5e.r.Die Spinnentierfauna
these arachnids are clearly warranted, es-
des Regenwaldreservats “Reserva Ducke” in
pqeuceinatlllyy. oNfewtheasassoscoicaitaitoinosnsunthdaotubotcecdulry frree-- Z3e8n9t-r4a0l1a.mazonien 1. Natur und Museum, 125:
main to be discovered, since our knowledge Mahnert, V. 1979. Pseudoskorpione (Arachnida)
of Amazonian pseudoscorpions needs to be aus dem Amazonas-Gebiet (Brasilien). Rev.
extended to cover larger geographical and en- Suisse Zool., 86:719-810.
vironmental ranges. There is also a lack of Mahnert, V. 1987. Neue oder wenig bekannt,
natural history studies of the host insects and vorwiegend mit Insekten vergesellschaftete
their phoretic pseudoscorpions in Amazonia. Pseudoskorpione (Arachnida) aus Siidamerika,
When these studies are undertaken, it should Mittlg. Schweizerischen Entomol. Ges., 60:
help elucidate the relationships of these ar- 403-416.
thropod populations. Mahnert, V. & J. Adis. 1985. On the occurrence
and habitat of Pseudoscorpiones (Arachnida)
LITERATURE CITED from Amazonian forest of Brasil. Stud, Neo-
Aguiar, N.O. & RE Biihrnheim. 1991. Pseudo- trop. Fauna Environ., 20:211-215.
scorpioes foreticos de Stenodontes spinibarbis Mahnert, V. & N.O. Aguiar. 1986. Wiederbes-
(Lin. 1758) (Coleoptera) e redescri^ao de chreibung von Neocheiridium corticum (Bal-
Lechytia chthoniiformis (Balzan, 1890) (Pseu- zan, 1890) und Beschreibung von zwei neuen
doscorpiones, Chthoniidae) da Ilha de Maraca Arten der Gattung aus Siidamerika (Pseudos-
- Roraima. Acta Amazonica, 21:425-433. corpiones, Cheiridiidae). Mittlg. Schweizer-
Aguiar, N.O. & PF. Biihrnheim. 1992a. Pseudo- ischen Entomol. Ges., 59:499-509.
scorpiones (Arachnida) em associa^ao foretica Zeh, D.W. & J.A. Zeh. 1992. Emergence of a
com Passalidae (Insecta, Coleoptera) no Ama- giant fly triggers phoretic dispersal in the neo-
zonas, Brasil. Amazoniana, 12:187-205. tropical pseudoscorpion, Semeiochernes armi-
AGUIAR & BUHRNHEIM—PSEUDOSCORPIONS AND FLYING INSECTS 459
ger (Balzan) (Pseudoscorpionida: Cheraeti- ences, Department ofBiology, Lab. ofZo-
dae). Bull. British Arachnol. Soc., 9:43-46. ology, Av. Gal. Rodrigo Octavio Jordao
Ramos, 3000 - 69.077-000 Manaus, Ama-
Nair Otaviano Aguiar and Paulo Fried- zonas, Brazil.
rich Buhrnheim: Universidade do Manuscript received 15 August 1998, accepted 15
Amazonas, Institute of Biological Sci- September 1998.
