A New mite, Zwickia gibsoni n.sp., Fam. Anoetidae, from the pitchers of Sarracenia purpurea L.

• Published in: The Canadian Entomologist
• Main Author: Nesbitt, Herbert H. J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1954
• Subjects: Insect Science; Molecular Biology; Physiology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Structural Biology; Canada; Menzel; Copepods; Mite
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.4039/ent86193-5; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0008347X00102603

When in 1948 I first made the acquaintance of the mite about to be described I was intrigued with the idea that a form morphologically so similar to those described by Oudemans, 1915 and Hirst 1928 should come from such a different habitat. Whilst recognizing the totally different geographical areas, sphagnum bogs of boreal Canada as opposed to humid forests of tropical Ceylon and Malaya, the question arises as to whether the micro-habitat in which these three species live is so totally different. From the published material available (vide Thienemann 1928-29), which I admit is not very extensive, there does not seem to be much chemical difference between the waters of Nepenthes and those of Sarracenia . The similarity of these two micro-habitats is further substantiated by the fact that copepods of the genus Parastenocaris have been found in the pitchers of Sarracenia which closely resemble those described by Menzel 1921, Chappius 1931 and Thienemann 1928-29 (quoting from Ghosh, no reference given) from the water of Nepenthes . The question of distribution over such great distances and over what must be long ages poses certain difficulties which can only be answered when we know more about the past history and distribution of pitcher plants and mites. The possession of an hypopial stage by all three species does offer some help in the problem but the further question of how the Canadian mites have adapted themselves to the rigours of a northern winter is difficult to understand.