The bumblebee mite Parasitellus fucorum (De Geer, 1778) (Acariformes: Parasitidae) : a new species for the Faroe Islands

• Main Authors: Witaliński, Wojciech, Jensen, Jens-Kjeld
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: Faroe Islands; Færøerne; Iceland; Mite
• Online Access: https://ruj.uj.edu.pl/xmlui/handle/item/51868; http://www.jenskjeld.info/artikler/The_bumblebee_mite_Parasitellus_fucorum_De%20Geer_1778.pdf

This is the first report of the bumblebee mite Parasitellus fucorum (De Geer, 1778) from the Faroe Islands. The mite was found on two bumblebee queens of the species Bombus lucorum (Linnaeus, 1761), one of which was heavily infested, hosting 811 mites. Several mites were additionally infected by heteromorphic deutonymphs (hypopi) of an Acaridae mite (Astigmata). Breeding bumblebees have inhabited the Faroe Islands since 2010. Parasitellus fucorum is common on bumblebees in all neighboring countries, recently including Iceland. We expect the appearance of further Parasitellus species on the Faroe Islands in the future.