Mites as Fungal Vectors? the Ectoparasitic Fungi of Mites and Their Arthropod Associates in Queensland

We examined log-inhabiting arthropods and their associated mites for ectoparasitic fungi (Ascomycetes: Laboulbeniales) in South-east Queensland and Far North Queensland. Fungus host records were: Rickia berlesiana (Baccarini) on most species of Fedrizziidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) and three species of Passalidae (Coleoptera); Rickia leptaulacis Thaxter on two species of Fedrizzia (Fedrizziidae), one species of Megisthanus (Mesostigmata: Megisthanidae), and two species of Passalidae; Rick ia sp. A on two species of Paradiplogynium (Mesostigmata: Diplogyniidae) and the cockroach Panesthia tryoni Shaw (Blaberidae); Rickia sp. B on two species of Fedrizzia; Rickia sp. C on one species of Megisthanus; Rickia sp. D on Promegistus armstrongi (Mesostigmata: Promegistidae); and Dimorphomyces sp. A on a species of Micromegistus (Mesostigmata: Parantennulidae). Our data are the first records of Dimorphomyces in Australia, R. leptaulacis on mites, and Laboulbeniales on members of the Diplogyniidae, Parantennulidae, and Promegistidae. At a species-level, 15-88 per cent of mites were infested with Laboulbeniales; the most thalli found on a single mite was 34. Thalli of R. berlesiana and R. leptaulacis were especially common on old passalid beetles, but were rare on young beetles. Thalli were common on the ventral prothorax, and leg femora and tibiae, but were mostly found on the mesothoracic episternum and anterior elytra of beetles. Given the protected positions that most thalli occur, and that these positions are the preferred sites for mite associates, we hypothesise that mites are important vectors of fungi between beetles.