Abstract
The hydrocarbon components in the opisthonotal glands of six species of agriculturally important astigmatid mites were identifed. These included n-tridecane, n-tetradecane, n-pentadecane, Z-Δ5-tridecene, Z-Δ6- and Z-Δ7-tetradecene, Z-Δ6- and Z-Δ7-pentadecene, and Z, Z-Δ6, 9-pentadecadiene. Tyrophagus neiswanderi and T. putrescentiae are characterized by abundant quantities of monoenes and dienes, whereas the hydrocarbons of T. similis and Carpoglyphus lactis are predominately nalkanes, with only minor quantities of the alkenes. Aleuroglyphus ovatus and Rhizoglyphus robini contain only n-tridecane (>97%) and n-tetradecane.Scanning electron microscopy of the opisthonotal gland orifice revealed a novel and previously unknown "trapdoor" closure which appears to regulate the release of gland contents.
