Neothrombiidae - Ceuthothrombium cavaticum
Family Neothrombiidae
Ceuthothrombium cavaticum Size: X Group Guild Status Trogloxene Parasite/Predator Common The larval instar of C. cavaticum is parasitic on cave crickets, whereas the free-living deutonymph and adult stages are predators of mites and other arthropods (Welbourn 1999). The mite larvae gather around the base of the limbs of the crickets (at the coxal/thoracic junction) where they feed. Welbourn (1999) reported from 1 to 8 of the mites on almost all crickets examined. We found a similar situation during the recent study, with up to 12 mites found on one cricket. The deutonymphs and adults probably live in soil or leaf litter outside of the cave, where they encounter foraging crickets and the larvae find their cricket host. |
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