Tyrolichus casei

Tyrolichus casei
	Drawing by Oudemans
Systematics
	Astigmatina
Superfamily :	Acaroidea
Family :	Acaridae
Subfamily :	Tyrophaginae
Genre :	Tyrolichus
Type :	Tyrolichus casei
Scientific name
	Tyrolichus casei
	Oudemans , 1923

Tyrolichus casei , in German, as some other mite species occasionally, cheese mite called, is a , stock harmful mite global distribution. The species is best known for its use in the production of the local cheese specialty Würchwitz mite cheese .

features

The mites have a body size of 450-550 μm in the males and 500-700 μm in the females. The trunk section ( Idiosoma ) is rounded (shorter and wider than Acarus ), with small, narrow legs. It is very difficult to distinguish the species from the very similar mite species of the genera Acarus (with the flour mite Acarus siro ) and Tyrophagus , which often occur together in cheese and other stores , and especially according to the characteristics of the bristling. Another distinguishing feature is the shape of the solenidia , short rod-shaped appendages on the tarsi of the first two pairs of legs. In the genus Tyrolichus the length of two bristles at the front end of the idiosoma is very different; in Acarus and Tyrophagus these are both short and almost the same length. The solenidia are almost cylindrical with a small thickening near the center, without a thickened tip. When viewed microscopically, the generally longer setae of the Idiosoma differ from the flour mite. Identification keys for differentiating the most common types of mite that are harmful to storage are provided by the US Department of Agriculture and Alan Olsen.

Biology and occurrence

The mites are widespread, but much less common than the flour mite and the very similar species, Tyrophagus puterscentiae , found in food supplies of various kinds such as flour and cereal products, fruits and cheese on which they feed. They prefer supplies stored in a relatively dry place. Temperatures above 4 ° C, optimal are 23 ° C, and at least 60% relative humidity, optimal are 87%, are advantageous for their reproduction. Like other storage mites, the species occasionally occurs freely in apartments, where it can be removed from wallpaper paste and the like. Ä. nourishes. Due to the higher need for moisture than that of house dust mites , they usually rarely stay here (all species together 1 to 2%), but can occur in large numbers in very damp apartments.

For the production of Würchwitz mite cheese, it is specifically inoculated with the mites . This should give it a special nutty, fruity aroma. For the French mite cheese Mimolette , which is produced in the Lille area , it is not this type that is used, but the flour mite.

The report of this species also as a parasite in the brood cells of an Australian wild bee species is erroneous and goes back to a determination error.

literature

JP Melnyk, A. Smith, C. Scott-Dupree, MF Marcone, A. Hill (2010): Identification of cheese mite species inoculated on Mimolette and Mitbenkase cheese through cryogenic scanning electron microscopy. Journal of Dairy Science 93: 3461-3468. doi: 10.3168 / jds.2009-2937

Individual evidence

^ J. Richard Gorham (editor): Insect and Mite Pests in Food. An Illustrated Key. United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service and United States Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Food and Drug Administration. Washington DC. Agriculture Handbook No. 655, 1987, 767 pages.
↑ lan R. Olsen & Richard W. Potter: Mites (Arachnida, Acarina). Chapter 9 in Alan Olsen: Fundamentals of Microanalytical Entomology: A Practical Guide to Detecting and Identifying Filth in Foods. CRC Press, 1995. ISBN 978-0-8493-8925-2 .
↑ Manfred G. Walzl & Horst Aspöck: House dust mites and other allergy-producing synanthropic mites: biology, ecology and medical significance. In Horst Aspöck (editor): Ill through arthropods. Denisia 30 (2010): 351-364.
^ A. Fain (1986): A New Mite (Acari, Acaridae) from a Nest of the Wasp Paragia tricolor Smith in Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 12 (4): 407-413.

[1] J. Richard Gorham (editor): Insect and Mite Pests in Food. An Illustrated Key. United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service and United States Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Food and Drug Administration. Washington DC. Agriculture Handbook No. 655, 1987, 767 pages.

[2] R. Olsen & Richard W. Potter: Mites (Arachnida, Acarina). Chapter 9 in Alan Olsen: Fundamentals of Microanalytical Entomology: A Practical Guide to Detecting and Identifying Filth in Foods. CRC Press, 1995. ISBN 978-0-8493-8925-2 .

[3] Manfred G. Walzl & Horst Aspöck: House dust mites and other allergy-producing synanthropic mites: biology, ecology and medical significance. In Horst Aspöck (editor): Ill through arthropods. Denisia 30 (2010): 351-364.

[4] A. Fain (1986): A New Mite (Acari, Acaridae) from a Nest of the Wasp Paragia tricolor Smith in Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 12 (4): 407-413.