The Mouth Parts of the Adult Female Tropical Rat Mite, Bdellonyssus bacoti (Hirst, 1913) Fonseca, 1941 [= Liponissus bacoti (Hirst)], with Observations on the Feeding Mechanism

Abstract

The capitulum of B. bacoti consists of an outer sclerotized cone formed by the basal regions of the pedipalpi. Within this cone 2 tubes were located. The dorsal tube, formed by the dorsal wall of the capitulum and the epistome, accommodates the paired chelicerae. The ventral tube is formed by the ventral wall of the capitulum and the epistome. This tube contains the triradiate pharynx, intrinsic and extrinsic pharyngeal muscles, and epipharyngeal extensors. Anteriorly, the ventral tube has 3 median and 2 paired projections. The epistome divides anteriorly to form a dorso-medial labrum, and the dorsal wall of a ventro-medial epipharynx. The other median projection is the ventral hypostome. The paired projections are lateral in position. The force for pumping blood into the mite is provided by the pharyngeal muscles.