Looking for future biological control agents: the comparative function of the deutosternal groove in mesostigmatid mites

The physics of fluid laminar flow through an idealised deutosternum assembly is used for the first time to review predatory feeding designs over 72 different-sized example species from 16 mesostigmatid families in order to inform the finding of new biological control agents. Gnathosomal data are dig...

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Main Author: Bowman, CE
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2023
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author Bowman, CE
author_facet Bowman, CE
author_sort Bowman, CE
collection OXFORD
description The physics of fluid laminar flow through an idealised deutosternum assembly is used for the first time to review predatory feeding designs over 72 different-sized example species from 16 mesostigmatid families in order to inform the finding of new biological control agents. Gnathosomal data are digitised from published sources. Relevant gnathosomal macro- and micro-features are compared and contrasted in detail which may subtly impact the control of channel- or ‘pipe’-based transport of prey liquids around various gnathosomal locations. Relative deutosternal groove width on the mesostigmatid subcapitulum is important but appears unrelated to the closing velocity ratio of the moveable digit. Big mites are adapted for handling large and watery prey. The repeated regular distance between deutosternal transverse ridges (‘Querleisten’) supports the idea of them enabling a regular fluctuating bulging or pulsing droplet-based fluid wave ‘sticking’ and ‘slipping’ along the groove. Phytoseiids are an outlier functional group with a low deutosternal pipe flow per body size designed for slot-like microchannel transport in low volume fluid threads arising from daintily nibbling nearby prey klinorhynchidly. Deutosternal groove denticles are orientated topographically in order to synergise flow and possible mixing of coxal gland-derived droplets and circumcapitular reservoir fluids across the venter of the gnathosomal base back via the hypostome to the prey being masticated by the chelicerae. As well as working with the tritosternum to mechanically clean the deutosternum, denticles may suppress fluid drag. Shallow grooves may support edge-crawling viscous flow. Lateral features may facilitate handling unusual amounts of fluid arising from opportunistic feeding on atypical prey. Various conjectures for confirmatory follow-up are highlighted. Suggestions as to how to triage non-uropodoid species as candidate plant pest control agents are included.
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spelling oxford-uuid:d05de478-84a3-4185-8f9f-67d7b2b5cdc92024-01-08T09:56:03ZLooking for future biological control agents: the comparative function of the deutosternal groove in mesostigmatid mitesJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:d05de478-84a3-4185-8f9f-67d7b2b5cdc9EnglishSymplectic ElementsSpringer2023Bowman, CEThe physics of fluid laminar flow through an idealised deutosternum assembly is used for the first time to review predatory feeding designs over 72 different-sized example species from 16 mesostigmatid families in order to inform the finding of new biological control agents. Gnathosomal data are digitised from published sources. Relevant gnathosomal macro- and micro-features are compared and contrasted in detail which may subtly impact the control of channel- or ‘pipe’-based transport of prey liquids around various gnathosomal locations. Relative deutosternal groove width on the mesostigmatid subcapitulum is important but appears unrelated to the closing velocity ratio of the moveable digit. Big mites are adapted for handling large and watery prey. The repeated regular distance between deutosternal transverse ridges (‘Querleisten’) supports the idea of them enabling a regular fluctuating bulging or pulsing droplet-based fluid wave ‘sticking’ and ‘slipping’ along the groove. Phytoseiids are an outlier functional group with a low deutosternal pipe flow per body size designed for slot-like microchannel transport in low volume fluid threads arising from daintily nibbling nearby prey klinorhynchidly. Deutosternal groove denticles are orientated topographically in order to synergise flow and possible mixing of coxal gland-derived droplets and circumcapitular reservoir fluids across the venter of the gnathosomal base back via the hypostome to the prey being masticated by the chelicerae. As well as working with the tritosternum to mechanically clean the deutosternum, denticles may suppress fluid drag. Shallow grooves may support edge-crawling viscous flow. Lateral features may facilitate handling unusual amounts of fluid arising from opportunistic feeding on atypical prey. Various conjectures for confirmatory follow-up are highlighted. Suggestions as to how to triage non-uropodoid species as candidate plant pest control agents are included.
spellingShingle Bowman, CE
Looking for future biological control agents: the comparative function of the deutosternal groove in mesostigmatid mites
title Looking for future biological control agents: the comparative function of the deutosternal groove in mesostigmatid mites
title_full Looking for future biological control agents: the comparative function of the deutosternal groove in mesostigmatid mites
title_fullStr Looking for future biological control agents: the comparative function of the deutosternal groove in mesostigmatid mites
title_full_unstemmed Looking for future biological control agents: the comparative function of the deutosternal groove in mesostigmatid mites
title_short Looking for future biological control agents: the comparative function of the deutosternal groove in mesostigmatid mites
title_sort looking for future biological control agents the comparative function of the deutosternal groove in mesostigmatid mites
work_keys_str_mv AT bowmance lookingforfuturebiologicalcontrolagentsthecomparativefunctionofthedeutosternalgrooveinmesostigmatidmites