Enzyme polymorphisms in Rhizoglyphus robini and R. echinopus and their application in paternity analysis.

Cellulose acetate electrophoresis (CAE) was used to investigate enzyme polymorphism in two congeneric species of Acaridae, Rhizoglyphus robini and R. echinopus. Using homogenates of individual mites, 27 enzymes were examined in two buffers. Five enzymes showed interspecific polymorphism, 15 exhibited intraspecific variation in R. robini and 12 in R. echinopus. Polymorphic PGDH was used to analyse paternity in progeny of R. robini females that had mated with two males. The second male sired on average 67% of progeny. Enzyme polymorphism can be used to study poorly known aspects of acarid mites biology, such as their mating systems and population structure under natural conditions and in stored foods.