A laboratory study on the life cycle and feeding behaviour of Arrenurus madaraszi (Acari: Arrenuridae) parasitizing Anopheles mosquitoes.

Although mosquitoes of several genera were collected from one locality in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala State, India, only Anopheles spp. carried larval Arrenurus madaraszi; 21.5% of the An. hyrcanus and 19.0% of the An. vagus were infested. However, the whole life cycle of Arr. madaraszi could be replicated in the laboratory using Aedes albopictus, Ae. vittatus or Armigeres subalbatus as foster hosts. The host specificity observed in the field is therefore ecological, not physiological. In the laboratory, the nymphs and adult mites were free-living and when offered ostracods, copepods and larvae of Ae. albopictus, Ae. vittatus, An. hyrcanus, An. vagus and Arm. subalbatus as food, they showed a preference for first instar mosquito larvae, particularly those of Ae. albopictus.