Mites (Acari) associated with Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Malaysia, with a revised list of the mites found on this weevil

• Five phoretic mite species are reported as associates of red palm weevil in Malaysia.
• Phoretic load ranged from 11–1345 individuals per host on the weevil body.
• The presence of phoretic mites in large number could impose a cost for the host.
• Reported misidentifications of mite species associated with red palm weevil

There is a great deal of diversity among phoretic association particularly in mesostigmatic mites that exploited insect host to complete their dispersal strategy. Similarly, the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, also has been used as a carrier by the phoretic mites. In this study, we found Centrouropoda almerodai (Uropodidae), Macrocheles mammifer, Macrocheles cf. oigru (Macrochelidae), Uroobovella assamomarginata and Uroobovella javae (Dinychidae) as the phoretic mites associated with the Malaysian red palm weevils. Male weevils had significantly greater number of mites per host as compared to the female weevils. Present study revealed that the red palm weevils were infested with very large numbers of phoretic mites which occur mainly under the elytra. Our results combined with those in the literatures suggest the potential role of phoresy in the evolution of parasitism.

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