Natural host.—Periplaneta americana, U.S.A. (Roth and Willis, unpublished data, 1953): Mite determined by Dr. E. W. Baker (personal communication, 1953). Mites were found in the oöthecal cavity of a female cockroach that had been isolated for her entire adult life. The mites were in a closely packed mass behind a plug of what appeared to be feces, disintegrated eggs, and dried blood; none of the mites were visible until this plug was removed. Baker (personal communication, 1953) stated that the mite is probably not parasitic and that species of the genus feed on organic matter.
Rhizoglyphus tarsalus Banks
Natural host.—Periplaneta americana, U.S.A. (Rau, 1940a): Not normally parasitic on cockroaches, but the mites became so numerous at times they would attack living as well as dead and dying cockroaches.
Family GLYCIPHAGIDAE
Chaetodactylus sp.
Synonymy.—Trichotarsus sp. [Baker and Wharton, 1952].
Natural host.—Leucophaea maderae, Puerto Rico (Seín, 1923): Mites found on cockroach's thorax and particularly among the folds of the wings (Seín, 1923). Mites of this genus are found infesting organic matter (Baker and Wharton, 1952).
Family PODAPOLIPODIDAE