The adaptation of nine species of mites that infest stored products for starch utilization was tested by (1) enzymatic analysis using feces and whole mite extracts, (2) biotests, and (3) inhibition experiments. Acarus siro, Aleuroglyphus ovatus, and Tyroborus lini were associated with the starch-type substrates and maltose, with higher enzymatic activities observed in whole mite extracts. Lepidoglyphus destructor was associated with the same substrates but had higher activities in feces. Dermatophagoides farinae, Chortoglyphus arcuatus, and Caloglyphus redickorzevi were associated with sucrose. Tyrophagus putrescentiae and Carpoglyphus lactis had low or intermediate enzymatic activity on the tested substrates. Biotests on starch additive diets showed accelerated growth of species associated with the starch-type substrates. The inhibitor acarbose suppressed starch hydrolysis and growth of the mites. We suggest that the species with higher starch hydrolytic activity in feces were more tolerant to acarbose, and alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase of synanthropic mites are suitable targets for inhibitor-based strategies of mite control.

Crop Research Institute Prague Czech Republic

References provided by Crossref.org

Detection and localization of Solitalea-like and Cardinium bacteria in three Acarus siro populations (Astigmata: Acaridae)

Populations of Stored Product Mite Tyrophagus putrescentiae Differ in Their Bacterial Communities

Feces Derived Allergens of Tyrophagus putrescentiae Reared on Dried Dog Food and Evidence of the Strong Nutritional Interaction between the Mite and Bacillus cereus Producing Protease Bacillolysins and Exo-chitinases

Two-dimensional gel proteomic analysis of Dermatophagoides farinae feces

Growth-suppressive effect of the α-amylase inhibitor of Triticum aestivum on stored-product mites varies by the species and type of diet

Enzymatic activity and immunoreactivity of Aca s 4, an alpha-amylase allergen from the storage mite Acarus siro