Balaustium graminum
Encyclopedia
Balaustium graminum is a species of mite
belonging to the family Erythraeidae
. This mite is very closely related to and similar to Balaustium medicagoense
but has two (rather than one) pairs of eyes and is less densely hairy.
The adult is associated with various grass
es in the vicinity of Grabouw
, South Africa
.
Mite
Mites, along with ticks, are small arthropods belonging to the subclass Acari and the class Arachnida. The scientific discipline devoted to the study of ticks and mites is called acarology.-Diversity and systematics:...
belonging to the family Erythraeidae
Erythraeidae
Erythraeidae is a family of mites belonging to the Trombidiformes. Larval forms of these mites are parasitic on various other arthropods, for example harvestmen, but the adults are free-living predators. These oval mites are rather large, usually reddish coloured and densely hairy. The legs,...
. This mite is very closely related to and similar to Balaustium medicagoense
Balaustium medicagoense
Balaustium medicagoense is a species of mite belonging to the family Erythraeidae. This large, densely hairy mite is up to 1.6 mm in length with one pair of eyes set well back on the body...
but has two (rather than one) pairs of eyes and is less densely hairy.
The adult is associated with various grass
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
es in the vicinity of Grabouw
Grabouw
Grabouw is a mid-sized town located in the Western Cape province of South Africa some 65 km south-east of Cape Town along the N2 highway. It is located over Sir Lowry's Pass from Somerset West in the Elgin Valley, which is sandwiched between the Hottentots-Holland, Kogelberg and Groenland...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.