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Proctolaelaps regalis DeLeon (Acari: Ascidae) is a species of free-living, omnivorous mites recently implicated as a potential vector in a horizontal gene transfer event between Drosophila willistoni and D. melanogaster. In this research, I investigated behaviors of the mite impacting its potential to acquire, maintain within the mite population, and transfer genes between flies. The potential of the mite to acquire and transfer genes is related to its propensity to prey upon the fly, but also to the population size and density of mites and flies within their habitat. Thus, aggregation and social behaviors exhibited by mites should influence their potential to acquire and transfer genes, and to maintain genes within the population. Mites were observed clustering in groups within the colony and depositing eggs in clusters. Mites were also observed to prefer fly growth medium previously conditioned to conspecific mites in culture over fresh medium, suggesting the presence of an aggregation pheromone. To investigate the propensity of the mites to prey upon D. melanogaster, and the search behavior response of mites to conspecific eggs and conspecific-conditioned growth medium, I used a paired-sample design in which individual mites were sequentially exposed to a control environment and seven potential resources. Each mite's behavior was recorded to determine its response. Mites were assessed for general attraction to the treatment in relation to their behavior in the control environment. Mites were also assessed for shifts in their search path pattern in response to the treatments. Mites were observed in small colonies for behaviors not addressed in the research design. The behavior of the mite was not influenced by the life-history stages of D. melanogaster. Mites were attracted to conspecific eggs, and strongly attracted to the conditioned growth medium. Mites exhibited potential social interactions within the colony, including intimate contacts between individual mites. They also exhibited aggressive behaviors and egg cannibalism. The lack of attraction to flies could decrease the mite's potential to acquire and transmit the gene. However, the mites may prey upon flies opportunistically, or switch to predation under periods of habitat decline. This would limit predation to certain times, but would not necessarily reduce the mite's potential as a vector. |
