Diversity of Mites Associated With Stingless Bees (Hymenoptera: Meliponini) in Forest Fragments in Brazil: Empirical Validation of an Efficient and Low‐Cost Sampling Method

ABSTRACT

Despite the importance of understanding mite–bee interactions, standardized and noninvasive methods for sampling mite communities in stingless bee hives remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate a novel, low‐cost sampling technique using a custom‐built suction device, the Portable Mite Aspirator (PMA), for collecting mites from hives of three stingless bee species that were evaluated as healthy: Melipona scutellaris , Melipona subnitida and Scaptotrigona depilis . The research was conducted across two ecosystems, tropical rainforest and dry forest, in northeastern Brazil. The PMA was equipped with fine mesh filters and a flexible, narrow nozzle to minimize disturbance to host hives and optimize mite capture. Samples were collected from 14 hives between August 2023 and March 2024 using a standardized aspiration procedure targeting structural surfaces within the hives. In total, 7653 mites were collected, representing nine families: Diplogyniidae, Laelapidae, Macrochelidae, Eviphididae, Melicharidae, Gaudiellidae, Suidasiidae, Galumnellidae, Tydeidae and Iolinidae. Bisternalis sp. (Laelapidae) was by far the most abundant taxon, accounting for 74.8% of the specimens. The rainforest showed the highest abundance and diversity (6274 specimens), predominantly Bisternalis (Mesostigmata: Laelapidae). In contrast, hives located in the dry forest presented 1379 mites, from just two astigmatan genera associated with S. depilis and M. subnitida . The PMA proved to be an efficient, cost‐effective tool (material cost < $100 USD) for sampling mite communities in managed stingless bee hives. Its adaptability to different hive structures and its noninvasive nature make it a valuable methodology for ecological and taxonomic studies, with potential applications for a wide range of taxa and habitats.