Morphology of the Mouthparts of the Sheep Scab Mite, Psoroptes ovis1, 2

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Abstract
The mouthparts of Psoroptes ovis are structured to siphon the serous exudates from skin abrasions caused by the shearing action of toothed chelate chelicerae. Fused pseudorutellar prolongations of the subcapitulum terminate as paired, lateral, and medial processes that form a suctorial cup which, when applied against the surface of the host's epidermis, apparently directs fluids into a preoral cavity. The dorsal pseudorutellar surface bears a membranous extension appearing distally primarily as paired lateral lobes continuous with the lateral pseudorutellar processes, and basally as medial and lateral lobes partially enveloping the movable digits of the chelicerae. Imbibed fluids are thus sealed within a preoral cavity, prior to passage into the pharynx, formed by the complex juxtaposition of the membranous extensions of the dorsal pseudorutellar surface, the cheliceral coverings, and the longitudinal membranous folds of the medial margins of the distal palpal podomeres.

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