Morphological and genetic differentiation betweenMacrocheles glaberandMacrocheles perglaber(Acarina: Mesostigmata)

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Abstract
The mites Macrocheles glaber and M. perglaber are two sibling species whose identification on the basis of morphological characters is often uncertain. We studied electrophoretically sympatric and allopatric field populations of these species from number of localities, in the attempt to find biochemical diagnostic characters. Two out of the five enzyme loci assayed, α-Gpdh and Got, were found diagnostic between the two species in all the samples tested. Both loci appear monomorphic for electrophoretically distinct alleles, allowing the identification of all the specimens. These results are much promising not only at the taxonomic level but also for ecological studies as for instance the determination of the trophic niche of these largely sympatric sibling species.