Notes on the life history of Sancassania boharti (Acari: Acaridae) and its relationship to the alkali bee, Nomia melanderi (Hymenoptera: Halictidae)

S. boharti is a mite associate of the alkali bee only in Fremont County, Wyoming. Its life stages are typical of acarid mites. Duration of all life stages, mean female life span, and mean fecundity at 3 temperatures are given. Large mite colonies were supported on sick or decaying bee larvae or on moldy pollen. Small colonies were occasionally found with healthy bee larvae. Hypopi moulted to tritonymphs within 30 hours and to adults less than 77 hours after food exposure. Large mite populations build up swiftly, then crash, leaving only hypopi. Mites were comparatively rare on healthy tenerals or pupae in cells and much more common on bees captured in flight. Males carried larger mite populations than females. S. boharti was the most important necrophage of diseased bees at the Fremont County sites. Its role as a vector of bee disease is discussed.