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There are many species of Arrenurus, they are all armored mites. The genus Arrenurus is often subdivided based on the length of the tail-shaped appendage. A. buccinator belongs to the subgenus Megaluracurus, the long-tailed species, see also: Arrenurus globator. The species name buccinator means: trumpeter, which probably refers to the shape of the tail.
This was the first Arrenurus species where I could first identify the female and then successfully search for a male specimen. Arrenurus females are considered difficult to identify (Viets, 1936). See the page about the female for more details.
The female (above) has the usual appearance that most Arrenurus species have.
The male is more specific with its long tail. The length of the upper side of the tail is smaller than that of the underside. The tail is narrowed in the part that is connected to the rest of the body. The front of the mite between the eyes is slightly concave. The hind legs have a small spur (almost invisible in this picture).
