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Leptus (Leptus) mahtabaesp. nov. (Acari: Erythraeidae), collected as an ectoparasite of Mesobuthus rakhshanii (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Sistan and Baluchestan province, southeast Iran, is described and illustrated based on the morphological characteristics of the larvae. The position of solenidia on Ti II of Charletonia damavandica Karimi Irvanlou, Kamali & Talebi, 2002, is corrected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to determine the mites parasitizing aphids in the park and gardens in Aydin city between March 2019 and June 2020. As a result, a total of 1276 mite larvae were collected and 12 species were identified. Eight species, Allothrombium clavatum, A. polikarpi (Trombidiidae), Erythraeus (Erythraeus) phalangoides, E. (E.) uhadi, Erythraeus (Zaracarus) coleopterus, E. (Z.) iranicus, E. (Z.) kurdistaniensis (Erythraeidae) and Lassenia novoseljensis (Tanaupodidae), are new records to the Turkish fauna. The larvae of the mites were ectoparasites of 10 different aphid species: Aphis (Aphis) craccivora, A. (A.) nerii, Aulacorthum (Aulacorthum) solani, Brachycaudus (Appelia) tragopogonis, Hyalopterus pruni, Hyperomyzus (Hyperomyzus) lactucae, Macrosiphoniella (Macrosiphoniella) sanborni, Myzus (Nectarosiphon) persicae, Uroleucon (Uroleucon) sonchi, U. (U.) aeneum (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Erythraeus (E.) ankaraicus was the most common with a rate of 42.4% followed by A. triticium with 22.9% and E.(E.)phalangoideswith 19.7%. Most of the mites were collected from Uroleucon (U.) sonchi with a rate of 69.4%, followed by H. pruni with 8.5% and Aulacorthum (A.) solani with 6.0%. The mites were collected mostly in the spring with 86.9% and of which 51.9% was obtained in May. Allothrombium clavatumis also re-described and some data for collected species are corrected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species Empitrombium prasadi Saberi-Riseh & Saboori n. sp. (Acari: Microtrombidiidae) is described and illustrated based on larvae extracted from soil, i.e. off their host. A key to the five species based on larvae is provided and the formula of dorsal idiosomal setae of E. pesici is corrected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two prominent pest species, the Onion thrips,Thrips tabaciLindeman and the two-spotted spider miteTetranychus urticaeKoch frequently co-occur in greenhouse crops. The generalist predator,Neoseiulus californicus(McGregor), is able to prey on both pest species; however, the presence of bothT. tabaciandT. urticaemay result in a preference of one prey species releasing the other prey species from predation. Thus,N. californicusprotonmyphs, deutonymphs and females were simultaneously offered 1stT. tabaciinstar larvae and differentT. urticaedevelopmental stages (larvae, protonymphs, deutonymphs, and adult females) to evaluate the prey preference and prey consumption rates ofN. californicusand the body size ratios of predator and prey.Neoseiulus californicuspreferred to prey onT. urticaeimmatures. In contrast, allN. californicusdevelopmental stages switched fromT. urticaetoT. tabaci, whenT. urticaefemales were present, althoughT. urticaefemales were smaller than 1stT. tabaciinstar larvae. Our results showed thatN. californicuspredators mainly preferT. urticaeas prey and consumptive effects ofN. californicusonT. tabaciin the presence ofT. urticaeshould be very low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Charletonia farajiisp. nov. is described and illustrated from larvae ectoparasitic on grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in Lowshan, Rudbar and Rostamabad cities, Guilan province, Iran. It is the fourth species of the genus with two setae between coxae II and III and solenidion placed in proximal half of genu I. Also, it is the second species with this feature from Iran. A key to larval species of Charletonia with two intercoxalae II and III and solenidion placed in proximal half of genu I is presented. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E78B4784-6BB5-4CD1-87A6-677D2193AD3E [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Charletonia behshahriensis Hakimitabar and Saboori sp. nov. (Acari: Erythraeidae) is described from Behshahr city, Mazandaran province, Iran. A key to larval species of Charletonia with two intercoxalae II and III is presented. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C4860435-1673-4CC0-A24F-AF0247C5E84C [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hexabdella persiaensisPaktinat Saeej and Bagherisp. nov.is described and illustrated from Amol city, Mazandaran province, Iran. This is the first species of this genus described from Asia. An updated key to all species of the genusHexabdellais also presented. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3BA520C7-E2D7-4387-80CB-E2BA17590B3F [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Allothrombium pulvinum is a predatory mite capable of controlling aphid pests in agricultural and natural ecosystems. In this study, proteinase, carbohydrase and lipase activities were determined in the mite's gut using general and specific substrates, inhibitors and activators. The adult mites were dissected and their guts were removed and used as the enzyme source after homogenization and centrifugation. Gut pH of 5.3 was obtained in adults using pH dye indicators. Gut extracts showed an optimum proteolysis activity against haemoglobin under acidic condition (pH 3). The most effective inhibitor of proteinase activity was the cysteine proteinase inhibitor, E-64 [l-trans-leucylamido-(4-guanidino)-butane]. The optimum pH for acidic proteinase activity; the inhibition of proteinase activity by E-64; and increased proteinase activity in the presence of the activator l-cysteine revealed the presence of acidic proteinases, specifically cysteine proteinases, in the mite gut. Proteinase zymogram analysis showed at least three bands of proteinase activity in the gut extract. α-Amylase was optimally active against starch substrate at pH 5. The maximum activity of glucosidases (α and β) and galactosidases (α and β) occurred at pH 5 and pH 4, respectively. Zymogram analysis revealed at least two bands of activity for α-glucosidase and one band of activity for β-glucosidase. Lipase activity was also determined at pH 2–8 and the activity increased under alkaline conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We studied the genetic diversity of Hygrobates fluviatilis collected from two different types of habitats (springs and streams) based on 653 bp sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. Among 39 individuals collected from Iran, the Netherlands and Germany, 29 haplotypes were found. Deviation between the two types of habitats was not found, suggesting frequent gene flow between these habitats. Haplotypes from the same countries formed each clade, and a large genetic distance was found between the samples from different countries, which poses a question about the existence of cryptic species in the populations of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of five cotton cultivars (Varamin, Mehr, Bakhtegan, Sahel, Saiokra) on the fitness of Tetranychus urticae was assessed by determining the developmental time and fertility life-table parameters for mites on leaf discs at 25 ± 1°C, 70 ± 10% relative humidity and 16:8 hours light:dark photoperiod. To investigate this effect, the duration of each life stage, longevity, reproduction rate and fertility life-table parameters including intrinsic rate of natural increase (r m), net reproductive rate (R 0), mean generation time (T), doubling time (DT) and finite rate of increase (λ) of the two-spotted spider mite on different cotton cultivars were calculated. The results indicated that the Varamin cultivar was the most suitable one for two-spotted spider mite among the tested plants because of its shorter immature developmental period and higher reproduction and intrinsic rate of natural increase, whereas Bakhtegan was the least suitable cultivar because of the longer immature developmental time and the lowest reproduction rate and intrinsic rate of natural increase. The lowest r m value suggests an antibiosis resistance in this cultivar in comparison with other cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]