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The Rice Sheath Mite, Steneotarsonemus spinki Smiley (Acari: Tarsonemidae) is a pest of Kharif Rice (wet rice) of West Bengal, causing losses every year. It initially infests leaf sheaths, moving later onto the grains. It is not known how the mite survives in the off season, which is important for devising management strategies. The present investigation was conducted to find out the sources of infestation of S. spinki. It was concentrated on four types of substrates: rice associated weeds, soil, rice grains of different ages (before and after harvesting) and rice stubbles. Mites detected in any of those possible sources were slide mounted in modified Berlese medium and examined under phase and differential interference contrast microscope for identification. Tarsonemid mites were found on some grassy weeds, but not Steneotarsonemus spinki Smiley. No tarsonemid mite was found in soil samples from infested fields. Steneotarsonemus spinki was found on rice grains of different ages and in stubbles. Hence, both rice grains and rice stubbles could be important sources of infestation of S. spinki to new plants at each season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, two new species of Proctolaelaps Berlese are described. P. vanharteni sp.n. is described from Cape Verde, and P. zaheri AboShnaf & Moraes, n. sp., from Egypt. The second of these species had been inadvertently characterized in detail by AboShnaf & Moraes as P. pygmaeus (Müller). Additionally, Proctolaelaps bickleyi (Bram) is first reported from South Africa. The type species of the genus P. productus Berlese, as well as P. aegyptiacus Nasr (new senior synonym of P. debensis Jordaan and Loots) and P. bickleyi are complementarily described. A key to the Proctolaelaps species reported so far from Africa is given. Publication registration . Taxa registration: Proctolaelaps vanharteni . Proctolaelaps zaheri . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of the genus Tarsonemus Canestrini and Fanzago, 1876 (Acari: Heterostigmatina: Tarsonemidae), namely T. narkelae Karmakar and Mondal sp. nov. (on Cocos nucifera L.) and T. mondouriensis Karmakar and Ganguly sp. nov. (on Oryza sativa L.), are described based on specimens collected from the lower Gangetic plains of West Bengal, India. Tarsonemus narkelae Karmakar and Mondal sp. nov. was associated with sooty mould grown over honeydew and wax bloom secreted by rugose spiralling whitefly, Aleurodicus rugioparculatus Martin, 2004 on coconut leaves; T. mondouriensis Karmakar and Ganguly sp. nov. was associated with ripened rice grains and often with fungus-infested discoloured grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of tarsonemid mite, Steneotarsonemus indianensis sp. nov., is described from common reed grass Phragmites australis (Poaceae). This new species is the first species described under the genus Steneotarsonemus from Eastern India and the sixth species of the subgenus Steneotarsonemoides worldwide. Keys to the world species of Steneotarsonemoides are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil mesostigmatid mites include predator species with potential as biological control agents. Their use for that purpose in rose crops in Colombia is highly desirable, to complement pest management strategies. The first step for their use in a program is to know their identity. The objectives of this study were: to determine the species of non-Uropodina Mesostigmata present in rose fields and the surrounding secondary vegetation of fields in the Bogotá plateau, relating their occurrence to soil characteristics; and to determine the fluctuation of the density of those mites and of thrips in selected areas of that plateau. The study was conducted between August 2015 and December 2016 in four rose fields in greenhouses at Nemocon, Tocancipa, Cogua and Guasca, and patches of secondary vegetation next to the latter two localities. Twenty soil samples were taken every two months from each area. Complementary samplings were conducted at irregular frequencies in a rose field and a patch of secondary vegetation of other region (Facatativa) and in two patches of high Andean vegetation (La Calera, Soacha). Ninety-six species were found. In both rose cultivation and natural vegetation, Parasitidae and Laelapidae were the dominant families throughout the study, but high proportions of Veigaiidae and Blattisociidae were also observed in secondary vegetation. Twenty-five thrips species were found, distributed in six genera (Thripidae). Mite species composition was compatible with that of temperate areas of other parts of the world, given the high elevation of study sites (2460–2777 m), despite its location close to the equator. Three of the species collected have been commercialized as biological control agents in other countries. A significant and positive correlation was found between mite density and organic matter content and pH level. The study showed a great diversity of Mesostigmata in the Bogota plateau (altogether, 96 species), at least eight of which new to science and several in need of better taxonomic characterization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amblyseius largoensis Muma (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is a common predator in the humid tropics, where it has been found in association with Raoiella indica Hirst (Acari: Tenuipalpidae), an important coconut pest. The objective of this study was to assess the performance of A. largoensis from Recife, Pernambuco, northeast Brazil (Atlantic Forest biome), under different levels of relative humidity (RH). Also, to analyse the world-wide distribution of A. largoensis. This phytoseiid was evaluated at the following development RH levels (20%, 36%, 56%, 65%, 72%, 80%, 89%, and 95%) and on reproduction RH levels (66%, 83%, 91%, and 98%) at 27°C. Amblyseius largoensis failed to complete development at or below 72% RH. Maximum population increase of the predator (about 26-fold in one generation) occurred at 91% RH. Only 7% of the records of the distribution of A. largoensis were from hot arid areas. The results suggested, that while the Recife population of A. largoensis is well adapted to survive high RH conditions, its efficiency as a biological control agent might be limited in drier inland areas. Thus, populations of A. largoensis that occur in drier areas of the world should be evaluated as to their potential as biological control agents of R. indica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genusAscaHeyden is the most numerous of the family Ascidae Voigts & Oudemans (Mesostigmata), comprising 148 valid species. A new species of this genus,Asca mariaen. sp., is here described based on adult females and males collected from litter of banana plantations at Sinop, Mato Grosso state, northwestern Brazil. It differs fromAsca craneaeDe Leon by having 17 pairs of setae on the podonotal shield. It also differs fromAsca cranetaDe Leon by havingad2andpd2of tarsus IV only slightly curved andAsca hexaspinosaKarg by having podonotal and opisthonotal shields distinctly reticulate. This is the first description of anAscaspecies from Brazil. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A771490F-1662-4352-9E63-D0C300B43F42 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proprioseiopsis citri(Muma) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is reported for the first time from Brazil. The specimens were collected from litter in Jaboticabal, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Measurements of holotype also are provided and the male is described for first time. A key to the species ofProprioseiopsisfrom Brazil is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Despite the great diversity of the Brazilian fauna of phytoseiid mites, studies about their potential as biological control agents of the silverleaf whitefly,Bemisia tabaci(Gennadius) biotype B (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), have barely been initiated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of a Brazilian population ofAmblyseius tamatavensisBlommers (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to controlB. tabaci. In the first part of this study, the biotic potential of the predator was evaluated at 28 ± 1°C, 80 ± 10% RH and 12 h of daily photoperiod, when offered eggs ofB. tabacias food. In the second, the performance of the predator as a control agent ofB. tabaciwas evaluated on bell pepper (Capsicum annuumL., Solanaceae) plants.Amblyseius tamatavensiscompleted immature development in 5.1 ± 0.1 days and laid an average of 1.0 ± 0.1 eggs/female/day in its lifetime; calculated intrinsic rate of population increase was 0.21 ± 0.01 female/female/day. Under laboratory conditions, the predator was able to significantly reduce the population density ofB. tabaciwhen released on artificially infested bell pepper plants. Reductions between 60% and 80% of pest population were observed in comparison with densities on plants onto which the predator had not been released. The results suggested thatA. tamatavensisis promising as a biological control agent ofB. tabacibiotype B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coconut is one of the main tropical crops, Aceria guerreronis Keifer (Eriophyidae) and Raoiella indica Hirst (Tenuipalpidae) are the main coconut mite pests in several African, American and Asian countries. Mites are not pests of coconut in Thailand. A survey was conducted in Thailand to determine the coconut mite fauna in search of prospective predators to control A. guerreronis and R. indica in other countries. Twenty-four species were found, including nine Mesostigmata, an order containing effective biological control agents. A few specimens of the mesostigmatid phytoseiids Neoseiulus baraki (Athias-Henriot) and Amblyseius largoensis (Muma), were associated with low populations of Colomerus novahebridensis Keifer (eriophyid occupying the same niche as A. guerreronis) and R. indica, respectively. A new mesostigmatid species, Lasioseius siamensis Silva and Moraes sp. nov. (Blattisociidae), is described. Complementary descriptions of Brontispalaelaps leveri Womersley and Neocypholaelaps ceylonicus Narita and Moraes (both Ameroseiidae), relatively abundant Mesostigmata, are provided based on collected specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AmeroseiusBerlese is the most numerous genus of family Ameroseiidae Evans (in Hughes 1961). Species of this genus have been reported from many regions around the world. A few species of this genus are known from Brazil.Ameroseius mineiroNarita, Bernardi and Moraes, sp. nov. is described based on the morphology of adult females and males collected from guano in caves of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. This is the secondAmeroseiusspecies described from Brazil. The holotypes ofAmeroseius plumosus(Oudemans) andAmeroseius plumigera(Oudemans) were examined, given their close similarity with the species described in this paper, and they are here redescribed. A key is provided to separate these and other most similar species.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:17A7D831-EC49-4D65-B06B-5E13EF52C696 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proctolaelaps bulbosus n. sp. (Acari: Ascidae) is described from adult females and males of a laboratory colony derived from a collection from Cocos nucifera L. (Arecaceae) in northeastern Brazil. This species is distinguished from other Proctolaelaps species by the absence of the setae z3 and R3, knobbed seta Z5 and long spermatodactyl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New collection records of Silvaseius barretoae (Yoshida-Shaul and Chant) are reported and a redescription of females as well as the first description of male are provided based on specimens collected in Argentina and Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of spider mites (Tetranychidae) found on Solanaceae in Peru are described: Tetranychus singularis n. sp. from Datura stramonium L. and T. amazonensis n. sp. from Solanum caricaefolium Rusby. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several representatives of the primitive oribatid mite species Adelphacarus sellnicki Grandjean (Oribatida: Adelphacaridae) were discovered in a laboratory storage area in Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil; this is the first record of the species from the western hemisphere. Thousands of specimens of Gordialycus cf. tuzetae Coineau, Fize and Delamare Deboutteville (Endeostigmata: Nematalycidae) were extracted by flotation from fine beach sand on Ilha Comprida, Sao Paulo, Brazil; this is only the second record of the genus from South America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]