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A new species, Rhabdocarpais trispinosus Yao & Jin sp. nov. is described based on adults and deutonymphs from Yunan province, China. Four species, Parasitus brachychaetus Ma, P. clavasetosus Ma, P. simplendogynii Ma & Bai and P. wangdunqingi Ma, are transferred from the genus Parasitus to Rhabdocarpais based on the seta st1 of female forked distally, spurs on genu and tibia of leg II bilobed, the venter of the hypostome elevated forward and forming a protuberance in the male, and seta po stout and pilose distally. An identification key to the known species of Rhabdocarpais in China is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondrial genomes are highly conserved in genetic processes and serve as a useful molecular marker for phylogenetic and evolutionary analysis. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of Uroobovella oviformis was sequenced and annotated. The mitochondrial genome is a closed, double-stranded circular molecule of 14,306 bp length and contains the typical 37 genes. All of the protein-coding genes started with ATN and terminated with TAA except COX2, COX3, and CYTB, which stopped with single T. The whole mitochondrial genome of U. oviformis showed a heavy AT nucleotide bias (77.69%), a positive AT-Skew (0.035), and a negative GC-Skew (−0.320), as well as translocation of seven genes including CYTB and ND6. The phylogenetic tree was constructed by Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood methods using three different datasets (PCG, PCG12, and AA), which were constructed to discuss the phylogenetic status of Mesostigmata. The analysis showed that the branching relationships among the six trees were consistent and all families except the Laelapidae were recovered as monophyletic. Furthermore, U. oviformis forms a separate clade and is located at the base of Mesostigmata and has a closer relationship with Antennophorina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper records six species and five genera of mites in the family Laelapidae from soil in Punjab, Pakistan. Five species are recorded from Pakistan for the first time – Euandrolaelaps karawaiewi (Berlese, 1904), Gaeolaelaps minor (Costa, 1968), Gymnolaelaps kabitae Bhattacharyya, 1968, Ololaelaps translineatus (Barilo, 1991), and Stratiolaelaps scimitus (Womersley, 1956). Cosmolaelaps lutosus sp. nov. is described as a new species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study reports four new records of phytoseiid mites from the Indian subcontinent. Detailed description of all the four species viz., Cydnoseius negevi (Swirski & Amitai), Gynaeseius liturivorus (Ehara), Okiseius subtropicus Ehara, and Phytoseius haroldi Ueckermann & Kreiter is provided in this paper along with illustrations and comparison of specimens collected in the present study with those of the previous reports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Zelkova abelicea is an endemic tree growing only on eight mountain stands on the Greek island of Crete. The aim of this study was to determine the structure of the assemblages and analyze the diversity of the arachnid assemblages (spiders, pseudoscorpions, mites) living on these trees. Samples for the analyses were collected from tree trunks, oftentimes covered by bryophytes or lichens. In the examined material, 85 taxa were recorded. The most numerous represented group was mites (1134 specimens, 69 species), and the highest numbers of specimens were in the order Oribatida, namely Zygoribatula exilis (284 specimens) and Eremaeus tuberosus (210). Additionally, in order Mesostigmata, Hypoaspisella sp. was found, which is probably a species new to science. Among the eight sampled localities, Gerakari (646 specimens, 50 species) and Omalos (409, 43) had by far the richest assemblages. Our statistical analyses confirmed the highly diverse character of the arachnid assemblages at the individual sites, which is a consequence not only of the varied numbers of arachnids found, but also of the presence of very rare species, such as Androlaelaps shealsi, Cosmolaelaps lutegiensis or Hoploseius oblongus in the order Mesostigmata. These results highlight the high species diversity of arachnids found on Z. abelicea but also suggest the lack of connectivity between the isolated and fragmented forest stands on Crete. Zelkova abelicea is an endemic tree growing only on eight mountain stands on the Greek island of Crete. The aim of this study was to determine the structure of the assemblages and analyze the diversity of the arachnid assemblages living on Zelkova abelicea, an endemic tree species in Crete. Material for the analyses was collected from tree trunks, oftentimes covered by bryophytes or lichens. In the examined material, 85 taxa were recorded. The most numerous groups represented in the analyzed material were Acari, including representatives of the orders Mesostigmata (78 ind. of 18 spp.) and Oribatida (1056 ind. of 51 spp.). In the order Mesostigmata the species represented by the highest numbers of specimens were Onchodellus karawaiewi (15 individuals) and Hypoaspisella sp. (13), which is probably a species new to science. In turn, representatives of the order Oribatida were much more numerous, with Zygoribatula exilis (284) and Eremaeus tuberosus (210) being identified in the largest numbers. Among the eight sampled localities, Gerakari (646 ind. and 50 spp.) and Omalos (409 ind. and 43 spp., respectively) had by far the richest assemblages. Statistical analyses confirmed the highly diverse character of the arachnid assemblages at the individual sites, which is a consequence not only of the varied numbers of arachnids found, but also of the presence of very rare species, such as Androlaelaps shealsi, Cosmolaelaps lutegiensis or Hoploseius oblongus. These results highlight the high species diversity of the arachnids found on Z. abelicea but also suggest the lack of connectivity between the isolated and fragmented forest stands on Crete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of Myrmozercon, M. serratus sp. nov. and M. spatulatus sp. nov., are described based on adults and deutonymphs collected in association with ants in Mexico. They represent the first records of this genus from the Neotropic s.s. faunal region. Both new species are associated with hosts in the genus Camponotus from the same small area of a coastal lagoon, which share the same nesting habit preferences, providing strong evidence for host specificity. All but one colony of C. atriceps hosted mites, whereas they occurred in only half of the colonies of C. rectangularis. There was a significant positive correlation between the abundance of C. atriceps sexual ants and the abundance of mites. We summarize the known host associations for the genus Myrmozercon and discuss host specificity. Larvae of both mite species were collected on the wings of males and gynes suggesting that egg laying occurs on the hosts reproductive caste. Two hypotheses explaining this observation are discussed, larvae may be phoretic on winged sexuals, favoring mite co-dispersal with hosts, or larvae reside on the alates as a refuge from predation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, a new species of the genus Multidentorhodacarus Karg, M. deesaensis sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on the female. The specimens of the new species were collected from leaf litter underneath Citrus trees. Additionally, the genus Afrodacarellus Hurlbutt is reported for the first time from Saudi Arabia with the species A. xucurukariri Santos and Castilho collected from soil under Coffea arabica L.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7A4E9DE1-8CF5-4260-BA85-37504A76C988http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:91428D10-8686-43A8-90D7-3638E469F586 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The larval stages of phytoseiid mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) are rarely considered in taxonomic descriptions. The presence of denticles on the palpi and legs is rarely documented in any developmental stages of mites of this family. To address this gap, the presence of denticles was evaluated on the appendages of larvae of the following twelve species: Amblydromalus limonicus (Garman and McGregor), Amblyseius herbicolus (Chant), Amblyseius orientalis Ehara, Amblyseius taiguensis Liu, Ma and Fan, Euseius utilis (Liang and Ke), Neoseiulus benjamini (Schicha), Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor), Neoseiulus setarius Ma, Meng and Fan, Neoseiulus womersleyi (Schicha), Neoseiulus zwoelferi (Dosse), Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot and Phytoseius hongkongensis Swirski and Shechter. We identified and described the denticles on the palps, basis capitulum, and specific leg segments of these species, and hypothesized that the denticle rows might potentially be used for tearing open their own epidermis during hatching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhinonyssids are obligate hematophagous mites that parasitize the nasal cavity of domestic and wilds birds worldwide. For the first time, two species of nasal mites of the genus Rhinonyssus from Estonia are described. One species of nasal mite, Rhinonyssus pluvialis Fain et Johnston, 1966, is described and illustrated based on material from Pluvialis apricaria Linnaeus, 1758 (Charadriiformes, Charadriidae). Another species of nasal mite, Rhinonyssus tringae Fain, 1963, is described and illustrated based on material from Tringa glareola Linnaeus, 1758 (Charadriiformes, Scolopacidae). The bird hosts were collected in Estonia, Puhato järv. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A new species of the genus Paraphytoseius Swirski & Schechter, 1961 (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) is described, Paraphytoseius andamani Karmakar & Biswas sp. nov. and two known species are redescribed, Phytoscutus salebrosus (Chant, 1960) and Typhlodromips syzygii (Gupta, 1975). All specimens were collected from flora in the tropical evergreen rainforest regions of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D80BF6B6-AE48-46D2-BF52-B7F7CED2BC54 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The data on host–arthropod associations between arthropods and Passalidae are summarised. In the family Diarthrophallidae, the new genus Hamptonilla is established to replace the junior homonym Lombardiniella Womersley, 1961. A total of 404 arthropod species (including those collected from unidentified Passalidae) have been found on 170 species of Passalidae (including those determined as aff.). On Passalidae, arthropods have been found belonging to Astigmata (79 species), Diptera (1), Ixodida (1), Mesostigmata (242), Oribatida (27), Pseudoscorpiones (25) and Trombidiformes (29). Among Mesostigmata, the most species were found in Diarthrophallidae (63), Diplogyniidae (37), Klinckowstroemiidae (36), Fedrizziidae (33) and Megisthanidae (15), among Astigmata in Canestriniidae (68) and among Trombidiformes in Heterocheylidae (26). The largest number of arthropod species were collected from Odontotaenius zodiacus (36), O. striatopunctatus (23), Passalus punctiger (22), O. disjunctus (20), Mastachilus australasicus (17), P. interstitialis (17), Pharochilus dilatatus (14), P. interruptus (13) and Aceraius grandis (11). Arthropods are recorded from 170 species of Passalidae. The least host-specific species are: Tridenchthonius mexicanus (found on 25 species of passalids), Lustrochernes aff. reimoseri (21), Americhernes aff. incertus (12) and L. intermedius (12). The relationships between arthropods and Passalidae are best known in Central America (114 arthropod species from 58 species of Passalidae). In Asia (102 from 32), Oceania (77 from 31), South America (64 from 38), Africa (38 from 13) and North America (20 from 2). Among countries the best studied are Mexico, Brazil, Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Costa Rica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The present study describes a new genus, Cerogamasus gen. nov., and four new species, Cerogamasus tibetensis Jin & Yao sp. nov., Cerogamasus anhuiensis Jin & Yao sp. nov., Cerogamasus guizhouensis Jin & Yao sp. nov. and Cerogamasus multidentatus Jin & Yao sp. nov. Cycetogamasus coreanus Athias-Henriot, 1980, is transferred from the genus Cycetogamasus to Cerogamasus gen. nov. An identification key to the known species of new genus is provided. The new genus, Cerogamasus gen. nov., with the type species Cerogamasus tibetensis sp. nov., is established. The new genus is easily distinguished from other genera of Parasitidae because the dorsal idiosoma in both sexes bears more than 40 pairs of setae, of which fewer than 7 pairs of podonotal setae are smooth; the seta z5 of the dorsal hexagon is similar to j5 and j6 in form (pilose or distally pilose) while different in length (z5 longer); the seta al of the palpfemur is pectinate, and al1 and al2 of the palpgenu are entire; the gnathotectum is trispinate; peritrematal shields in females are posteriorly free; and the palptrochanter in males has a pointed ventral protuberance. C. anhuiensis sp. nov., C. guizhouensis sp. nov. and C. multidentatus sp. nov. are described based on adult samples; C. tibetensis sp. nov. is described based on deutonymph and adult samples. Cycetogamasus coreanus Athias-Henriot, 1980, is transferred to Cerogamasus gen. nov. as a new combination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of mites belonging to the family Parholaspididae are described based on female specimens from China, Gamasholaspis transaduncus Zhang, Xie & Yan sp. nov. from Guangdong Province, and Neparholaspis taishanensis Zhang, Xie & Yan sp. nov. from Shandong Province. A key to world species of the genus Gamasholaspis is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species, Typhlodromips coniferaphilussp. nov., is described and illustrated based on females collected from various conifers in the Altai Republic and Sakhalin Island, Russia. Moreover, a complementary description of T. quaesitus (Wainstein & Beglyarov) is provided based on females and males collected from various angiosperm plants in the Sakhalin Island, Russia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Florida's strawberry industry is currently valued at $511 million annually but faces challenges from pathogens and arthropod pests especially Tetranychus urticae Koch (twospotted spider mite) and Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (chilli thrips). Predatory mites, particularly Neoseiulus cucumeris Oudemans, Neoseiulus californicus McGregor, and Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot, play a crucial role in pest management. However, there are concerns regarding how these biological control agents are affected by fungicides used in current pathogen management strategies. This study assessed the residual effects of commonly used fungicides in strawberries on the survival, feeding, and oviposition of these predatory mites. Commercially sourced predatory mites were reared on S. dorsalis larvae, and gravid female predators placed on fungicide treated strawberry leaf discs in a Munger cell for 120 h. Fungicides tested included two formulations of Captan, hydrogen peroxide + peroxyacetic acid, cyprodinil + fludioxonil, tetramethylthiuram disulfide, cyflufenamid and a control. All fungicides tested had an impact on the survival, feeding, and oviposition of the predators. Among the fungicide treatments, the lowest predator survival was observed in the cyprodinil + fludioxonil treatment, while the highest was observed in the hydrogen peroxide + peroxyacetic acid and tetramethylthiuram disulfide treatments. In all treatments, feeding and oviposition greatly varied among predators; specifically, N. cucumeris and A. swirskii had the lowest prey consumption, while N. californicus had the highest. These findings highlight the potential incompatibility between fungicides and predatory mites and demonstrate the need for the development of a fungicide rotation program tailored to the different susceptibilities of predators to fungicides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we present a catalogue of all mesostigmatid mites (except Phytoseiidae) reported from Iran. The catalogue lists 616 species belonging to 183 genera and 51 families. Considering the number of genera and species of phytoseiid mites, which is stated to be 15 and 105, respectively, the number of mesostigmatid mite genera and species in Iran reaches 198 and 721, respectively. The suborder Monogynaspida Camin & Gorirossi is more specious than Trigynaspida Camin & Gorirossi, and the latter is more specious than the Sejida Kramer. Oplitis inopina (Hull, 1923) is recognized as the earliest recorded description of mesostigmatid mites from Iran in over a century. The family Laelapidae, described and recorded from Iran, has the highest number of genera (26) and species (162), followed by Phytoseiidae (15 genera and 105 species) and Ascidae (10 genera and 49 species). The most specious genera are Gaeolaelaps Evans & Till (30 species), Laelaspis Berlese (21 species), and Macrocheles Latreille (19 species). The highest number of described species from Iran belongs to Gaeolalelaps (Laelapidae) with 15 species. No description has been done for the following reported families of monogynaspid mites from Iran: Ameroseiidae, Haemogamasidae, Macronyssidae, Dermanyssidae, Spinturnysidae, Rhinonyssidae, Varroidae, Parholaspididae, Otopheidomenidae, Podocinidae, Halolaelapidae, Veigaiidae, Epicriidae, Microgyniidae, Dithinozerconidae, Polyaspididae, Trachytidae, Metagynuridae, Trachyuropodidae, Cillibidae, Dinychidae, Urodinychidae, and Urodiaspididae. For Trigynaspida (except Diplogyniidae) and Sejida (except Sejidae), no species have been described from Iran. It is worth mentioning that the superfamily Anictequoidea, family Messoracaridae, and genus Messoracarus Silvestri are reported for the first time in Iran. Based on the published information for each species, information about geographical distribution, taxonomic literature, and host or habitat is included. Defects in the previous checklists have been corrected, and the classification of the known species has been updated. Relevant explanations for each taxon concerning different issues are cited as note(s) under the related taxon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-one species of digamasellid mites were collected from Guilan province in northern Iran. Oligodentatus shcherbakae Barilo, 1989, O. tridentatus Shcherbak & Bregetova, 1980 and Dendrolaelaspis longisetosus (Shcherbak, 1977) are new records for the Iranian mite fauna. Redescriptions, including figures, of the adult female for these three species are provided, based on the material collected from Iran. This paper provides a checklist for 31 digamasellid species recorded from Iran and a taxonomic key for their identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of the genus Laelaspis Berlese, L. nematii sp. nov., is described based on adult female specimens collected from ant nest materials, Cataglyphis fritillariae Khalili-Moghadam et al., 2021 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in Koohrang County (Dashte Laleh), Chaharmahal Va Bakhtiari and from soil in Ahwaz city, Khoozestan Province, southwestern Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An ectoparasite known as Dermanyssus gallinae feeds on infected blood with a high frequency in European chicken farms resulting in significant economic losses. Aim: The objective of the current work was to characterize D. gallinae, which infests laying hens on farms in Southern Al-Baha morphologically, and molecularly, and to determine the evolutionary relationship between the species. Methods: All mites that were morphologically recognized as D. gallinae were submitted to molecular analysis by PCR, which focused on the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (cox1) and internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of ribosomal DNA. Results: Morphological identification of the parasites uncovered three distinct features: a triangular anal shield, a broader than longer sternal shield, and a rounded posterior genitoventral shield. Each D. gallinae sample was amplified using a single band, measuring 550 bp for the cox1-targeting PCR, and 530 bp for the ITS-targeting PCR. The sequences of D. gallinae were added to the GenBank. Conclusion: At the molecular identification level, this research identifies D. gallinae in Al-Baha for the first time. The results collectively provide a foundation for further research to understand the epidemiology and the part of this superfamily in the epidemiology of certain zoonosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new mesostigmatic mite species, Antennseius (Vitzthumia) circumcaspiussp. nov., is described from Russia and Iran on the adult specimens. This soil-dwelling species populates different habitats (including coastal maritime and inner salty grasslands, forest and orchard soil-litter, and moss) in Kalmykia, Dagestan, Kazakhstan, and Iran. The new species is very close to Antennoseius oudemansi (Thor, 1930); A. janusLindquist & Walter, 1989 (granulate form); and A. koroljevaeChelebiev, 1984. All these species compose together a natural group as designated by Chelebiev (1984). Idiosomal integument of most shields and soft cuticle of their adult is tuberculate-granulate. Females of these species are possessed the inversely trapezoidal opisthonotal shield with posterolateral margins usually emarginated; anal shield bearing only three circumanal setae. Map of records of oudemansi-group members in the Palaearctic and key for their female identification are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several important papers discussing phoretic dispersal in animals have appeared in recent years, but the nature and evolutionary significance of the phenomenon are still not fully understood. This article reviews the current knowledge of this behaviour in Uropodina mites, which disperse at the deutonymphal stage. We first examine the morphological and behavioural attributes of Uropodina deutonymphs involved in phoretic dispersal. We then provide a systematic review of the animals that carry Uropodina, and examine the carrier-specificity of 30 well-known species. Most species are associated with a single family of carriers, or at most, two families. The available information shows that phoretic deutonymphs of most species do not show any preference for male or female carriers. The spatial pattern of attachment of phoretic deutonymphs varies according to the identity of the carrier insect. The nature of deutonymph infestation depends on the size and morphology of both the mite and its carrier. Successful phoresy also depends on synchronisation of the life cycles of the mite and its carrier, but the temporal dynamics of phoresy remain particularly poorly studied. Phoresy has ecological and evolutionary consequences for both the Uropodina and their carriers. Future research on phoresy will benefit from studies of its evolutionary development, the reasons why beetles appear to be specially favoured as carriers, how phoretic mites affect the insect that carries them, and how the apparent global decline in insect populations is affecting their symbiotic mites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species, Coprocarpais maximus Yao & Jin sp. nov., is described based on deutonymph and female samples from Hainan provinces, China. An identification key to the known species of Coprocarpais is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the abundance and biodiversity of mesostigmata mites in five orchard sites in the Kharameh region, Fars Province, from 2019 to 2021. In total, 4824 specimens were collected, revealing the dominance of two major families: Laelapidae (22%) and Blattisociidae (12%). The diversity within the Kharameh region, measured by the Shannon index, exhibited the highest value of 3.83. Furthermore, the Margalef richness index indicated the highest mite richness of 9.16 in the Kharameh two districts. The gender analysis showed that 2743 were females, 851 were males, and 1257 of the collected individuals had immature stages. The study highlighted a dominance value of 0.0253 during the summer season, indicating a prevailing mite species. The Simpson, Shannon, and Margalef indices displayed their highest variations of 0.974, 3.903, and 9.758. Overall, the Kharameh region's soil exhibited remarkable diversity, richness, and abundance of mesostigmata mites, with distinct influences from vegetation cover and season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All described Uropodina species (351) are listed from the last 30 years with the original occurrences. On continent level, the most of the described species are from Asia (121), from Central and South America (87) and from Africa (79). On country level, the most species were described from Ecuador (21), Vietnam (21), Kenya (18), Thailand (16), Costa Rica (15), China (14), Slovakia (14), Malaysia (14), Madagascar (14), Brazil (13), Indonesia (11), India (10) and Peru (10) and nine or fewer species were described from the other countries in the last 30 years. Trichouropoda pocsi Kontschán, 2004 (Comoro Islands) is a junior homonymous name of Trichouropoda pocsi Hirschmann & Wisniewski, 1987. The new replacement name for the T. pocsi Kontschán, 2004 is Trichouropoda pocstamasi nom. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bory Tucholskie National Park, founded in 1996, is one of the most recently established national parks in Poland, and therefore, has not been thoroughly examined yet. The authors of the current study present results of their research concerning communities of mites from the suborder Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata), inhabiting bird nesting boxes within the area of Bory Tucholskie National Park. The mite community comprises two nidicolous species, i.e. Leiodinychus orbicularis (C.L. Koch, 1839) and Chiropturopoda nidiphila (Wiśniewski and Hirschmann 1993). The former is a species characteristic of various types of nests, as well as nesting boxes, where it is usually the eudominant species. The latter is an extremely rare and scarce species of Uropodina, known thus far from woodpeckers' hollows. The population of L. orbicularis in the analysed communities in the realm of Bory Tucholskie National Park has been estimated to be over 6,000 specimens, and in the case of Ch. nidiphila - over 400 specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sphagnum habitat is a "miniature forest" to the mites, of which the layers offer different microenvironmental conditions. We studied the vertical distribution of the Oribatida, Mesostigmata, and Prostigmata groups in four layers (0–5 cm, 5–10 cm, 10–15 cm, and 15–20 cm) of a forest bog on Neshalvøya, Norway, to improve the knowledge of the ecology of these mites. The sampled bog was grazed by farm animals; thus, another aim was to investigate the vertical distribution of the oribatid species, which are intermediate hosts of tapeworms. The selected study site is known for its valuable yet increasingly endangered nature, so our aim was also to contribute to the knowledge on its diversity. We collected Sphagnum samples in four replicates and extracted them in the laboratory in modified Berlese funnels. In total, 16.880 mites were studied, including 16.384 Oribatida, 466 Mesostigmata, and 30 Prostigmata. The total abundance of mites, the Oribatida and Mesostigmata groups, was the highest in the upper layer of Sphagnum and decreased with depth, while the abundance of the Prostigmata did not follow any pattern. Among the Oribatida, at deeper layers, significant declines in abundance were observed in adults, but not in juveniles. Most oribatid species, e.g., Nothrus pratensis, preferred the upper layer of Sphagnum, whereas some preferred deeper layers. For example, Suctobelbella acutidens and Carabodes femoralis preferred the 5–10 cm layer, Quadroppia maritalis the 10–15 cm layer, and Ceratozetes gracilis and Eulohmannia ribagai preferred the deepest layer of Sphagnum. Adults and juveniles of the same species showed a preference for the same layer. In total, 62 species of the Oribatida were recorded, including 11 species that are known to be intermediate hosts of tapeworms. Most of them occurred in the upper layer of Sphagnum. Over 20% of the species were found exclusively in deeper layers, so sampling these layers is important for a better evaluation of the mites' diversity. Studying the vertical distribution of the mites in bogs helps us to understand their ecology, including their role as intermediate hosts of tapeworms, as well as their diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agrochemical exposure is a major contributor to ecological declines worldwide, including the loss of crucial pollinator species. In addition to direct toxicity, field-relevant doses of pesticides can increase species' vulnerabilities to other stressors, including parasites. Experimental field demonstrations of potential interactive effects of pesticides and additional stressors are rare, as are tests of mechanisms via which pollinators tolerate pesticides. Here, we controlled honey bee colony exposure to field-relevant concentrations of 2 neonicotinoid insecticides (clothianidin and thiamethoxam) in pollen and simultaneously manipulated intracolony genetic heterogeneity. We showed that exposure increased rates of Varroa destructor (Anderson and Trueman) parasitism and that while increased genetic heterogeneity overall improved survivability, it did not reduce the negative effect size of neonicotinoid exposure. This study is, to our knowledge, the first experimental field demonstration of how neonicotinoid exposure can increase V. destructor populations in honey bees and also demonstrates that colony genetic diversity cannot mitigate the effects of neonicotinoid pesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honey bee parasites remain a critical challenge to management and conservation. Because managed honey bees are maintained in colonies kept in apiaries across landscapes, the study of honey bee parasites allows the investigation of spatial principles in parasite ecology and evolution. We used a controlled field experiment to study the relationship between population growth rate and virulence (colony survival) of the parasite Varroa destructor (Anderson and Trueman). We used a nested design of 10 patches (apiaries) of 14 colonies to examine the spatial scale at which Varroa population growth matters for colony survival. We tracked Varroa population size and colony survival across a full year and found that Varroa populations that grow faster in their host colonies during the spring and summer led to larger Varroa populations across the whole apiary (patch) and higher rates of neighboring colony loss. Crucially, this increased colony loss risk manifested at the patch scale, with mortality risk being related to spatial adjacency to colonies with fast-growing Varroa strains rather than with Varroa growth rate in the colony itself. Thus, within-colony population growth predicts whole-apiary virulence, demonstrating the need to consider multiple scales when investigating parasite growth-virulence relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research was to determine how common chemical treatments influence Varroa destructor (Anderson and Trueman) population resurgence rates (defined as time posttreatment for mite populations to reach 3 mites/100 adult bees) in managed honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies seasonally. We conducted 2 experiments that followed the same basic protocol to address this purpose. We established 6 treatment groups in Experiment 1 in the fall of 2014: untreated control, Apivar, Apistan, CheckMite+, ApiLifeVar, and Mite Away II applied to 10 colonies per treatment. In Experiment 2, we applied 8 chemical treatments to each of 4 seasonal (spring, summer, fall, and winter) cohorts of honey bee colonies to determine how mite populations are influenced by the treatments. The treatments/formulations tested were Apivar, Apistan, Apiguard, MAQS, CheckMite+, oxalic acid (dribble), oxalic acid (shop towels), and amitraz (shop towels soaked in Bovitraz). In Experiment 1, Apivar and Mite Away II were able to delay V. destructor resurgence for 2 and 6 months, respectively. In Experiment 2, Apiguard, MAQS, oxalic acid (dribble), and Bovitraz treatments were effective at delaying V. destructor resurgence for at least 2 months during winter and spring. Only the Bovitraz and MAQS treatments were effective at controlling V. destructor in the summer and fall. Of the 2 amitraz-based treatments, the off-label Bovitraz treatment was the only treatment to reduce V. destructor populations in every season. The data gathered through this study allow for the refinement of treatment recommendations for V. destructor , especially regarding the seasonal efficacy of each miticide and the temporal efficacy posttreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Pinniped respiratory mites of the species Orthohalarachne attenuata have been recorded from various locations around the world but not from continental Argentina. In the present work, we document for the first time the presence of O. attenuata on Arctocephalus australis on the Argentine mainland. A total of 23 adult and 381 immature mites were collected from the nose and nasopharyngeal cavity during a necropsy. The mite ambulacrum is described in adults and larvae. This structure consists of a pretarsus, an extensible pulvillum, a pair of claws and paradactyli (pretarsus opercula). The ambulacral structures also have some peculiarities, such as the presence of longitudinal furrows in the claws, straight claws in legs II and III (as opposed to curved in legs I and IV), and the fin-shaped paradactyli. The morphology of the ambulacrum of this mite is interpreted as an adaptation for anchoring to different surfaces of the host, and the protective structures present in the larvae as an adaptation for the dispersal phase in the external environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we identified a new strain of the genus Neocypholaelaps from the beehives of Apis mellifera colonies in the Republic of Korea (ROK). The Neocypholaelap sp. KOR23 mites were collected from the hives of honeybee apiaries in Wonju, Gangwon-do, in May 2023. Morphological and molecular analyses based on 18S and 28S rRNA gene regions conclusively identified that these mites belong to the genus Neocypholaelaps, closely resembling Neocypholaelaps sp. APGD-2010 that was first isolated from the United States. The presence of 9 of 25 honeybee pathogens in these mite samples suggests that Neocypholaelaps sp. KOR23 mite may act as an intermediate vector and carrier of honeybee diseases. The identification of various honeybee pathogens within this mite highlights their significance in disease transmission among honeybee colonies. This comprehensive study provides valuable insights into the taxonomy and implications of these mites for bee health management and pathogen dissemination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Elegansovella Hirschmann, 1989 (Mesostigmata: Uropodina: Urodinychidae) is resurrected for species of the Uroobovella elegans-group. This genus differs from the other taxa of Uroobovella Berlese, 1903 sensu lato based on the shape of the idiosoma and the caudal and dorsal setae. Three species from the Uroobovella elegans-group are transferred to the genus Elegansovella, as E. pectintata (Hirschmann, 1973), comb. nov., E. pectinatasimilis (Hiramatsu, 1980), comb. nov. and E. serangensis (Hiramatsu, 1980), comb. nov. The other seven species from this species group are transferred to Monstrobovella gen. nov., as M. crustosa (Vitzthum, 1926), comb. nov., M. enodis (Hiramatsu, 1985), comb. nov., M. faceta (Hiramatsu & Hirschmann, 1978), comb. nov., M. facetaoides (Hiramatsu & Hirschmann, 1978), comb. nov., M. imadatei (Hiramatsu, 1980), comb. nov., M. incerta (Hiramatsu & Hirschmann, 1978), comb. nov. and M. incertaoides (Hiramatsu & Hirschmann, 1978), comb. nov. The new genus differs from Elegansovella by the shape of the idiosoma and the shape of marginal and dorsal setae. Six Monstrobovella species occur in the Oriental Realm and only one species is known from the Neotropical region. The present paper contains the description of a second Neotropical species of Monstrobovella (M. mancocapaci sp. nov.) which was found in Peru. The new species differs from its Neotropical congener in the dorsal and marginal setation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial communities, derived from food, ambient, and inner, can affect host ecological adaption and evolution. Comparing with most phytophagous arthropods, predators may have more opportunities to develop specific microbiota depending on the level of prey specialization. To explore how diet sources affect host microbial communities and vary across predator species, we considered 3 types of predators from Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata): polyphagous (Amblyseius orientalis Ehara, Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes, and Amblyseius swirskii Athias‐Henrio), oligophagous (Neoseiulus californicus McGregor), and monophagous (Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias‐Henriot) predatory mites. The polyphagous species were fed on 2 types of diets, natural prey and alternative prey. By using 16S rRNA sequencing, we found that diet was the main source of microbiota in predatory mites, while there was no clear pattern affected by prey specialization. Among 3 polyphagous predators, host species had a larger impact than prey on microbial composition. Unlike A. orientalis or N. barkeri which showed consistency in their microbiota, prey switching significantly affected β‐diversity of bacterial composition in A. swirskii, with 56% of the microbial alteration. In short, our results confirmed the substantial influence of diet on host microbial construction in predatory species, and highlighted species differences in shaping the microbiota which are not necessarily related to prey specialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinturnicid mites are ectoparasites exclusively of bats. Herein, we provide a comprehensive catalogue of spinturnicid species recorded in Brazil focusing on their distribution nationwide. This catalogue listed 16 spinturnicid species into four different genera, and a key for the genera recorded in Brazil. Also, it provides new locality records for four species: Cameronieta almaensis Almeida, Gettinger and Gardner, Periglischrus acutisternus Machado-Allison, Periglischrus caligus Kolenati, and Periglischrus iheringi Oudemans. Additionally, this study includes a detailed discussion on the host-specificity and molecular data of these mites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diplogyniopsis fluctuosumsp. nov. associated with passalid beetles is described based on females from China on undermined passalid beetles, as well as on females and males from Thailand on Aceraius helferi (Coleoptera: Passalidae). The species represents the second known species of Diplogyniopsis Trägårdh, prompting us to redefine the genus diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The abundance and diversity of eriophyid and phytoseiid mites in south and central Florida were assessed in six citrus orchards under three different pest management systems, conventional, organic, and untreated. Tree canopy, ground cover, and leaf litter were sampled every two months in two groves for each of the three pest management systems from April 2019 to February 2021. The citrus rust mite, Phyllocoptruta oleivora (Ashmead) represented 95 to 99% of the rust mites sampled in each grove except in one untreated orchard where it accounted for 45% of the samples (n = 938 total P. oleivora mounted specimens). The pink citrus rust mite, Aculops pelekassi (Keifer) was present in organic and untreated orchards at 5% and 28%, respectively, but absent from conventional orchards (n = 134 total A. pelekassi mounted specimens). Twenty-nine species of phytoseiid mites were identified from 1778 specimens. Thirteen species were present in the canopy, fifteen in the ground cover, and eighteen in the leaf litter with some common species among these habitats. In the tree canopy, Typhlodromalus peregrinus (39%), Euseius spp. (25%), and Iphiseiodes quadripilis (19%) were the dominant species. Typhlodromalus peregrinus (43%), Typhlodromips dentilis (25%), and Proprioseiopsis mexicanus (13%) were the major species in the ground cover. Species richness was lower in organic orchards (3.0) compared to conventional and untreated orchards (5.0 and 4.7, respectively). In the leaf litter, Amblyseius curiosus (26%), Proprioseiopsis carolinianus (15%), Chelaseius floridanus (14%), and Amblyseiustamatavensis (12%) were the most common species. Shannon index was significantly higher in conventional orchards (1.45) compared to organic and untreated orchards (1.02 and 1.05, respectively). Evenness was also higher in conventional orchards (0.86) compared to organic and untreated (0.72 and 0.68, respectively). Finding of several phytoseiids in abundance across pest management programs suggest the need for identifying their role in pest suppression particularly mites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The mites belonging to the genus Tropilaelaps are ectoparasites of honey bees, primarily infesting the larval and pupal stages. Originating from subtropical regions, these mites can cause brood malformation, bee mortality, and subsequent decline or absconding of colonies. Material and methods: During field surveys conducted in Nepal, South Korea, and Uzbekistan to investigate honey bee pests, several populations of T. mercedesae were collected. This is the first record of T. mercedesae from Uzbekistan. The morphological characteristics of the collected populations were analyzed, and their phylogenetic relationship with other Asian populations was examined. Results and discussion: The molecular analysis of cytochrome oxidase I gene revealed high similarity between Uzbekistan and Pakistan populations, signaling the potential invasion of subtropical honey bee parasites into the Central Asian beekeeping sectors. Phylogenetic analysis indicated the presence of four distinct lineages within the mainland-Indonesian populations of T. mercedesae. Notably, an evolutionary divergence was observed between the haplotypes from Sri Lanka and the Philippines compared to the remaining mainland Asian and Indonesian haplotypes, suggesting the possible existence of subspecies or separate species in these isolated locations. To gain a deeper understanding of this phenomenon, it is essential to continue monitoring the spread of this significant honey bee pest and conduct comprehensive morphological and molecular analyses of samples collected from these specific localities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of long-term research on tetranychid and phytoseiid mites in the Transcarpathian region of Ukraine are summarized. Transcarpathian Tetranychoidea are represented by 28 species from 10 genera, and the same list for Phytoseiidae included 49 species from 11 genera. For 77 species of mites from 21 genera, species composition, abundance, trophic specialization, and biotopic distribution in different altitudinal zones of Transcarpathia, Ukraine was analysed. Ten species of tetranychid mites (Bryobia rubrioculus, Tetranyhus horridus, Amphytetranyhus viennensis, Eotetranycuus carpini, E. quercicola, Neotetranychus rubi, Oligonychus ununguis, Panonychus ulmi, T. turkestani and T. urticae), and 11 species of phytoseiid mites (Neoseiulus umbraticus, Kampimodromus aberrans, Amblyseius andersoni, A. rademacheri, Euseius ucrainicus, Dubininellus echinus, D. juvenis, Typhloctonus aceri, T. tuberculatus, Anthoseius (A.) rhenana and A. (A.) clavata) were common to all three studied altitudinal zones. The species diversity of tetranychids was highest in the lowlands (23 species), slightly lower in the foothills (19 species), and the lowest in the mountain zone (11 species). For phytoseiid mites, it was the highest in the foothills (38 species), 25 in the lowlands and 21 in mountains. Among the tetranychids, the transzonal species A. viennensis retained its dominant status in all altitudinal zones. In the lowland, the highest rates of occurrence and dominance indices were observed for the species B. rubrioculus and T. turkestani, and in the foothills—for P. ulmi and T. horridus. The species composition of mites in the lowlands and mountains varied the most for both predators and phytophagous mites. Among the tetranychids, the most striking marker species in the mountains were P. ulmi and N. rubi. Only in the mountains were found such phytoseiid species as N. alidis, N. montanus, T. runiacus, T. mutatus, and A. salviae, which could thus be considered strictly mountainous. All of them have fragmented habitats and are tied to mountainous regions. In that altitudinal zone, an exceptionally high occurrence rate and dominance index were established for N. montanus among the phytoseiids. This is most probably due to significantly greater differences in the temperature and humidity regimes and range of host plants and, for predatory mites, prey species. The results of this study provide additional information about the structure of the communities of phytophagous and predatory mites in the natural zones of the mountain landscape and changes in the composition of the communities under the influence of environmental factors and the forage base, which is a consequence of the altitudinal distribution of the investigated biocenoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three mite species belonging to the family Phytoseiidae namely, Amblyseiulellasolanaesp. n., Paraphytoseius punjabensissp. n. and Transeiusuttarbharaticussp. n., are described based on specimens collected from plants amidst the dense green semi-arid trans-Himalayan dryland tracts of Punjab plains of North India. Three phytoseiid mite species: Amblyseiusparaaerialis; Scapulaseius asiaticus and Typhlodromips jhilimiliensis were recorded for the first time from Punjab state. Key to the world species of the genus Paraphytoseius is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article continues the studies of the fauna of phytoseiid mites in Ukraine, the results of which have been partly published by the author recently and contains a review of the genera Amblyseiulus, Amblyseiella, and Chelaseius. A detailed morpho-functional rationale for the resurrection of the genus Amblyseiulus Muma, 1961 as a part of the subtribe Proprioseiopsina Chant & McMurtry is provided. In this study, seven species of this genus were identified, one of which, Amblyseiulus jugortus (Athias-Henriot, 1966), is recorded for the first time in the fauna of Ukraine. The genus Amblyseiella Muma, 1955 is represented in Ukraine by the species A. antonii Kolodochka & Omeri, 2010, the second of two species of this genus known in the world. The species Chelaseius (Pontoseius) valliculosus Kolodochka, 1987 is also the only representative of this genus and subgenus in Ukraine. Based on the results of the study, comprehensive illustrated redescriptions of each of the taxa are given, morphological and morphometric data, information on the distribution of genera and species in the world and Ukraine, mite habitats, depositories of type specimens, occurrence, abundance and keys for identification of genera and species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decades of agriculture in a former—type of ecosystem, for example, deciduous forests—result in severe habitat degradation. The planted tree species encounter harsh conditions due to physically and chemically transformed soil environments. In addition, afforestation itself significantly modifies the upper soil horizons. It may impact the soil fauna communities, including mites from the Mesostigmata order (Mesostigmata = Gamasida). Due to their sensitivity, mesostigmatid mites are good bioindicators of changes in the soil. A decrease in the density, species richness, and diversity of mites indicates disturbances in the soil environment and may confirm the impact of agricultural practice on the soil environment. Our research aim was to examine the impact of soil properties and land use history on the mesostigmatid mite communities in stands growing on forest and post‐agricultural lands. These sites were afforested with different tree species (Betula pendula Roth., Fagus sylvatica L., Pinus sylvestris L., and Quercus robur L.). Thus, 21 research plots were established on forest and post‐agricultural land, each on rusty soils considered to be one of the most common in Central European forests. We collected a total of 567 soil samples during three sampling sessions in spring and autumn for soil Mesostigmata investigation. We also described the soil profile on each plot and collected soil and litter samples to measure pH, litter thickness, soil organic matter, bulk density, soil moisture, soil organic carbon, and elements content. Our study revealed that 16 out of 30 environmental parameters differed between habitat types. A total of 1355 mites were classified into 58 taxa (50 species and 8 genera). The most numerous species were Veigaia nemorensis (165 ind.; 12.2% of all mesostigmatid mites), Zercon peltatus (156; 11.5%), and Paragamasus conus (141; 10.4%). The highest abundance was recorded in birch stands on forest land, whereas the lowest abundance for oak stands growing on post‐agricultural land. Interestingly, in oak stands we recorded both the highest diversity of mite communities (forest land) and the lowest on post‐agricultural land. Furthermore, our study showed that post‐agricultural land and Na content in forest litter affected the abundance, species richness, and diversity of mesostigmatid mite communities. Species richness was additionally affected by tree species, that is, pine and oak. Our research indicated that long‐term agricultural practice negatively affected the density, species richness, and diversity of Mesostigmata communities 20 years after afforestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tomato red spider mite, Tetranychus evansi, a notorious crop pest, invaded New Zealand in 2020. In an effort to identify potential biological control agents for this species, we investigated the capabilities of four phytoseiid predators found in New Zealand—Amblyseius herbicolus, Amblyseius lentiginosus, Amblydromalus limonicus, and Neoseiulus californicus. For comparison, we also used the two-spotted spider mite, T. urticae, and the dried fruit mite, Carpoglyphus lactis, as prey for these predators. In our first experiment we monitored immature development and oviposition rate (over the first 5 days) of the phytoseiid predators when presented with the three prey species. While all four species of predators could develop and reproduce on the factitious (alternative and easily available) prey species C. lactis, they had limited success when feeding on T. evansi and T. urticae. Amblyseius herbicolus, A. lentiginosus, and Amblyd. limonicus were unable to reach adulthood when feeding on T. evansi and T. urticae in the presence of the protective webbing spun by the mites. While N. californicus matured when exposed to T. evansi reared on black nightshade leaves, it did not lay eggs—indicating potential limitations in prey suitability. In our second experiment, gravid females of all four predators failed to maintain their reproduction when provided with T. evansi in the presence of webbing. Neoseiulus californicus exhibited phenotypic plasticity in its developmental time, body size, and oviposition rate when feeding on the three prey species. This suggests that N. californicus has the flexibility to switch diets to survive during food scarcity, especially when their primary prey, T. urticae, is limited. This study is also the first to offer life history information about A. lentiginosus. Our findings underscore the difficulties of controlling T. evansi using phytoseiid predators and highlight the need for diversified pest management strategies, including the use of alternative insect predators or entomopathogenic fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study contributes to the extensive history of research on the family Phytoseiidae in New Zealand, covering nearly a century. We examined phytoseiid specimens in the major repositories, unveiling fifteen species new to New Zealand: Amblyseius andersoni (Chant), A. waltersi Schicha, A. williamsi Schicha, Australiseiulus australicus (Womersley), Euseius elinae (Schicha), Graminaseius graminis (Chant), G. sturti (Schicha), Neoseiulus alpinus (Schweizer), N. californicus (McGregor), N. dieteri (Schicha), N. tareensis (Schicha), Proprioseiopsis anthurii (Schicha), P. cabonus Schicha & Elshafie, P. okanagensis (Chant) and Typhlodromus transvaalensis (Nesbitt), and clarifying the presence or absence status of some species in the country. Additionally, we analysed the diversity and distribution of species in New Zealand, presenting an updated checklist of phytoseiid species in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides an updated description of the type species of Weiseronyssus Samšiňák, W. mirus Samšiňák, with redescription of the female and male based on paratype slides and newly-collected mites. Specimens of W. mirus were collected in China from laboratory-reared Allomyrina dichotoma (Coleoptera: Scarabaeids: Dynastinae) larvae. A key to both sexes of Weiseronyssus species is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus Under Protective Screen (CUPS) production system excludes the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, vector of Huanglongbing (HLB), and large predators. However, small pests and beneficial arthropods such as predatory mites may enter the CUPS. Predatory mites from the family Phytoseiidae attack several economically important pests, especially phytophagous mites common in CUPS. The species assemblage, abundance, and distribution of phytoseiid mites in CUPS and open-air (control) were investigated in Ray Ruby grapefruit from 2018 to 2020. Foliar sprays of chemicals for pest suppression were used in both systems and evaluated for effect on predatory mite populations. In the 2 production systems, a significant peak in the phytoseiid mite population was observed in February 2019 and 2020. This increase coincided with the blooming period of grapefruit, which likely provided pollen as an alternative food. A total of 2,234 specimens of 11 species were identified. Amblyseius tamatavensis Blommers and Typhlodromalus peregrinus (Muma) were dominant in both systems. Amblyseius tamatavensis was slightly more abundant in CUPS (50% of total specimens) than T. peregrinus (47%), while T. peregrinus was prevalent (82%) in open-air compared with A. tamatavensis (16%). Shannon index and evenness were significantly higher in CUPS, but species richness was similar. Chlorpyrifos with abamectin and oil, cyantraniliprole with spirodiclofen, copper, and oil as well as pyridaben alone reduced phytoseiid populations between 87% and 96%. Fenbutatin oxide mixed with copper reduced phytoseiids by 48% in open-air only. Our results demonstrate phytoseiid survival, reproduction, and contribution to biological control in CUPS, despite high temperature and humidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil mites have been used as bioindicators at local, regional or even at national scales. The present study demonstrated that soil microhabitats are characterised by different structural patterns of soil mite populations. This study was conducted in August 2021, in two types of grassland ecosystems (intensely grazed and moderately grazed with sheep) in the Făgăraş Mountains- Romania. At the local spatial scale, 10 transects were established in each grassland. In total 200 soil samples were analysed, revealing the presence of 33 soil mite species, with 93 individuals. Dominant species were Gaeolaelaps nolli and Gaeolaelaps aculeifer. The population characteristics were analysed for each transect and each grassland, using the following indices: taxa diversity, numerical abundance, dominance, evenness, equitability, Shannon- Wiener index of diversity, Bray-Curtis index of Similarity. Making a comparison, in the moderately grazed grassland the species diversity and the numerical density were higher than those from intensely grazed ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taxonomy of the predatory mite family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) is essentially based on morphological observations, and only a few studies use integrative approaches that include mainly morphological and molecular analysis. Species of the genus Euseius Wainstein (Acari: Phytoseiidae) are pollen feeding generalist predators belonging to "Type IV" group. There are more than 200 species of the genus that are considered to be valid. However, there could be a series of synonyms among these valid species. Euseius gallicus Kreiter & Tixier is one of the recently described species and its natural populations have been reported from a total of 10 countries. There are some molecular studies showing that E. gallicus represents a different lineage and separated adequately from the other well-known and common species, E. stipulatus in the Western Palearctic region. However, it shows great morphological similarities with E. amissibilis Meshkov, a species previously described from Tajikistan. According to its original description, these two species can be separated based on a few differences in their setal lengths, but doubts remain regarding the similarities between them. Therefore, we examined the type material of E. amissibilis, and newly collected materials from various localities including the type locality. We conducted molecular analyses, using two gene markers (ITS and Cox1) to determine whether these two species are conspecific. Results show that all morphological characters and measurements of the type and the newly collected materials of E. amissibilis fall within the range indicated in the original description of E. gallicus. Moreover, zero and low levels (≤6% previously considered as variation for phytoseiid mites) of genetic distances were detected among the specimens of these two species from different populations based on ITS and Cox1 gene markers, respectively. As conclusion, this study confirms that E. gallicus is a junior synonym of E. amissibilis. In addition, based on our best knowledge, a ventral pore-like structure located on ambulacral stalk of the first leg is observed for the first time in a species of the family Phytoseiidae, probably even in the order Mesostigmata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]