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Two new eriophyid mite species associated with Pterocarya stenoptera C. DC. namely Shevtchenkella stenopteraesp. nov. and Epitrimerus jiulianshanensissp. nov. are described and illustrated. Both new species are vagrants on their host plant and induce the leaves to turn yellow. The article corresponds to The new species Shevtchenkella stenopterae Qin, Liao, Lu, Zhao et Wang corresponds to The new species Epitrimerus jiulianshanensis Qin, Liao, Lu, Zhao et Wang corresponds to [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A brief introduction of Chinese Hygrobatidae taxonomy is reviewed. A new species, Sinibates xinyaoae Li, Smit & Guo sp. nov. from Hainan province is described representing a new genus Sinibates Li, Smit & Guo gen. nov. A second species, Hygrobates (Minibates) cf. dobriyali Pešić & Smit, 2019, from Hunan province represents a new subgenus, Minibates Li, Smit & Guo subgen. nov. inHygrobates. The other new species, Mixobates neoamurensis Li & Guo sp. nov. from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region adds a newly recorded genus, Mixobates Thor, 1905 from China. Text: LSID Genus:Sinibates Li, Smit & Guo gen. nov.: LSID Species:Sinibates xinyaoae Li, Smit & Guo sp. nov.: LSID Subgenus:Minibates Li, Smit & Guo subgen. nov.: LSID Species:Mixobates neoamurensis Li & Guo sp. nov.: LSID [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The family Epactozetidae (Oribatida) is recorded in Guatemala for the first time. A new epactozetid species of the genus Truncozetes – T. izabalensissp. nov. – is described, based on adults collected from the Guatemalan rainforest litter. It is characterized by: number of leg claws (leg I monodactylous, legs II–IV tridactylous); medium-sized lamellar seta inserted in anterolateral part of the lamella; straight translamella; the location of notogastral setae lm and lp (shifted in dorsolateral part from dorsocentral part of notogaster); and the absence of epimeral longitudinal stria. Main family and generic traits are provided. The identification key, distribution and habitat to the known representatives of Epactozetidae are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oribatid mite genera Arcoppia (Oppiidae) and Cavernocepheus (Otocepheidae) are recorded for the first time in Guatemala. Two new species—Arcoppia tumulosasp. nov. and Cavernocepheus longicristatussp. nov.—are described. Identification keys to the known species of Arcoppia from the Neotropical region and to the known species of Cavernocepheus are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nasal mites are endoparasites that spend their entire life cycle inside the nasal cavities and respiratory passages of birds. The brown-headed cowbird, Molothrus ater (Boddaert, 1783) (hereafter BHCO), is an icterid bird that uses brood parasitism as a reproductive strategy in which it lays eggs in the nests of other bird species and allows the host to raise its young. Interestingly, nasal mites previously collected from brown-headed cowbirds represent some species shared by other icterids and others known from common host taxa. In this study, we examined how nasal mite species richness and prevalence differed geographically across three of the four migratory flyways of North America in a large sample size of BHCO. In total, ~4000 nasal mites (~3900 Rhinonyssidae (Mesostigmata) and 85 Ereynetidae (Trombidiformes)), representing nine species, were recovered from 856 cowbirds with a prevalence of 89%. Nasal mite prevalence was not significantly related with geographic location or host sex, suggesting that patterns of infection in BHCO occur similarly in all locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: Although rare, crusted scabies can affect immunocompetent individuals with no identifiable risk factors. A high index of suspicion, regardless of an individual's immunological status or absence of traditional risk factors, should be maintained by health professionals to facilitate prompt referral to a dermatologist. Crusted scabies is an uncommon variant of human scabies characterized by extensive crusted and scaly hyperkeratotic papules, and plaques resulting from profound proliferation of mites in the skin. It is highly contagious and typically occurs in immunocompromised individuals. Reports of cases in healthy adults are rare. It is often resistant to routine treatment. We report a case of a 30‐year‐old immunocompetent male who presented to us with an extensive pruritic papular rash that started in the inter‐digital web spaces of his hands. Within 3 months from onset, the lesions progressed, and became hyperkeratotic, scaly, non‐pruritic, spreading to involve his entire body (sparing his face only). Crusty scabies was eventually diagnosed and treated by a dermatologist after months of misdiagnosis at peripheral facilities. Although rare, crusted scabies can affect immunocompetent individuals. A high index of suspicion is required, regardless of immunological status. Among immunocompetent individuals, a thorough search for traditional risk factors is imperative. [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]

Two new species of oribatid mites (Oribatida) of the family Damaeidae are described, based on adults collected from litter in the wet highland locality in Bale Mountains National Park, southeastern Ethiopia. Coronabelba adiscidialis Ermilov & Kolesnikov sp. nov. differs from the other species of the genus by larger body size, long, rod-like bothridial seta, truncated interlamellar seta, the location of dorsal notogastral setae on the slightly developed tubercles, the presence of 10 setae on leg femur I, and the absence of discidium. Metabelbella baleensis Ermilov & Kolesnikov sp. nov. differs from the other species of the genus by the larger body size, comparatively large tubercle-like parastigmatic tubercle Sa shifted in the epimeral region, and the presence of long, straight thorn-like dorsal notogastral setae. Identification keys to the known species of Coronabelba and Metabelbella are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new Clathrosperchon (Rhynchohydracaridae: Hydryphantoidea) species were described (Clathrosperchon nunesaesp. nov. and C. bitucaisp. nov.) and tabular and dichotoumous keys to the known Clathrosperchon species based on adults are provided. In addition, the phylogenetic placement of Rhynchohydracaridae was inferred using five molecular markers: COI, 18S, 28S, HSP70 and SRP54, testing previous hypothesis that the family may be more closely related to Neohydrachnidia than Hydryphantoidea due to larval characters. Our results recovered Rhynchohydracaridae nested among Lebertioidea, as sister group to Limnesiidae, and the traditional composition of Hydryphantoidea and Lebertioidea could be rejected based on AU-test. Given the larval characters and the recovered phylogenetic placement of the family, we propose that Rhynchohydracaridae must be included in Neohydrachnidia. This paper represents the first record of Hydrachnidia for the Minas Gerais State, Brazil, and is also the largest dataset of neotropical water mites included in a phylogenetic inference to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of Oppiidae are described, based on adults collected from Ethiopia. Arcoppia afroalpina Ermilov sp. nov. differs from its closely related species, A. arcualis arcualis by the morphology of the rostrum, the length and morphology of branches on the bothridial head, and the body size. Helioppia ethiopiaensis Ermilov sp. nov. differs from its closely related species, H. sol by the morphology of the rostrum, the morphology of the bothridial head, the development of the notogastral seta c, the location of the notogastral seta la, the presence of the costula, and longer notogastral setae. The generic diagnosis of Helioppia is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New faunistic data on mites of the family Cunaxidae of Asian Russia are provided. A total of 11 species were found, among them four species are described as new for science, namely, Neobonzia scutatasp. nov., Cunaxa palustrissp. nov., C. quinquesetosasp. nov., and Cunaxoides magnificussp. nov. Scirula impressa Berlese is recorded from Russia for the first time and redescribed; Cunaxoides trepidus Kuznetsov and Livshitz recorded from Asian Russia for the first time and redescribed; Armascirus fendai Kalúz and Vrabec and Cunaxoides lootsi Den Heyer are recorded from Russia for the first time; Cunaxa gordeevae Sergeyenko, C. anomala Khaustov and Kuznetsov, and Cunaxoides desertus Kuznetsov and Livshitz are recorded from Asian Russia for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The family Tarsonemidae comprises 51 genera, some of which have been reported on coconut palms, including Fungitarsonemus De Leon, Nasutitarsonemus Beer & Nucifora, Steneotarsonemus Beer and Tarsonemus Canestrini & Fanzago. The genus Tarsonemus consists of approximately 280 species, with only 11 reported in Brazil. During collections of Cocos nucifera L. fruit on the Brazilian coast, four Tarsonemus species were found associated with the perianth of these fruits. Two new species are described, Tarsonemus arrudai França, Araújo & Lofego sp. nov., and T. litoralis França, Araújo & Lofego sp. nov. while the other two species, Tarsonemus pseudokennedyi Ochoa and T. lenticulatus Gheblealivand, Haddad & Magowski, were found for the first time in Brazil, and both are redescribed based on males and females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One new species of eriophyoid mite from China, is described and illustrated, namely: Shevtchenkella radermacherasp. nov. on Radermachera sinica (Hance) Hemsl. (Bignoniaceae). We also found the new host plants of Tetra clerodendriWei, 2003: Clerodendrum fortunatum L. and provided two new combinations—Aculops puerariae (Qin, Wang & Wei, 2008) comb. nov. and Kyllocarus microcarpae (Wang, Wei & Yang, 2009) comb. nov. All eriophyoid mite species are vagrants, causing no apparent symptom to their host plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the year 2023, Hypericaceae plants were sampled in Iran and two new Aculus species were found on them: Aculus quattuorlaminate Lotfollahi, Jahandideh et Honarmand sp. nov. on Hypericum perforatum L. and Aculus hufarighooni Honarmand, Jahandideh et Lotfollahi sp. nov. on Hypericum scabrum L. Both species were vagrant on their host plants. In this study we provided a list of eriophyoid species collected on Hypericaceae plants worldwide, their type host, type locality and habitus, and a key for identification of them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to storage mite (SM) and house dust mite (HDM) allergens is a risk factor for sensitization and asthma development; however, the related immune responses and their pathology have not been fully investigated. The HDMs Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and SM Tyrophagus putrescentiae are potent allergens that induce asthma. Most SM-related studies have focused on the allergic reactions of individuals by measuring their immunoglobulin (Ig)E expression. Considering the limited research on this topic, the present study aims to investigate the differences in the immune responses induced by HDMs and SMs and histologically analyze lung tissues in a mouse asthma model to understand the differential effects of HDM and SM. The results revealed that all mite species induced airway inflammation. Mice challenged with T. putrescentiae had the highest airway resistance and total cell, eosinophil, and neutrophil counts in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The SM-sensitized groups showed more severe lesions and mucus hypersecretions than the HDM-sensitized groups. Although the degree of HDM and SM exposure was the same, the damage to the respiratory lung tissue was more severe in SM-exposed mice, which resulted in excessive mucin secretion and increased fibrosis. Furthermore, these findings suggest that SM sensitization induces a more significant hypersensitivity response in mucosal immunity than HDM sensitization in asthma models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoseiid mites have been frequently found in association with the lychee erinose mite, Aceria litchii, on lychee plants in Brazil, suggesting that they are promising candidates as biological control agents against this pest. Here, we investigated whether phytoseiids would suppress A. litchii infestation, i.e. formation of erinea, on lychee plants under field conditions. Four groups of A. litchii-infested plants were randomly distributed in the field, with each group receiving either Phytoseius intermedius, Amblyseius herbicolus, A. herbicolus supplemented with cattail pollen or no predator. During a three-month period, the released predators, along with others present in the surrounding environment, were allowed to freely walk among all plants. In each plant, we evaluated the occurrence of phytoseiid species, their abundance, and the dynamics of erinea formation. A total of 2,097 mites, including 13 other phytoseiid species were identified. The most abundant species were Iphiseiodes zuluagai and Euseius ho, rather than the two predator species that were released. A. herbicolus and P. intermedius failed to establish populations in the majority of the plants, regardless of the presence of pollen, suggesting their ineffectiveness in controlling A. litchii infestations. While there was a significant difference in the proportion of erinea among the four treatments, this contrast was not associated with the presence of phytoseiids, suggesting that other factors might have hindered erinea formation on lychee plants. The reasons behind this outcome are further explored and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhipicephalus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) is a highly invasive tick responsible for significant economic losses to cattle industry worldwide. The increasing global reports on acaricide resistant tick populations warrant development of alternate eco-friendly approaches for suppressing the tick populations and vectored pathogens. The present study aimed to evaluate the acaricidal activity of essential oils (EOs): Cedar oil (CO), Garlic oil (GO), Peppermint oil (PO) and their combinations against R. microplus by larval packet test. Six concentrations each of individual EOs and their combinations (10, 5, 2.5, 1.25, 0.625 and 0.31%) were evaluated. The lethal concentrations (LC) of individual EOs and their combinations along with values of Combination Index (CI) and Dose Reduction Index (DRI) were estimated to assess the effects of interactions (synergistic, additive or antagonistic) of EO mixtures. Among the individual oils, GO showed the highest efficacy with lowest LC50, LC90 and LC95 (95% CL) values at 2.19% (1.96–2.43%), 4.00% (3.48–4.98%) and 4.74% (4.01–6.23%), respectively. Among combinations, highest acaricidal property was exhibited by GO + PO (LC50, LC90 and LC95 values of 2.63, 4.87 and 5.81%) with CI value of 0.598 indicating moderate synergism, while the CO + GO + PO combination (LC50, LC90 and LC95 values of 1.67, 9.97 and 16.54%) exhibited slight synergism with CI value at 0.872 and favourable DRI of 8.24, 1.85 and 4.76 for PO, GO and CO, respectively. The present study seems to be pioneer to assess the combination effect of these EOs against R. microplus and could help in development of an effective and eco-friendly product for tick control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct and indirect ecological interactions, environmental factors, and the phenology of host plants can shape the way mites interact. These relationships interfere with species occurrence and consequently alter the structure and stability of the intraplant community. As predatory mites act as regulators of herbivorous mites, we hypothesized that these mites may occupy a central position in a network of interactions among mite species associated with mango trees, and the occurrence of these species is mediated by environmental variables and the phenological stage of the host plant. We evaluated the global structure of the interaction network of mites associated with individual Mangifera indica plants and analyzed the interspecific relationships of the species using an undirected Bayesian network approach. Additionally, we observed a correlation between mite population density and plant phenological stage. Environmental variables, such as average monthly temperature, monthly precipitation, and average monthly relative humidity at different sampling date were used in the correlation analysis. The modularity at the mite-plant network level showed a low specialization index H2 = 0.073 (generalist) and high robustness (R = 0.93). Network analysis revealed that Amblyseius largoensis, Bdella ueckermanni, Parapronematus acaciae, and Tuckerella ornata occupied central positions in the assembly of mites occurring on mango trees. Environmental variables, average monthly temperature, and monthly precipitation were correlated with the occurrence of Brachytydeus formosa, Cisaberoptus kenyae, Oligonychus punicae, T. ornata, and Vilaia pamithus. We also observed a correlation between the plant phenological stage and population densities of Neoseiulus houstoni, O. punicae, P. acaciae, and V. pamithus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of the European Green Deal will limit acaricide use in high value crops like raspberry, to be replaced by biological control and other alternative strategies. More basic knowledge on mites in such crops is then necessary, like species, density, and their role as vectors of plant diseases. This study had four aims, focusing on raspberry leaves at northern altitude: (1) identify mite species; (2) study mite population densities; (3) investigate mite intra-plant distribution; (4) investigate co-occurrence of phytophagous mites, raspberry leaf blotch disorder and raspberry leaf blotch virus (RLBV). Four sites in south-eastern Norway were sampled five times. Floricanes from different parts of the sites were collected, taking one leaf from each of the upper, middle, and bottom zones of the cane. Mites were extracted with a washing technique and processed for species identification and RLBV detection. Mites and leaves were tested for RLBV by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with virus-specific primers. Phytophagous mites, Phyllocoptes gracilis, Tetranychus urticae, and Neotetranychus rubi, and predatory mites, Anystis baccarum and Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) pyri were identified. All phytophagous mites in cultivated raspberry preferred the upper zone of floricanes, while in non-cultivated raspberry, they preferred the middle zone. The presence of phytophagous mites did not lead to raspberry leaf blotch disorder during this study. RLBV was detected in 1.3% of the sampled plants, none of them with leaf blotch symptoms, and in 4.3% of P. gracilis samples, and in some spider mite samples, implying that Tetranychids could also be vectors of RLBV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As climate change continues to modify temperature and rainfall patterns, risks from pests and diseases may vary as shifting temperature and moisture conditions affect the life history, activity, and distribution of invertebrates and diseases. The potential consequences of changing climate on pest management strategies must be understood for control measures to adapt to new environmental conditions. The redlegged earth mite (RLEM; Halotydeus destructor [Tucker]) is a major economic pest that attacks pastures and grain crops across southern Australia and is typically controlled by pesticides. TIMERITE® is a management strategy that relies on estimating the optimal timing (the TIMERITE® date) for effective chemical control of RLEM populations in spring. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of control at the TIMERITE® date from 1990 to 2020 across southern Australia using a simulation approach that incorporates historical climatic data and field experimental data on life history, seasonal abundance, and population level pesticide responses. We demonstrate that moisture and temperature conditions affect the life history of RLEM and that changes in the past three decades have gradually diminished the efficacy of the TIMERITE® strategy. Furthermore, we show that by incorporating improved climatic data into predictions and shifting the timing of control to earlier in the year, control outcomes can be improved and are more stable across changing climates. This research emphasises the importance of accounting for dynamic environmental responses when developing and implementing pest management strategies to ensure their long-term effectiveness. Suggested modifications to estimating the TIMERITE® date will help farmers maintain RLEM control outcomes amidst increasingly variable climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatozoon fitzsimonsi (Dias, 1953) is a frequently found haemogregarine of southern African tortoises. At the time of this species' reassignment from the genus Haemogregarina to Hepatozoon, developmental stages such as sporocysts and sporozoites were observed in ticks associated with H. fitzsimonsi parasitised and non-parasitised tortoises. It was thus suggested that ticks may act as the potential vectors for this parasite. However, this earlier research was unable to confirm the identity of these sporogonic stages using molecular markers. In a separate study aimed at identifying tick species parasitising South African reptiles and molecularly screening these for the presence of Hepatozoon, that study identified H. fitzsimonsi in tortoise-associated ticks. Thus, the present study aimed to revisit the potential of ticks to act as vectors for H. fitzsimonsi in tortoises using a combined microscopy and molecular approach. Methods: Specimens of Kinixys natalensis, Kinixys spekii, Kinixys zombensis and Stigmochelys pardalis were collected from Bonamanzi and Ndumo Game Reserve, South Africa. Upon capture, animals were examined for ticks, and these were collected along with blood and other tissues. Adult ticks were dissected and visceral impression slides were prepared along with thin blood and tissue smears on clean microscope slides. Smears and impression slides were stained with Giemsa, screened and micrographs of parasites were captured. Two primer sets were employed to target fragments of the 18S rRNA gene of parasites found in both tortoises and ticks and the resulting sequences were then compared with other known H. fitzsimonsi and haemogregarine sequences from the GenBank database. Results: Peripheral blood gamont and liver merogonic stages were observed in S. pardalis, while the sporogonic stages were observed in the haemocoel of Amblyomma ticks. Gamont and sporocyst stages compared morphologically with previous descriptions of H. fitzsimonsi, identifying them as this species. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the blood and tick sequences obtained in this study clustered in a monophyletic clade comprising known H. fitzsimonsi. Conclusions: The present study provides further support for ticks acting as the vectors of H. fitzsimonsi by molecularly identifying and linking observed developmental stages in tortoises (S. pardalis) with those in the invertebrate host (Amblyomma spp.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Varroa mite infestation poses a severe threat to honeybee colonies globally. This study investigates the feasibility of utilizing the HS-Cam and machine learning techniques for Varroa mite counting. The methodology involves image acquisition, dimensionality reduction through Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and machine learning-based segmentation and classification algorithms. Specifically, a k-Nearest Neighbors (kNNs) model distinguishes Varroa mites from other objects in the images, while a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier enhances shape detection. The final phase integrates a dedicated counting algorithm, leveraging outputs from the SVM classifier to quantify Varroa mite populations in hyperspectral images. The preliminary results demonstrate segmentation accuracy exceeding 99% and an average precision of 0.9983 and recall of 0.9947 across all the classes. The results obtained from our machine learning-based approach for Varroa mite counting were compared against ground-truth labels obtained through manual counting, demonstrating a high degree of agreement between the automated counting and manual ground truth. Despite working with a limited dataset, the HS-Cam showcases its potential for Varroa counting, delivering superior performance compared to traditional RGB images. Future research directions include validating the proposed hyperspectral imaging methodology with a more extensive and diverse dataset. Additionally, the effectiveness of using a near-infrared (NIR) excitation source for Varroa detection will be explored, along with assessing smartphone integration feasibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides information on the genus Erythraeus and its subgenera, specifically focusing on the larval stage. It discusses the subgenus Erythraeus, which is divided into two groups based on the number of basifemoralae, and Erythraeus phalangoides is classified in the first group. The article presents new data on larval specimens of E. phalangoides and transfers Erythraeus walii to the subgenus Erythraeus. It includes measurements and setae counts for E. phalangoides and compares E. walii to other species within the Erythraeus genus. The authors express gratitude to the South Australian Museum for allowing them to study type specimens and provide a list of references for further reading. [Extracted from the article]

During a comprehensive survey of heterostigmatic mites associated with ground beetles and soil samples in northern and northeastern Iran, several colonies of caroboacarid mites, including three species of the genus Caraboacarus Krczal, 1959, C. stammeri Krczal, 1959, C. karenae Nickel & Elzinga, 1969, and C. krczali Eidelberg, 1994 as well as Minicaraboacarus quadridiscalis Hajiqanbar & Khaustov, 2008 and Intercaraboacarus clivinus Katlav & Hajiqanbar, 2015, were extracted from soil samples and ground beetles of the genera Calosoma Weber, Harpalus Latreille, Amara Bonelli and Scarites Fabricius in the sampling area. The world distribution and host specificity are examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atractothrombium joharchii sp. nov. ectoparasitic on an unknown Tachinidae (Insecta: Diptera) is described from Alborz province, Iran. A re-definition of the genus Atractothrombium is presented. A key to the larval genera of Microtrombidiinae of the world with two median scuta and anterior scutum with longitudinal striations is given. Leg setal formula of two species of Fissitrombium described by Southcott (1994) are given. [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]

The present study is based on oribatid mite material collected from five locations in Eastern Guatemala. A list of 98 species, belonging to 68 genera and 43 families, is presented; 70 species are recorded for the first time in Guatemalan fauna. A new species of genus Pergalumna, P. paraobsidiana sp. nov. is described from rainforest litter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is based on oribatid mite materials collected from the Gambela region, Ethiopia. A list of 41 species, belonging to 30 genera and 20 families, is presented. One new species Scheloribates (Scheloribates) aboboensis Ermilov sp. nov. (Scheloribatidae) is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), is a notorious pest in agriculture that has developed resistance to almost all chemical types used for its control. Here, we assembled a chromosome-level genome for the TSSM using Illumina, Nanopore, and Hi-C sequencing technologies. The assembled contigs had a total length of 103.94 Mb with an N50 of 3.46 Mb, with 87.7 Mb of 34 contigs anchored to three chromosomes. The chromosome-level genome assembly had a BUSCO completeness of 94.8%. We identified 15,604 protein-coding genes, with 11,435 genes that could be functionally annotated. The high-quality genome provides invaluable resources for the genetic and evolutionary study of TSSM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The broad mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Tarsonemidae: Acari) is a highly polyphagous species that damage plant species spread across 57 different families. This pest has developed high levels of resistance to some commonly used acaricides. In the present investigation, we deciphered the genome information of P. latus by PacBio HiFi sequencing. P. latus is the third smallest arthropod genome sequenced so far with a size of 49.1 Mb. The entire genome was assembled into two contigs. A set of 9,286 protein-coding genes were annotated. Its compact genome size could be credited with multiple features such as very low repeat content (5.1%) due to the lack of proliferation of transposable elements, high gene density (189.1/Mb), more intronless genes (20.3%) and low microsatellite density (0.63%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 1346 hard ticks (863♂ and 483 ♀) infested 104 camels, 60 alive camels with 93.33% infestation rate and 44 carcasses of camels had 79.54% infestation rate The total infestation rate was 87.5 %. The current study results revealed ten species of hard ticks family Ixodidae Koch, 1844 related to genus Hyalomma as following: H. dromedarii Koch, 1844, H. schulzii Morel, 1969, H. turanicum Pomerantsev, 1946, H. excavatum Koch, 1844, H. truncatum Koch, 1844, H. scupense Schulzii, 1919, H. marginatum Koch, 1844, H. anatolicum Koch, 1844, H. rufipes Koch, 1844, H. impeltatum Schulze & Schlottke, 1930 from camel Camelus dromedarius Linnaeus, 1758 collected from 21 regions belonging to six provinces in middle, west and south of Iraq where camels were bred in abundance. According to the current results, camels are considered a new host for three species of genus Hyalomma: H. truncatum, H. marginatum rufipes. These results may be of more importance as being the available data for risk topic about camels infested with hard ticks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • This study documents four quill mite species in Birds-of-Paradise, indicating complex host-parasite dynamics. • The presence of mite genera typically associated with non-passerines on Birds-of-Paradise indicates host-switching events. • While some mites prefer closely related host genera, others infest phylogenetically distant hosts. • This study notes predominantly low prevalence and highlights specific habitat preferences of different mite species. • A network analysis reveals new insights into the ecological dynamics of the host-parasite relationships. Mites of the family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata: Cheyletoidea) are permanent and obligatory parasites of birds. This study presents an analysis of mite material collected from 22 avian species belonging to the family Paradisaeidae (Passeriformes), revealing the presence of four mite species belonging to four genera: Syringophiloidus attenboroughi n. sp., Peristerophila regiusi n. comb., Picobia frankei , and Gunabopicobia garylarsoni. In the present work, the genus Neoperisterophila is synonymized with the genus Peristerophila. While the genera Syringophiloidus and Picobia were expectedly found on paradisaeid birds, given their prevalence in passerines, the presence of Peristerophila and Gunabopicobia was intriguing, suggesting potential host-switching events. The specificity of these mites varies, with some showing occurrence on hosts of closely related genera and others infesting phylogenetically distant hosts. Notably, the distribution of specific mite species on the Birds-of-Paradise appears to be influenced by both long coevolutionary histories and incidental contacts between often unrelated or intergeneric hybrid species of paradisaeid birds. Furthermore, our research of 104 specimens from 22 Birds-of-Paradise species shows generally low infestation rates across the studied species, suggesting a nuanced interaction between these mites and their avian hosts. Additionally, our network analysis provides a deeper understanding of these host-parasite interactions, revealing a high level of specialization and complexity in these ecological relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 most caves, the main source of organic matter is provided by bats, through guano, which is influenced by their type of diet. A wide variety of organisms live in it, such as bacteria, fungi, mites, springtails, and other arthropods, many of them adapted to the cave environment, especially several families of mites with different eating habits are frequent in the guano and each of them has a role in the nutrient cycling that takes place within the caves. As part of a research project on argasid ticks in caves in Mexico, during 2010-2016, bat guano collections were carried out in 15 caves in seven states of the country. Herein, the records of 90 Acari taxa are presented, included in four orders, 52 families, 27 genera and 11 species determined to date, associated with guano from caves in central and southern Mexico with a diverse geological origin. Different groups of mites carry out particular roles in the food web within caves, due to their diverse feeding habits. The information presented provides data to understand the diversity of guanobia mites and their role within the caves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triticum mosaic virus (TriMV; genus Poacevirus;family Potyviridae) is an economically important virus in the Great Plains region of lhe United States. TriMV is transmitted by the wheat curl mite (Aceria tosichella) Type 2 genotype but not by Type I. Helper component-proteinase (HC-Pro) is a vector transmission determinant for several potyvirids, but the role of HC-Pro in TriMV transmission is unknown. In this study, we examined the requirement of the HC-Pro cistron of TriMV for wheat curl mite (Type 2) transmission through deletion and point mutations and constructing TriMV chimeras with heterologous HC-Pros from other potyvirids. TriMV with complete deletion of HC-Pro failed to be transmitted by wheat curl mites at detectable levels. Furthermore, TriMV chimeras with heterologous HC- Pros from aphid-transmitted turnip mosaic virus and tobacco etch virus, or wheat curl mite-transmitted wheat streak mosaic virus, failed to be transmitted by wheat curl mites. These data suggest that heterologous HC-Pros did not complement TriMV for wheat curl mite transmission. A decreasing scries of progressive nested in-frame deletions at the N-terminal region of HC-Pro comprising amino acids 3 to 125, 3 to 50, 3 to 25, 3 to 15, 3 to 8, and 3 and 4 abolished TriMV transmission by wheat curl mites. Additionally, mutation of conserved Hisat, Cys_w, orCysjj to Ala in HC-Pro abolished TriMV transmissibility by wheat curl mites. These data suggest that the N-terminal region of HC-Pro is crucial for TriMV transmission by wheat curl mites. Collectively, these data demonstrate that lhe HC-Pro cistron of TriMV is a viral determinant for wheat curl mite transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cats, as widely embraced companions in diverse environments, face significant health threats due to infection by ectoparasites. The present study investigates the prevalence of ectoparasite infestations in domestic cats (Felis catus) in Giza Governorate, Egypt. Spanning from December 2022 to November 2023, the study included 400 samples of diverse feline populations. Fleas and ear mites were detected in 20.75% and 11.25% of the examined cats, respectively. While ticks and myiasis were observed in 0.5% for each. Clinical manifestations and morphological structures of the detected parasites were documented. Moreover, the research integrates molecular characterization, utilizing the COI gene for Sarcophaga species identification. The study also analyzed risk factors, adjusting for age, sex, and season, revealing variations in infestation rates. Cats under one year old exhibited the highest infestation rate (48.35%). Seasonal variation showed the highest prevalence in autumn, followed by summer and winter, with a decline in spring. This survey study provides valuable insights into ectoparasite infestations in domestic cats to serve as a pivotal step toward promoting cat welfare and safeguarding public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five new species of Pavania (Acari: Heterostigmata: Dolichocybidae) phoretic on scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) are described: P. eurysternophilasp. nov. collected on Eurysternus cyclops and E. caribaeus in French Guiana and Brazil; P. tenuisetasp. nov. on Canthon sp. in French Guiana; P. nicaraguaiensissp. nov. on Canthon deyrollei in Nicaragua; P. brevisetosasp. nov. on Canthon humectus in Mexico; and P. lancetosetosasp. nov. on Scarabaeus rugosus in South Africa. An updated key to species of the genus Pavania is provided. The family Dolichocybidae is reported from the Nicaragua and Mexico for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The species checklist is the basic data that reflects the species diversity in a country or region. In order to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the taxonomic study of oribatid mites in China and the 60th anniversary of the Special Committee of Acarology of the Entomological Society of China, and to explore the China's biodiversity, and scientifically answer "how many species and what species are there in China", we compiled a checklist of Chinese oribatid mites, including a total of 1000 species and 35 subspecies in 311 genera and 158 subgenera representing 112 families. In addition, we provided a brief history of taxonomic research on oribatid mites in China in the past 100 years, Chinese name, literature citations and provincial distribution information of each species and subspecies, and a list of species nomina nuda. This work will support China's actions to implement the "Convention on Biological Diversity", and promote biodiversity research and protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new chigger species, belonging to genera Leeuwenhoekia Oudemans, 1911 (Leeuwenhoekiidae), Colicus Brennan 1970, and Herpetacarus (Vercammen-Grandjean 1960) (Trombiculidae), are described, based on specimens deposited in the Acarological collection at Centro de Coleções Taxonômicas da UFMG, including voucher material for which sequences from multiple genes are available, sampled from Minas Gerais and Amazonas states, Brazil. Leeuwenhoekia berthalutzaesp. nov. was found in association with the rodent Calomys sp. and Oligoryzomys sp., Colicus helenagrecaesp. nov. with the rodent Cerradomys cf. subflavus, Colicus carolinaesp. nov. in cave soil, off-host, and Herpetacarus mariellaesp. nov. in leaf litter, off-host. Additionally, we report a new record for Quadraseta brasiliensisGoff & Gettinger, 1989 associated with rodents from Parque Nacional Serra do Itajaí, Santa Catarina state. [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]

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae (Koch, 1836) (Acari: Tetranychidae) causes significant problems in cotton fields. The pest has developed resistance to abamectin, which is used intensely against spider mite populations. A discriminating dose was applied to T. urticae populations collected from Aydın, Adana, Şanlıurfa, and Diyarbakır provinces between 2019 and 2021, where there is significant cotton production and intensive acaricide applications. Populations with a mortality rate of less than 80% at the discriminating dose applied to field populations were included in the bioassay study. Then, the 10 most resistant populations were determined based on their LC50 and LC90 values. It was observed that there was high resistance (HR) in two T. urticae populations collected from Diyarbakır (DIY28 and DIY2) with LC50 values of 24.5 and 33.81 mg L-1, respectively 113 and 156-fold and one population collected from the province of Aydın (AYD4) LC50 value of 23.5 mg L-1 and 109-fold. As a result of the comparisons with a susceptible population in biochemical studies, it was determined that the carboxylesterase (CarE) enzyme of these populations (except for SAN6, SAN7, SAN8, ADA9, and ADA11) had more than 2-fold higher activity compared to the glutathione enzyme (GST), and they were in statistically different groups. When the GST enzyme activities were examined, it was found that the enzyme activities were generally low, except for the ADA11 and ADA16 populations (3.73 and 2.3-fold). In terms of the target site resistance, it was observed that there was no target site mutation (G314D and I321T-G326E) in the glutamate-gated chloride channels (Units GluCl 1 and 3) in these highest 10 resistant populations. It can be said that the resistance levels determined for abamectin from the obtained populations were determined to be low. In brief, out of the total 44 populations brought in and tested, only 30 populations were considered resistant with a mortality rate below 80% after the applied discriminating dose. It was determined that 6.8% of these 30 populations had HR, 31.8% had medium resistance (MR), and 29.5% had low resistance (LR). When examining by regions, it was found that high resistance populations were more prevalent in Diyarbakır and Aydın (15.4% and 10%, respectively) provinces, while the highest percentage of MR populations was found in Şanlıurfa, at 90%. Abamectin still acts as an effective acaricide. However, it is recommended to use acaricides with different modes of action to prevent possible emergence of resistance cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of TarsonemusCanestrini & Fanzago, 1876—namely Tarsonemus bengalicus Karmakar & Bera sp. nov. and Tarsonemus kajuae Karmakar & Bera sp. nov.—are described and illustrated based on specimens collected on leaves of Bamboo, Bambusa vulgaris Schard. and Cashew, Anacardium occidentale L., respectively from Ramnagar, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, India. Additionally, subgeneric diagnostic characters of Tarsonemus are compiled and a key to the Indian Tarsonemus species is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Battery poultry houses are subject to infestations by pests, such as the ectoparasitic mites Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer, 1778) and Ornithonyssus bursa (Berlese, 1888) which are hematophagous and can cause skin lesions, stress, and even death of hens, leading to significant economic losses. Recent European studies have shown that these mites can also work as vectors of pathogenic microorganisms. Therefore, due to the absence of records on the association between D. gallinae and O. bursa and pathogenic microorganisms in Brazil, the present study aimed to identify pathogenic bacteria through a metagenomics analysis associated with mites collected from a poultry house located in a rural area of the state of Rio Grande do Sul and direct from a skin' person that lives in a farm in the interior of the state of São Paulo (Brazil). For the material collected in Rio Grande do Sul, a higher predominance of endosymbiotic bacteria, and different species of the pathogenic bacteria species Bartonella was observed. On the other hand, some enterobacteria were identified from O. bursa samples, but the amount was not high enough to identify the species. Additionally, the endosymbiotic Wolbachia spp. was identified in both O. bursa samples (pooled and individuals). Besides the detection of Wolbachia, in the individual O. bursa microbiome, we detected Spiroplasma spp. and 'Candidatus Cardinium'. This is the first time that a microbiome study has been made for the species D. gallinae and O. bursa in Brazil, as well as the first time that Wolbachia, Spiroplasma and 'Candidatus Cardinium' was detected in O. bursa samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the bio-efficacy of different acaricides, an experiment was conducted against Tetranychus urticae (Koch) nourishing Dodi, Leptadenia reticulata (Ret.) Wight & Aruott and the findings revealed that abamectin 1.9 EC @ 0.00038% and spiromesifen 22.9 SC @ 0.02% were superior over other acaricides with a population reduction of 1.93 and 1.95 mites/cm2 leaf, respectively. Likewise, etoxazole 10 SC @ 0.01%, chlorfenapyr 10 SC @ 0.015% and propargite 57 EC @ 0.114% were the next effective treatments as reduced the population of mites at 3.44, 3.83 and 4.38 mites/cm2 leaf. Whereas, the lowest efficacy or highest incidence of mites was recorded in the leaves treated with dimethoate 30 EC @ 0.03% (7.25 mites/cm2 leaf) followed by sulphur 80 WDG @ 0.20% (6.77 mites/cm2 leaf) and ethion 50 EC @ 0.05% (5.82 mites/cm2 leaf). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

House dust mites are ubiquitous and are one of the major sources of indoor allergens for humans. The cases of allergic diseases associated with house dust mite allergens are on increasing trends. House dust mite inhabits human dwellings and has been reported to be present in closed rooms and houses frequently visited or used by humans. However, information on the abundance of house dust mite species is scarce and limited to the classrooms of schools and colleges where students spend ample time a day. Therefore, the present study was carried out to examine the diversity and abundance of house dust mites in the classrooms of colleges of Dhanbad, Jharkhand. The result found the presence of 7 species of domestic mites in the dust samples of classrooms. The identified species belonged to 3 orders and 6 families. Out of the 7 isolated mite species, the Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus of the family Pyroglyphidae was the most abundant species in the dust samples of classrooms with a relative abundance of 46-47%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The two‐spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae causes significant damage to ornamental, cotton, sugarcane and horticultural crops in Australia. It has a long history of developing resistance to many acaricides including bifenazate. A mutation in the conserved cd1‐ and ef‐helices of the Qo pocket of cytochrome b is recognized as the primary mechanism of bifenazate resistance. To investigate the resistance mechanisms against bifenazate in Australian two‐spotted spider mite, we sequenced the complete mitochondrion genome of five mite strains including a susceptible and bifenazate‐resistant strain. RESULTS: We identified a novel mutation D252N in the G126S background at cytochrome b being the cause of bifenazate resistance in a bifenazate‐resistant strain, Bram. We validated the role of this mutation combination by reciprocal crosses between a bifenazate resistant and susceptible strain. By doing these crosses we confirmed the pattern of inheritance was maternal. Additionally, mitochondrial heteroplasmy was not observed by single mite genotyping of the mutations in cytb in a known bifenazate‐resistant strain Bram. The phylogenetic analysis with the complete mitochondrion genome sequences revealed that Australian two‐spotted spider mite strains are closely related to the green form of T. urticae found in China. CONCLUSIONS: The novel mutation D252N found in the cytochrome b in the G126S background was revealed to be the main cause of bifenazate resistance in the Australian T. urticae strain Bram. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The citrus red mite, Panonychus citri (McGregor) is a globally distributed agricultural pest. Of late, resistance to common acaricides has raised concerns that chemical control of P. citri is an inefficient means of control. Fluralaner, a highly toxic isoxazoline insecticide used to treat various ectoparasites, presents one potential alternative. However, little information has been reported about the effect of fluralaner on the citrus red mite. This study aims to evaluate the toxicity, sublethal and transgenerational effects of fluralaner on P. citri. RESULTS: In both laboratory and field populations of P. citri, we found fluralaner to be more toxic than conventional alternatives, including fenpropathrin, bifenazate, azocyclotin and chlorpyrifos. Interestingly, fluralaner proved more toxic to female adults than to the eggs of P. citri, with median lethal concentrations (LC50) of 2.446 and 122.7 mg L−1, respectively. Exposure to sublethal concentrations of fluralaner (LC10, LC20 and LC30) significantly reduced the fecundity and longevity of female adults P. citri individuals. Although concentrations of fluralaner applied to the parental female adults (F0) led to some changes in the developmental parameters, there were no significant changes in most of the life table parameters or population growth of the F1 generation. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that fluralaner is highly toxic to P. citri, and a significant sublethal effect on F0 could suppress the population growth of P. citri, but not for F1. Fluralaner may be considered as a pesticide for the future management of the citrus red mite. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-host parasites pose greater health risks to wildlife, livestock, and humans than single-host parasites, yet our understanding of how ecological and biological factors influence a parasite's host range remains limited. Here, we assemble the largest and most complete dataset on permanently parasitic mammalian mites and build a predictive model assessing the probability of single-host parasites to become multi-hosts, while accounting for potentially unobserved host-parasite links and class imbalance. This model identifies statistically significant predictors related to parasites, hosts, climate, and habitat disturbance. The most important predictors include the parasite's contact level with the host immune system and two variables characterizing host phylogenetic similarity and spatial co-distribution. Our model reveals an overrepresentation of mites associated with Rodentia (rodents), Chiroptera (bats), and Carnivora in the multi-host risk group. This highlights both the potential vulnerability of these hosts to parasitic infestations and the risk of serving as reservoirs of parasites for new hosts. In addition, we find independent macroevolutionary evidence that supports our prediction of several single-host species of Notoedres, the bat skin parasites, to be in the multi-host risk group, demonstrating the forecasting potential of our model. Some mite species infect only one mammal host, while other typically more dangerous species, infect multiple hosts. This study developed a model using parasite, host, climate, and habitat data to predict potential host range expansions in single-host mites and the probability of single-host parasites to become multi-hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]