A survey of lifespan in Winterschmidtiidae (Sarcoptiformes: Astigmata)

The Winterschmidtiidae are a family of over 140 species of fungivorous, saprophagous, predatory and/or parasitic mites in insect/vertebrate nests, in decaying organic matter, in soils and on plants worldwide. In this review, I provide a survey of the immature developmental time, adult longevity and lifespan of the Winterschmidtiidae as part of the series on the lifespans in the Acari. The complete life cycle in this family includes five immature stages (the egg, larva, protonymph, deutonymph and tritonymph) and adult male/female, with deutonymphs lost in some genera such as Czenspinskia and Oulenziella. Development or lifespan data have been reported for only three species (< 3%) of the Winterschmidtiidae, and the experimentally measured lifespans of one to two months most likely reflect those of the summer generation. Afrocalvolia nataliae has two generations per year: the summer generation, which has no deutonymph stage, is mainly devoted to feeding and reproduction and lasts for one month only; the winter generation, however, has a deutonymph stage to resist the cold conditions and lasts for as long as 11 months.

Species and prevalence of parasitic mites on tree geckos in Purwokerto, Central Java

Parasitic mite infections are very common on virtually all organisms including tree geckos. This research was aimed to determine the species and prevalence of parasitic mites infecting tree lizards in Purwokerto, Central Java. This research employed a survey method with a purposive random sampling technique. One hundred individuals of tree lizards were obtained from trees in 4 different sub-districts in Purwokerto. The results showed that from 3 species of tree geckos namely, Hemidactylus platyurus, H. frenatus and H. garnotii, only the last one was not infected by parasitic mites. The prevalence of parasitic mites in H. garnotii was 0%, while in H. frenatus and H. platyurus were 27% and 29%, respectively. The total prevalence of parasitic mites on tree geckos in Purwokerto, Central Java, was 28%. The results showed that there were 5 (five) species of parasitic mites belonging to the genus Geckobia, namely G. keegani, G. gleadovania, G. turkestana, G. simplex and G. diversipilis. The prevalence of G. gleadovania in H. frenatus geckos was 100%, while in H. platyurus geckos, the prevalence of infection by G. diversipilis was also 100%. The most infected body part was the trunk where the prevalence was 57%.

Multi-tiered analyses of honey bees that resist or succumb to parasitic mites and viruses

Background Varroa destructor mites, and the numerous viruses they vector to their honey bee hosts, are among the most serious threats to honey bee populations, causing mortality and morbidity to both the individual honey bee and colony, the negative effects of which convey to the pollination services provided by honey bees worldwide. Here we use a combination of targeted assays and deep RNA sequencing to determine host and microbial changes in resistant and susceptible honey bee lineages. We focus on three study sets. The first involves field sampling of sympatric western bees, some derived from resistant stock and some from stock susceptible to mites. The second experiment contrasts three colonies more deeply, two from susceptible stock from the southeastern U.S. and one from mite-resistant bee stock from Eastern Texas. Finally, to decouple the effects of mites from those of the viruses they vector, we experimentally expose honey bees to DWV in the laboratory, measuring viral growth and host responses. Results We find strong differences between resistant and susceptible bees in terms of both viral loads and bee gene expression. Interestingly, lineages of bees with naturally low levels of the mite-vectored Deformed wing virus, also carried lower levels of viruses not vectored by mites. By mapping gene expression results against current ontologies and other studies, we describe the impacts of mite parasitism, as well as viruses on bee health against two genetic backgrounds. We identify numerous genes and processes seen in other studies of stress and disease in honey bee colonies, alongside novel genes and new patterns of expression. Conclusions We provide evidence that honey bees surviving in the face of parasitic mites do so through their abilities to resist the presence of devastating viruses vectored by these mites. In all cases, the most divergence between stocks was seen when bees were exposed to live mites or viruses, suggesting that gene activation, rather than constitutive expression, is key for these interactions. By revealing responses to viral infection and mite parasitism in different lineages, our data identify candidate proteins for the evolution of mite tolerance and virus resistance.

Computational Design of a Molecularly Imprinted Polymer for the Biomonitoring of the Organophosphorous Metabolite Chlorferron

Coumaphos is an organophosphorus compound used as insecticide and frequently used by beekeepers for the management of parasitic mites. The most important metabolite, chlorferron (CFN), has been identified in biological samples and foodstuff. The need to quickly identify the presence of typical metabolites, as an indication of interaction with coumaphos has driven the need to produce a highly sensitive electrochemical method for chlorferron analysis, based on molecularly imprinting polymers (MIP) technology. It showed irreversible behaviour with mixed diffusion/adsorption-controlled reactions at the electrode surface. A monoelectronic mechanism of reaction for oxidation has also been suggested. The linear range observed was from 0.158 to 75 µM. Median precision in terms of %RSD around 3% was also observed. For DPV, the limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantitation (LOQ) for the CFN-MIP were 0.158 µM and 0.48 µM, respectively. The obtained median % recovery was around 98%. The results were also validated to reference values obtained using GC-MS. Urine and human synthetic plasma spiked with CFN were used to demonstrate the usability of the method in biological samples, showing the potential for biomonitoring. The developed imprinted sensor showed maximum signal change less than 16.8% when related metabolites or pesticide were added to the mix, suggesting high selectivity of the MIP sensor toward CFN molecules. The results from in vitro metabolism of CMP analysed also demonstrates the potential for detection and quantification of CFN in environmental samples. The newly developed CFN-MIP sensor offers similar LoDs than chromatographic methods with shorter analysis time.

Multi-tiered Analyses of Honey Bees That Resist or Succumb to Parasitic Mites and Viruses

Background Varroa destructor mites, and the numerous viruses they vector to their honey bee hosts, are among the most serious threats to honey bee populations, causing mortality and morbidity to both the individual honey bee and colony, the negative effects of which convey to the pollination services provided by honey bees worldwide. Here we use a combination of targeted assays and deep RNA sequencing to determine host and microbial changes in resistant and susceptible honey bee lineages. We focus on three study sets. The first involves field sampling of sympatric western bees, some derived from resistant stock and some from stock susceptible to mites. The second experiment contrasts three colonies more deeply, two from susceptible stock from the southeastern U.S. and one from mite-resistant bee stock from Eastern Texas. Finally, to decouple the effects of mites from those of the viruses they vector, we experimentally expose honey bees to DWV in the laboratory, measuring viral growth and host responses. Results We find strong differences between resistant and susceptible bees in terms of both viral loads and bee gene expression. Interestingly, lineages of bees with naturally low levels of the mite-vectored Deformed wing virus, also carried lower levels of viruses not vectored by mites. By mapping gene expression results against current ontologies and other studies, we describe the impacts of mite parasitism, as well as viruses on bee health against two genetic backgrounds. We identify numerous genes and processes seen in other studies of stress and disease in honey bee colonies, though we find novel genes and new patterns of expression too. Conclusions We provide evidence that honey bees surviving in the face of parasitic mites do so through their abilities to resist the presence of devastating viruses vectored by these mites. By revealing responses to viral infection and mite parasitism in different lineages, our data identify candidate proteins for the evolution of mite tolerance and virus resistance.

Sheltered life beneath elytra: three new species of Eutarsopolipus (Acari, Heterostigmatina, Podapolipidae) parasitizing Australian ground beetles

In this study, we conducted a summer sampling of carabid beetles in eastern Australia to identify their associated parasitic mites. Here, we describe three new species of the genus Eutarsopolipus from under the elytra (forewings) of three native carabid species (Coleoptera: Carabidae): Eutarsopolipus paryavae n. sp. (pterostichi group) from Geoscaptus laevissimus Chaudoir; Eutarsopolipus pulcher n. sp. (leytei group) from Gnathaphanus pulcher (Dejean); and Eutarsopolipus chlaenii n. sp. (myzus group) from Chlaenius flaviguttatus Macleay. We further provide an identification key of the world species of pterostichi and leytei species groups as well as closely related species of the myzus group possessing similar characters including short cheliceral stylets. The significant diversity of Eutarsopolipus recovered here suggests that the current knowledge about Australian podapolipid mites (specially Eutarsopolipus) is still in its infancy and deserves further study.

Mites Macronyssidae Parasites of Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Passeriformes: Passeridae) in the Southern of Brazil

The aim of this study was to report the species of haematophagous parasitic mites of Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) and analyze the infestation rates regarding to gender, body mass, and total length of the hosts. To do so, each of the 100 house sparrows captured in the urban area of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, was identified by gender, weighed, and measured. The mite collection was carried out after applying an ectoparasite-repelling talc in the body of the birds. Pellonyssus reedi was found in 29 house sparrows with mean intensity of 8.37 mites/host and Ornithonyssus bursa was found in two birds, only one male host showing co-infestation. The prevalence and mean intensity of P. reedi between male and female adults did not show significant difference, nor was there any correlation among species abundance, body mass, and total length of the house sparrows. We report the occurrence of P. reedi and O. bursa parasitizing P. domesticus in the southern of Brazil.

The Biodiversity of Demodecid Mites (Acariformes: Prostigmata), Specific Parasites of Mammals with a Global Checklist and a New Finding for Demodex sciurinus

Demodecidae are the most specialized parasitic mites of mammals; they typically inhabit the skin, but they have been found in other tissues and organs. They can cause demodecosis (a disease which is hazardous and difficult to cure) in humans, domestic animals and livestock. They are parasites with high host and topical specificity. They have been found for most orders of mammals, and they are common in the populations of numerous host species. Therefore, they not only constitute an important subject of veterinary and medical study, but also comprise an excellent model for faunistic and parasitological analyses concerning different aspects of functioning and evolution of the host–parasite relationship. The current level or knowledge of demodecid mites is irregular and fragmentary, and numerous questions require elaboration and ordering, from the taxonomic diversity to geographic distribution and relations with hosts. Such data may be of use i.a. for the development of more efficient and reliable diagnostic methods, as well as understanding the etiology and pathogenesis mechanisms of demodecosis, currently a contentious issue. The present paper lists all formally-described valid species of demodecid mites, together with other functioning specific names, verified and with comments on their status. This is significant for correct species identification and demodecosis diagnostics. The list has been drawn up on the basis of data acquired in the period 1842−2020. It contains 122 valid species of parasite, including their hosts and geographic distribution, data on parasitism, as well as only the second record of Demodex sciurinus in Eurasian red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris in over 100 years since its initial discovery.