Morphological descriptions and DNA barcodes of Oziella viscida n. sp. (Eriophyoidea, Phytoptidae) and two infrequently reported Trisetacus species (Nalepellidae) from Crimea

We report on a new phytoptid mite species, Oziella viscida n. sp., collected in Western Crimea from sea rush, Juncus maritimus (Juncaceae), and give supplementary descriptions of two rarely encountered nalepellid species of the genus Trisetacus from pines: T. confusus Livshits & Vasilieva, 1982 (in Vasilieva et al. 1982) from needle sheaths of Pinus nigra ssp. pallasiana (Pinaceae), an endemic subspecies restricted to Crimea, and T. brevisetus Livshits & Sekerskaya, 1982 (in Vasilieva et al. 1982) from needle sheaths of Pinus brutia ssp. pityusa (Steven) Silba, a relatively isolated subspecies of Turkish pine (P. brutia Tenore) growing in Georgia, Caucasus and Crimea. Oziella viscida n. sp. is remarkable in that most specimens were found inhabiting the basal part of leaves and stems of J. maritimus, an area covered by a transparent, sticky exudate apparently secreted by the plant epidermis. The mites were completely embedded in this substance and, rather than crawling with their legs, were observed moving through the viscous material while bending their opisthosoma in a serpentine or wormlike manner—an adaptation that appears to be currently unreported in eriophyoids and possibly reminiscent of locomotion of ancestral “protoeriophyoids” associated with soil. In comparison to females, males of O. viscida n. sp. and T. confusus have a more distinct prodorsal shield pattern consisting of a larger number of longer lines. Three new barcode gene sequences were obtained: MZ220550 (Cox1, O. viscida n. sp., 1159 bp), MZ224497 (18S, 2012 bp, T. brevisetus), and MZ224498 (18S, 2013 bp T. confusus). A BLAST search of the 18S sequences of T. brevisetus and T. confusus shows them as slightly closer to other 18S sequences of Trisetacus from Pinaceae (95.5%–96.3% identity) than to Trisetacus from Cupressaceae (93.6%–94.0% identity). Comparison of sequences of nalepellids currently present in GenBank suggest that a complete 18S sequence KJ841938.1 (2252 bp) from China belongs to an identified Trisetacus from Pinaceae rather than to Setoptus koraiensis as labelled, highlighting the necessity to review carefully the sequences of Eriophyoidea prior to using them in phylogenetic analyses, as well as the need to recollect and resequence S. koraiensis to clarify the nature of the problematic data from GenBank assigned to this species.

Two new feather mites of the subfamily Proctophyllodinae (Acariformes: Proctophyllodidae) from the Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris (Passeriformes: Tyrannidae) in Canada

Two new feather mite species, Nycteridocaulus sulcatus sp. n. and Tyranniphyllodes empidonicus sp. n. (Astigmata: Proctophyllodidae), are described from the Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Empidonax flaviventris (Passeriformes: Tyrannidae), in Canada. The clearest distinguishing characteristic of N. sulcatus is the structure of the supranal concavity in males, which is parallel-sided, heavily sclerotized and opened posteriorly. Tyranniphyllodes empidonicus readily differs from the only previously known species, T. pitangi Hernandes et al. 2007, by the absence of setae d1 in both sexes and in having strongly elongated epimerites IVa and the genital sheath in males not extending to the tip of the aedeagus, and long anterolateral extensions of the prodorsal shield in females. This is the first record of the genus Tyranniphyllodes in North America.

Description of Aculops shalchii sp. nov. and supplementary descriptions of Eriophyes euphorbiae and Aceria rubiae (Trombidiformes: Eriophyoidea: Eriophyidae) from Iran

One new phyllocoptine species and two eriophyine species collected in Norther-West Iran are described and illustrated: Aculops shalchii Lotfollahi sp. nov. (Phyllocoptinae) from Sweet Clover, Melilotus indicus (L.) All. (Fabaceae), Eriophyes euphorbiae (Nalepa, 1891) from Euphorbia boissieriana (Woronow) Prokh. (Euphorbiaceae) and Aceria rubiae (Canestrini, 1897) from Rubia tinctorum L. (Rubiaceae). Our supplementary data on morphology of A. rubiae and E. euphorpbiae indicate that they both have a thin translucent supracapitular plate situated below the frontal lobe of the prodorsal shield. Data from literature suggest A. rubiae and E. euphorbiae to be gall-forming species, however no visible damages causing by these mites were found in Iran.

Two new species of the feather mite genus Pteroherpus Gaud, 1981 (Analgoidea, Pteronyssidae) from China

Two new pteronyssid feather mite species are described from passeriform birds in China: Pteroherpus pomatorhinae sp. nov. from the Streak-breasted Scimitar-babbler Pomatorhinus ruficollis Hodgson (Passeriformes, Timaliidae), and Pteroherpus chinensis sp. nov. from the Collared Finchbill Spizixos semitorques Swinhoe (Passeriformes, Pycnonotidae). Pteroherpus pomatorhinae sp. nov. belongs to the diploplax species group. The males of Pteroherpus pomatorhinae sp. nov. have the prodorsal shield elongated, the opisthosoma narrowed to posterior end, the opisthosomal lobes slightly elongated, and two pairs of small additional sclerites (one dorsally, between prodorsal and hysteronotal shield, and one ventrally posterior to genital apparatus). The females of Pteroherpus pomatorhinae sp. nov. have a pair of anterior hysteronotal sclerites, a central sclerite, a pair of lateral opisthosomal sclerites partially split into lateral and inner fragments and a pair of pygidial sclerites. The central sclerite has almost parallel lateral margins and concave posterior margin, and the posterior ends of the fragments of opisthosomal shields are connected by a thick bridge. Pteroherpus chinensis sp. nov. belongs to the hoplophorus species group. The males of Pteroherpus chinensis sp. nov. have prodorsal shield slightly longer than wide, the opisthosoma moderately narrowed to posterior end, the opisthosomal lobes wide and short and the adanal shield with irregular form. The females of Pteroherpus chinensis sp. nov. have the anterior hysteronotal sclerite fused with the prodorsal shield into a complex shield, a central sclerite, a pair of lateral opisthosomal sclerites and a pair of pygidial sclerites. The central sclerite is well delimited, and shaped as a longitudinal plate, slightly narrower posteriorly, with slightly convex anterior margin, concave lateral margins, and strongly convex posterior end.

A new species of Podapolipus (Acari: Heterostigmata: Podapolipidae) from an Australian gryllacridid cricket (Orthoptera), with keys to orthopteran-associated species of the genus

A new species of the ectoparasitic mite genus Podapolipus Rovelli & Grassi, 1888 from a recently described species of the raspy cricket genus Chauliogryllacris Rentz, in Rentz and John,1990 (Orthoptera: Gryllacrididae) is described. The main distinctions of Podapolipus gryllacridi n. sp. from its described congeners from orthopterans are the larval female and adult male having all dorsal and ventral idiosomatic setae, except the greatly elongated pair of scapular setae (and the caudal setae of the larval female), reduced to the size of microsetae; the larval female having separate tergites C and D; the male having an entire prodorsal shield, with apex of the aedeagus between bases of setae v1; and the adult female having smooth dorsal shields. Novel biological features of this parasite include its adult females’ dwelling in the hollow sternal apodemes of their host, and its larval females using their host’s other parasite, a gamasine mite, as phoretic and facultative hyperparasitic hosts. Keys are presented for the larval females and adult males of Podapolipus species associated with orthopterans. Problems with the generic concept of Podapolipus and closely related genera are reviewed. This is the first record of a podapolipid associated with orthopterans of the family Gryllacrididae.

The description and molecular phylogenetic position of a new conifer-associated mite, Setoptus tsugivagus n. sp. (Eriophyoidea, Phytoptidae, Nalepellinae)

A new vagrant eriophyoid mite species, Setoptus tsugivagus n. sp. Chetverikov (Eriophyoidea, Phytoptidae, Nalepellinae, Nalepellini), is described from the needles of the western hemlock, Tsuga heterophylla (Rafinesque) Sargent (Pinaceae) in Vancouver, Canada. The new species can be distinguished from all other members of Setoptus by a distinct pattern of several short longitudinal ridges on the posterior half of the prodorsal shield. Elements of the anal secretory apparatus (ASA) were observed in adults of S. tsugivagus n. sp., suggesting that the ASA is present in both major phylogenetic lineages of Eriophyoidea (Eriophyidae s. l. and Phytoptidae s. l.). Therefore, this structure could be a synapomorphy for all Eriophyoidea. We briefly discuss the function and morphological variety of the ASA in Eriophyoidea. D2 28S rDNA sequences of four nalepelline species were obtained: Boczekella reticulata Bagnyuk 1987 (GenBank accession number MK124605), Nalepella tsugifoliae Keifer 1953 (MK124606), Setoptus pini Boczek, 1964 (MK124607), and S. tsugivagus n. sp. (MK124608). Molecular phylogenetic analyses of D2 28S rDNA sequences of the mites of the subfamily Nalepellinae confirmed monophyly of the tribe Nalepellini and retrieved Setoptus and Nalepella as polyphyletic. Additionally, our data indicate that 28S rDNA sequence KF782472.1, previously reported to be Trisetacus ehmanni Keifer 1963 by Li et al. (2014), belongs to another species of the genus Trisetacus, possibly T. quadrisetus (Thomas), and the sequence KF782471.1, previously reported to be Trisetacus sp., might belong to T. juniperinus (Nalepa). We also discuss the systematics of nalepellines and their host association with conifers.

The anal secretory apparatus of Eriophyoidea and description of Phyllocoptes bilobospinosus n. sp. (Acariformes: Eriophyidae) from Tamarix (Tamaricaceae) from Ukraine, Crimea and USA

A new vagrant phyllocoptine species, Phyllocoptes bilobospinosus n. sp. (Eriophyidae, Phyllocoptinae), found on tamarisks (Tamarix tetrandra Pallas, T. smyrnensis Bunge, T. ramossisima Ledeb) in Donbass (Ukraine), Crimea, and USA is described based on conventional light microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Apart from two distinct areas of ventral cuticle bearing large, spike-like microtubercles, the new species possesses a thin translucent supracapitular plate (situated below the frontal lobe of the prodorsal shield), a short longitudinal ventral ridge anterior to the anal lobes, and unusual internal tube-like structures associated with the rectum. Careful examination of purposefully made slide mounts of partially cleared specimens revealed that adults of P. bilobospinosus possess a complex of structures associated with the rectum, including a hypertrophied, four-lobed putative anal gland and four thin tubes connected with a rectal sac. Similar tubular structures previously described in aberoptine mites of the genus Aberoptus from Brazilian Cesalpiniaceae are discussed. The synonymy of genera Aberoptus Keifer and Aceria Keifer is rejected and a new combination, Aberoptus inusitatus (Britto & Navia (in Britto et al. 2008)) n. comb., is proposed. A brief review of the anal glands of Eriophyoidea is given, including a discussion on homology and the variety of forms of the anal secretory apparatus among eriophyoid genera. Further research is needed on the anatomy of anal glands in Eriophyoidea, including transmission electron microscopy based histological analyses and additional studies of eriophyoids with well-developed secretory structures associated with the rectum. These methods will lead to a much better understanding of the evolution and homology of the anal secretory apparatus, which may render it useful for future phylogenetic studies.

A new feather mite species of the genus Trouessartia Canestrini, 1899 (Acarina, Trouessartiidae) – an integrative description (morphology and DNA barcoding data)

A new species of the feather mite genusTrouessartia(Trouessartiidae) is described from the Large NiltavaNiltavagrandis(Blyth) (Passeriformes, Muscicapidae) in Northeast India (Meghalaya, Jaintia Hills, Shnongrim village).TrouessartianiltavaeConstantinescu,sp. n.is morphologically closely related (no phylogenetic meaning) toT.bulligeraGaud, 1968 fromClytorhynchushamlini(Mayr) (Passeriformes: Monarchidae), sharing in males a unique character within the genus, by having setaeeon legs IV hemispheroid, with spine-shaped apex. Males of the new species have the prodorsal shield without ornamentation, the prohysteronotal shield and lobar shield connected, and the terminal cleft parallel sided. Females have the posterior half of the hysteronotal shield ornamented with large ovate lacunae in central area and small elliptical lacunae marginally. To the morphological description of this new feather mite species we added sequence data on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene fragment (COI). The phylogenetic relationships betweenTrouessartiaspecies are briefly discussed.

Two new feather mite species of the family Analgidae (Acariformes: Analgoidea) from the Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis (Müller, 1776 (Passeriformes: Passerellidae)

Two new feather mite species of the family Analgidae are described from the Rufous-collared Sparrow, Zonotrichia capensis (Müller, 1776) (Passeriformes: Passerellidae), from Brazil: Analges ticotico sp. nov. (Analginae) and Strelkoviacarus brasiliensis sp. nov. (Anomalginae). Analges ticotico sp. nov. is characterized by the heteromorphic males having three short and rounded spines on the inner margin of femur III, the anterior margin of adanal shield convex, the hysteronotal shield with the anterior margin sinuous, and the terminal lamella rectangular. Strelkoviacarus brasiliensis sp. nov. is characterized by the anterior ends of the adanal shields being convergent and encompassing the bases of setae ps3 in males, and by the strongly convex median extension of the prodorsal shield and short dorsal setae vi, c2, d2 and e2 in females. These species represent the first records of corresponding feather mite genera in Brazil.

Description of a new Aculus species (Trombidiformes: Eriophyidae) associated with Leguminosae plants from Iran and remarks on conspecific species known worldwide

During a study on the plant samples of Trifolium pratense L. (Leguminosae) collected in Iranian historical village, Kandovan of Osku region, Aculus haddadi Lotfollahi & Tajaddod sp. nov. was identified as a vagrant species and herein described and illustrated. In addition, a key to the known Aculus mite species collected on Leguminosae plants worldwide and information about their type host, type locality and habitus and figures of their prodorsal shield patterns are provided.