Tenuipalpidae and Tetranychidae (Trombidiformes, Tetranychoidea) from Syria with a description of a new species of Bryobia

Surveys of Tenuipalpidae and Tetranychidae were conducted at three locations in Latakia governorate, Syria, in 2021. Eight species were collected; four flat mite species of which Aegyptobia beglarovi, Cenopalpus lineola, and Pentamerismus juniperi were new records for Syria; and four spider mite species among which Petrobia (Mesotetranychus) tunisiae represented a new record. A new tetranychid species, Bryobia (Lyobia) hadizeni sp. nov., collected from Calicotome villosa, is described and illustrated. The number of Tenuipalpidae species known from Syria increases to 16 and there are now 25 species of Tetranychidae.

Spatial distribution and fluctuating populations of predatory mites (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae), phytophagous mites (Acari: Eriophyidae, Tetranychidae) and their relationships with wild chili pepper phenological stages in two Natural Protected Areas of Mexico

Ecological interactions between mites (predatory and phytophagous) and wild plants growing in undisturbed environments play a crucial role to understand their natural settlement, development and dispersion patterns. Pequin chili pepper, Capsicum annuum L. var. glabriusculum, is a low-cost natural resource for local communities living inside Natural Protected Areas (ANP) of Tamaulipas State in Mexico. The aims of this research work were: 1) determine the spatial distribution pattern of predatory and phytophagous mites, 2) determine the spatiotemporal association between predatory and phytophagous mites, and 3) determine the association among different mite species and some phenological stages of Pequin chili pepper. The most abundant phytophagous mites were Tetranychus merganser and Aculops lycpoersici, and the predatory species were Amblyseius similoides, Euseius mesembrinus and Metaseiulus (Metaseiulus) negundinis. Most mite species showed an aggregated distribution pattern according to the plant phenological stages. However, the distribution of mite species throughout time showed different types of aggregation. On the other hand, we found positive associations among A. lycopersici and T. merganser phytophagous mites with A. similoides, E. mesembrinus and M. (M.) negundinis predators mites. The association between plants and mite species were influenced by the phenological stages of Pequin chili pepper. This is an indication of the complexity among trophic-chain interactions that depend largely on the available resources and competition. These two factors serve as foundations for settlement, development and dispersion patterns of certain species.

Mites occurring in farm buildings as allergic agents and indicators in forensic analyses

Storage mites, especially several species in the families Acaridae, Glycyphagidae, and Chortoglyphidae are commonly found in farming and occupational environments. They are a source of clinically important allergens, and may also have a significant impact on forensic analyses. They may be of use in forensic situations, particularly as allergenic taxa, in relation to workers who are occupationally exposed to mites. Additionally, because many of them are present through all stages of vertebrate decomposition, they may provide valuable information as indicators of time and circumstances of death. This study aimed to investigate the possible occurrence and abundance of allergenic mites in farm buildings, as well as to examine and analyse collected material samples in relation to forensic medicine. A total of 58 samples from 15 farms in the Żywiecki district (Silesian Province, Poland) were examined as potential sources of allergenic mites in farm buildings with a special reference to forensic acarology. Mites were found in all the examined samples. A total of 4,473 specimens were isolated and 22 mite species were identified. Most of them were found in barns and pigsties. The species composition of the acarofauna was varied across the particular types of farm buildings examined. Generally, the dominant species were representatives of families Acaridae and Glycyphagidae (Astigmatina). This knowledge may be useful in a variety of cases or situations in the field of forensic medicine.

Two new species of Cunaxa (Acari: Prostigmata: Cunaxidae) from Vietnam

Two new mite species of the genus Cunaxa are described based on female specimens in Vietnam: Cunaxa oblongostriata sp. n. and C. sergeyenkoi sp. n. (Acari: Prostigmata: Cunaxidae). Cunaxa oblongostriata sp. n. differs from the related species, C. setirostris (Hermann, 1804), in having the propodosomal shield triangular and longitudinal striae between dorsal setae d1–d1; while in C. setirostris, the propodosomal shield is trapezoidal and striae between setae d1–d1 are transversal. Cunaxa sergeyenkoi sp. n. differs from two related species, C. bochkovi Khaustov & Kuznetsov, 1998 and C. womersleyi Baker and Hoffmann, 1948, by the basifemoral chetotaxy of legs I–IV: 4-4-2-1 sts; while C. bochkovi and C. womersleyi have the basifemoral chaetotaxy I–IV: 3-3-3-1 sts and 4-4-3-1 sts, respectively.

Hydrodroma angelieri (Acari, Hydrachnidia: Hydrodromidae) a new water mite species from Corsica based on morphological and DNA barcode evidence

In the present study we used morphological data and DNA barcodes to describe a new species, Hydrodroma angelieri sp. nov. from Corsica, France. A high genetic distance of 17.3±0.017% K2P from its molecularly most closely related European congener, H. despiciens (Müller, 1776), supports H. angelieri sp. nov. as a distinct species. Morphologically the new species can be identified on the basis of relatively small leg claws, the presence of only one swimming seta on II-L-5 and 4-6 swimming setae on the anterior surface of IV-L-5. An updated key for the European species of Hydrodroma is provided.

How long do eriophyoid mites live?

The eriophyoid mites (Acari: Eriophyoidea) are extremely small, highly specialized and obligately phytophagous, and ~ 80% of the ~ 5,000 known species are monophagous. They include pests of more than 50 important food and industrial crops and ornamental plants. Conversely, other species have been investigated for their potential role in the biological control of weeds. In this literature review, the data on the development time, adult longevity and lifespan of eriophyoid species generated in 74 studies from 1930 to 2021 was compiled. The eriophyoids were from three families, Eriophyidae, Diptilomiopidae and Phytoptidae, 24 genera and 47 species that included 43 eriophyids, two phytoptids and two diptilomiopids. The most studied genus was Aceria (13 species), followed by Aculus (4) and Calacarus (3). The host plants were in a range of vegetative forms, including grasses, a climber, shrubs and trees, in different families that included Poaceae, Rosaceae and Rutaceae. Almost all the investigations were carried out in laboratory settings under numerous combinations of species, gender, diet/host plant, temperature, relative humidity and photoperiod. These variables all affected the development time, adult longevity and lifespan of eriophyoid mites, with temperature consistently a major influence and relative humidity consistently important. Male life stages were always shorter than female life stages. Phyllocoptruta oleivora (Ashmead) males had the shortest lifespan of 7.1 d at 32 °C on green orange fruit and Aculops lycopersici (Massee) females had the longest lifespan of 46.4 d at 11 °C on young tomato leaves. Biological studies on the duration of their life stages are required to develop models that predict the dynamics of eriophyoid populations in the field to support IPM programs and organic farming. Moreover, these studies are becoming increasingly valuable as globalization and climate change facilitate the spread of invasive eriophyoid mite species.

Insidensi dan Sebaran Tungau Hama pada Pepaya di Pulau Lombok (Incidence and Distribution of Mites on Papaya in Lombok Island)

<p>Tungau hama merupakan salah satu penyebab penurunan produksi pepaya di Pulau Lombok. Penelitian bertujuan menentukan insidensi, sebaran, dan identitas tungau hama pepaya di Pulau Lombok. Sebaran ditentukan berdasarkan insidensi tungau hama pada 50 lokasi pengambilan contoh dan tungau hama diidentifikasi secara morfologi dan molekuler berdasarkan runutan rDNA ITS2. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan terdapat 12 spesies tungau berdasarkan identifikasi morfologi, yaitu Aculops pelekassi, Calacarus carinatus, Brevipalpus californicus, B. obovatus, B. phoenicis, Tenuipalpus pasificus, Eutetranychus africanus, Panonychus citri, Tetranychus fijiensis, T. kanzawai, T. piercei, dan Tarsonemus bilobatus dengan insidensi berkisar antara 2–72%. Di antara spesies yang ditemukan, P. citri merupakan tungau hama dengan sebaran dan insidensi tertinggi (72%). Hasil analisis persebaran menunjukkan bahwa keanekaragaman spesies tungau hama pada tanaman pepaya di Pulau Lombok adalah tinggi dengan tingkat dominansi rendah dan tingkat kemerataan spesies yang tinggi. Uji PCR dan analisis runutan DNA berhasil mendeteksi dan mengidentifikasi enam spesies tungau hama, yaitu T. piercei, T. kanzawai, E. africanus, dan P. citri (Tetranychidae), pada 500–600 pb serta B. californicus dan B. phoenicis (Tenuipalpidae) pada 600–700 pb. Similaritas tertinggi ditemukan pada T. piercei dan T. kanzawai (100%). Ini merupakan laporan pertama keberadaan B. californicus sebagai hama pada tanaman pepaya di Pulau Lombok.</p><p><strong>Keywords</strong></p><p>Frekuensi kemunculan; PCR; Perunutan DNA; Sebaran</p><p><strong>Abstract</strong></p><p>Mites are one obstacle of papaya production in Lombok Island. Thus, the aim of research was to determine incidence, distribution and identity of mites on papaya plant in Lombok Island. Distribution is determined based on incidence of in 50 sampling area, while mites identified morphological and molecularly based on rDNA ITS2. This studies revealed that there were 12 species of mites based on morphological, namely Aculops pelekassi, Calacarus carinatus, Brevipalpus californicus, B. obovatus, B. phoenicis, Tenuipalpus pacificus Eutetranychus africanus, Panonychus citri, Tetranychus fijiensis, T. kanzawai, and T. pierce with an incidence ranging 2-72%. Among species found, P. citri has the highest distribution and incidence of 72%. The results of the distribution analysis showed that diversity of mite species was high, with low dominance and high evenness. PCR assay successfully amplified DNA of six species, namely T. piercei, T. kanzawai, E. africanus, P. citri with the DNA size of 500-600 bp and B. californicus, B. phoenicis with the DNA size of 600-700 bp. The highest similarity species was found on T .piercei and T. kanzawai (100%). This was the first report of B. californicus infestating on papaya in Lombok.</p>

Seven new species of Phyllocoptini from Tibet Autonomous Region, China (Acari: Eriophyidae: Phyllocoptinae)

In this paper, seven new species of the Phyllocoptini (Acari: Eriophyidae: Phyllocoptinae) from China are described and illustrated. They are Calvittacus swidanus sp. nov. on Swida macrophylla (Cornaceae); Vasates desmodius sp. nov. on Desmodium sp. (Fabaceae); Epitrimerus nyingchicus sp. nov. on Cotoneaster ambiguus (Rosaceae); Calepitrimerus painus sp. nov. on Rhododendron sp. (Ericaceae); Calepitrimerus cotoneaster sp. nov. on Cotoneaster buxifolius (Rosaceae); Phyllocoptruta deutzianus sp. nov. on Deutzia sp. (Saxifragaceae) and Phyllocoptruta smilanus sp. nov. on Smilax sp. (Liliaceae). All the eriophyoid mite species described here are vagrants on the undersurface of host leaves.

Description of a new water mite species of the genus Lebertia Neuman, 1880 (Acari, Hydrachnidia: Lebertiidae) from Kazakhstan

A new water mite species of the subgenus Septlebertia Imamura, 1954, Lebertia boldyrbekensis sp. n. is described from running waters in the Republic of Kazakhstan. An identification key for all species of the subgenus Septlebertia is presented.

Infestation and Seasonal Fluctuation of Gamasid Mites (Parasitiformes: Gamasida) on Indochinese Forest Rat, Rattus andamanensis (Rodentia: Muridae) in Southern Yunnan of China

A 12-month consecutive investigation was made at Jingha village in southern Yunnan of southwest China from April 2016 to March 2017. A total of 2053 Indochinese forest rats (Rattus andamanensis Blyth, 1860) were captured and examined, which account for 84.69% (2053/2424) of all the animal hosts (rodents and other small mammals) at the investigation site. And 39.82% (13,531/33,980) of gamasid mites were identified from the body surface of R. andamanensis and they belong to 41 species, 10 genera, 3 subfamilies and 2 families. Of the 41 species of gamasid mites identified from R. andamanensis, Laelaps nuttalli Hirst, 1915 and Laelaps echidninus Berlese, 1887 were the most dominant with 70.63% and 20.67% of constituent ratios respectively. In monthly fluctuations of all the gamasid mites on R. andamanensis, the constituent ratio (Cr) and overall infestation mean abundance (MA) of the mites in 12 months showed two obvious peaks in January (winter season) and June (summer season). However, the two dominant mite species, L. nuttalli and L. echidninus, showed different patterns of seasonal fluctuations. Laelaps nuttalli occurred throughout the year, and its Cr and MA showed two prominent peaks in winter season (December and January) and summer season (June), which belongs to the summer-winter type of seasonal fluctuation. Laelaps echidninus also occurred on R. andamanensis throughout the year, but its Cr and MA showed only one peak in winter season (December and January), which belongs to the winter type of seasonal fluctuation. A negative correlation existed between two climatic factors (temperature and rainfall) and the infestations (Cr, prevalence PM and MA) of two dominant mite species (L. nuttalli and L. echidninus) on R. andamanensis (p < 0.05). Temperature and rainfall are considered to be two key factors that influence the seasonal fluctuations of the mites on the studied rat species.