ABSTRACT
Parasitengona (velvet mites, chiggers and water mites) is a highly diverse and globally distributed mite lineage encompassing over 11,000 described species, inhabiting terrestrial, freshwater and marine habitats. Certain species, such as chiggers (Trombiculidae), have a great medical and veterinary importance as they feed on their vertebrate hosts and vector pathogens. Despite extensive previous research, the classification of Parasitengona is still contentious, particularly regarding the boundaries between superfamilies and families, exacerbated by the absence of a comprehensive phylogeny. The ontogeny of most Parasitengona is distinct by the presence of striking metamorphosis, with parasitic larvae being heteromorphic compared to the predatory free-living deutonymphs and adults. The enigmatic superfamily Allotanaupodoidea is an exception, with larvae and active post-larval stages being morphologically similar, suggesting that the absence of metamorphosis may be either an ancestral state or a secondary reversal. Furthermore, there is disagreement in the literature on whether Parasitengona had freshwater or terrestrial origin. Here, we inferred phylogenetic relationships of Parasitengona (89 species, 36 families) and 307 outgroups using five genes (7,838 nt aligned). This phylogeny suggests a terrestrial origin of Parasitengona and a secondary loss of metamorphosis in Allotanaoupodoidea. We recovered the superfamily Trombidioidea (Trombidioidea sensu lato) as a large, well-supported, higher-level clade including 10 sampled families. We propose a new classification for the terrestrial Parasitengona with three new major divisions (epifamilies) of the superfamily Trombidioidea: Trombelloidae (families Audyanidae, Trombellidae, Neotrombidiidae, Johnstonianidae, Chyzeriidae); Trombidioidae (Microtrombidiidae, Neothrombiidae, Achaemenothrombiidae, Trombidiidae, Podothrombiidae); and Trombiculoidae (=Trombiculidae sensu lato). Adding them to previously recognized superfamilies Allotanaupodoidea, Amphotrombioidea, Calyptostomatoidea, Erythraeoidea, Tanaupodoidae and Yurebilloidae.
ABSTRACT
This study provides additional morphological information and new illustrations for three species of Ololaelaps Berlese described by Bregetova Koroleva (1964) from RussiaO. caucasicus, O. sellnicki and O. ussuriensisto supplement the original descriptions. Since holotypes for these three species were not designated, a lectotype is chosen from among the syntypes of each examined species. We describe the adult male and female of Ololaelaps altaiensis Joharchi sp. nov., from specimens collected from moss on the shore of the Teletskoye Lake, in Altai Mountains, Russia. The new species is distinguished from other Ololaelaps species by its short peritremes, ending near the middle of coxae II. The new species also has elongate paradactyli, extending well beyond the pretarsal claws; this feature appears to be correlated with the species semiaquatic habitat, and such correlation between tarsal morphology and ecology occurs in other species of Ololaelaps and of Gaeolaelaps with similar habitats.
Subject(s)
Bryophyta , Mites , Animals , Ecosystem , Female , Lakes , Male , RussiaABSTRACT
This paper presents ten species of eight genera and four families (Ameroseiidae, Ascidae, Blattisociidae, Laelapidae) of soil-inhabiting mesostigmatic mites in Kazakhstan. Eight of them are species that are recorded for the first time in Kazakhstan: Ameroseius corbiculus (Sowerby, 1806), Antennoseius (Vitzthumia) oudemansi (Thor, 1930), Cosmolaelaps lutegiensis (Shcherbak, 1971), C. markewitschi (Pirianyk, 1959), Gaeolaelaps nolli (Karg, 1962), Laelaspis astronomicus (Koch, 1839), Lasioseius ometes (Oudemans, 1903), and Pseudoparasitus missouriensis (Ewing, 1909). In addition, Gaeolaelaps kanati Joharchi Issakova sp. nov. is described from Kazakhstan, based on morphological characters of the adult female.
Subject(s)
Mites , Animals , Female , Kazakhstan , SoilABSTRACT
This paper reports on ten species of laelapid mites associated with ants and bumblebees in Western Siberia. Androlaelaps myrmecophilus (Evans Till), Cosmolaelaps dendrophilus (Davydova), C. neocuneifer (Evans Till), C. siberiensis Joharchi sp. nov., Gaeolaelaps praesternalis (Willmann), Holostaspis isotricha Kolenati, H. montana (Berlese) and H. oophilus (Wasmann) were collected from ants' nests, and Pneumolaelaps hyatti (Evans Till), P. marginepilosa (Sellnick) on bumblebees. The new species is described and illustrated based on morphological characters of the adult female.
Subject(s)
Acari , Ants , Mites , Animals , Bees , Female , Montana , Russia , SiberiaABSTRACT
This paper presents a new genus, two new species, and several new records of mites associated with insects and soil in Cuba. A new monotypic genus of Laelapidae, Acantholaelaps gen. nov., is described to accommodate a new species, A. strategus sp. nov., on the basis of adult female and male specimens collected on Strategus sarpedon (Burmeister) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) and Strategus surinamensis hirtus Sternberg (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). The other species recorded were Macrocheles merdarius (Berlese) (Macrochelidae), Asca quinquesetosa Wharton (Ascidae), Gaeolaelaps cubaensis sp. nov. (Laelapidae) and Pseudoparasitus missouriensis (Ewing) (Laelapidae).
Subject(s)
Coleoptera , Mites , Animals , Cuba , Female , Male , SoilABSTRACT
An annotated checklist of identified oribatid mites of the superfamily Galumnoidea collected from Cuba, including ten species from four genera and two families, is provided. Galumna flabellifera Hammer, 1958, Pergalumna bifissurata Hammer, 1972, Pergalumna bryani (Jacot, 1934), Pergalumna decorata Balogh & Mahunka, 1977 and Galumnopsis secunda Sellnick, 1923 are recorded for the first time in the Cuban fauna. A new species of Pergalumna, Pergalumna cubaensis sp. n., is described; it is morphologically similar to Pergalumna decorata Balogh & Mahunka, 1977, but differs from the latter by the larger body size, heavily granulated prodorsum and well-developed interlamellar setae. The adult of Allogalumna cubana Balogh & Mahunka, 1979 is redescribed.
ABSTRACT
Five species of the subgenus Galumna (Galumna) (Acari, Oribatida, Galumnidae) are registered in the Philippine oribatid mite fauna. A new species, Galumna (Galumna) makilingensissp. n., is described; it is most similar morphologically to Galumna (Galumna) tokyoensis Aoki, 1966, but differs from the latter by the morphology of porose areas Aa and Ap, rostral setae, and length of interlamellar setae. Three species, Galumna (Galumna) crenata Deb & Raychaudhuri, 1975, Galumna (Galumna) cf.exigua Sellnick, 1925 and Galumna (Galumna) khoii Mahunka, 1989, are recorded in the Philippines for the first time. The species Galumna (Galumna) crenata is redescribed. An identification key to the Philippine species of Galumna (Galumna) is given.
ABSTRACT
A new species of the genus Eustigmaeus Berlese, 1910 (Acari: Stigmaeidae), E. tjumeniensis sp. nov. is described from mosses of fens in Western Siberia, Russia. Eutigmaeus collarti (Cooreman, 1955), E. ioanninensis Kapaxidi and Papadoulis, 1999, E. jiangxiensis Hu, Chen and Huang, 1996 are recorded from Russia for the first time. Eustigmaeus parvisetus (Chaudhri, 1965) is recorded from Eurasia for the first time. Eustigmaeus collarti and E. parvisetus are redescribed based on material from Western Siberia. A key to Eustigmaeus species of Russia is provided.
Subject(s)
Mites/classification , Animal Distribution , Animal Structures/anatomy & histology , Animal Structures/growth & development , Animals , Body Size , Female , Male , Mites/anatomy & histology , Mites/growth & development , Organ Size , SiberiaABSTRACT
The oribatid mite genus Galumna (Oribatida, Galumnidae) is recorded for the first time in Nepal. A new species, Galumna tetraporosa sp. n., is described from soil of secondary mixed broadleaved forest. It is most similar morphologically to G. tokyoensis Aoki, 1966 and G. valida Aoki, 1994, however, it differs from both by the absence of interlamellar setae and the presence of two pairs of notogastral porose areas Aa. Galumna granalata Aoki, 1984 is redescribed on the basis of specimens from Nepal. Galumna floridae (Jacot, 1929) and G. hexagona Balogh, 1960 are transferred to the genus Notogalumna; G. mauritii Mahunka, 1978 is transferred to the genus Dimidiogalumna.
ABSTRACT
A new genus of oribatid mites of the family Tetracondylidae, Umashtanchaeviella gen. n., with type species Umashtanchaeviella plethotricha sp. n., is proposed and described from forest litter, the Bu Gia Map National Park, southern Vietnam. The new genus is distinguishable from other otocepheoid genera by the presence of notogastral plethotrichy.
ABSTRACT
The genus Papillocepheus is recorded in the Oriental region for the first time. A new species, Papillocepheus primus sp. n., is described from southern Vietnam; the description is based on specimens collected from semidecayed leaves and litter of Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve and Bu Gia Map National Park. The new generic diagnosis of Papillocepheus and an identification key to the known species of this genus are given.
ABSTRACT
The adult instar of the oribatid mite, Galumna obvia (Berlese, 1914), is redescribed in detail, on the basis of specimens from Finland. The morphology of juvenile instars of G. obvia is described and illustrated for the first time, and compared to that of other species of the family Galumnidae. The position of the insertion of the lamellar seta in adults proved variable in studied European populations, being either on or medial to the lamellar line. Since the genera Galumna and Pergalumna are currently distinguished only by the relative positions of the seta and line, specimens of G. obvia in some populations show an intermediate situation between other studied Galumna species - with lamellar seta on or lateral of lamellar line - and Pergalumna with lamellar seta at a distinct distance medially of lamellar line. A detailed reevaluation of the two genera is needed.
ABSTRACT
Two new species of oribatid mites, Lepidozetes acutirostrum sp. n. and Scutozetes clavatosensillus sp. n., are described from Nepal. The genera Lepidozetes and Scutozetes are recorded for the first time for the Oriental region. The identification keys to the known species of these genera are provided.
ABSTRACT
A checklist of identified oribatid mite taxa from riverine freshwater environments from six islands in Polynesia (New Caledonia, Tahiti, Moorea, Rurutu, Tubuai, Raiatea) is presented; 18 species, 16 genera and eight families were recorded. Trhypochthoniellus longisetus (Berlese, 1904) and Trimalaconothrus albulus Hammer, 1972 prevailed on distribution. Fortuynia smiti sp. n. (Fortuyniidae) is described from New Caledonia. The new speciesis morphologically most similar to Fortuynia marina Hammen, 1960 from New Guinea, but it differs from the latter by the longer notogastral setae dm, lm, c 2, p 1, epimeral setae 3b and adanal setae ad 1 and the presence of prodorsal lateral ridges.
ABSTRACT
This paper outlines an approach that we are taking for elder-care applications in the smart home, involving cognitive errors and their compensation. Our approach involves high level modeling of daily activities of the elderly by breaking down these activities into smaller units, which can then be automatically recognized at a low level by collections of sensors placed in the homes of the elderly. This separation allows us to employ plan recognition algorithms and systems at a high level, while developing stand-alone activity recognition algorithms and systems at a low level. It also allows the mixing and matching of multi-modality sensors of various kinds that go to support the same high level requirement. Currently our plan recognition algorithms are still at a conceptual stage, whereas a number of low level activity recognition algorithms and systems have been developed. Herein we present our model for plan recognition, providing a brief survey of the background literature. We also present some concrete results that we have achieved for activity recognition, emphasizing how these results are incorporated into the overall plan recognition system.
