Morphological ontogeny and complementary description of Neoseiulus subsolidus (Beglyarov) (Acari: Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae).

The morphological ontogeny of Neoseiulus subsolidus (Beglyarov) (Acari: Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) was studied based on the specimens collected from Salix sp. (Salicaceae) leaves in Tyumen region and Altai Republic, Russia. All active life stages including larva, protonymph, deutonymph, adult female and male were described and illustrated. The taxonomic challenges in recognizing species in the canadensis species group are discussed.

Testing for phylogenetic signal in claws suggests great influence of ecology on Caribbean intertidal arthropods (Acari, Oribatida).

Claws are common biological attachment devices that can be found in a wide variety of animal groups. Their curvature and size are supposed to be parameters related to ecological aspects. Mites, known as very small arthropods, occupy a wide range of ecological niches and are a perfect model system to investigate correlations of claw morphology with ecology. There is only one study regarding this question in littoral mites but the phylogenetic impact, which plays an important role in the evolution of morphological traits, was not tested. We investigated claw shapes of different Caribbean populations of five species showing different substrate/habitat preferences. We used geometric morphometrics to quantify claw shape and tested for phylogenetic signal within this morphological trait. Even in closely related populations, we found clear claw shapes for hard versus soft substrate, confirming previous findings. Surprisingly, we found no phylogenetic signal within the trait, which demonstrates that ecology (different surfaces and substrates) has acted as one of the primary selective forces in the diversification of claw shapes. Considering that the basic claw design may be the same in the majority of arthropods, our results have important implications for further investigations of claw morphology and its ecological relevance within this phylum.

[Parasitellus fucorum in the debris of Apis mellifera - a risk of confusion with Tropilaelaps spp.] / Parasitellus fucorum im Gemüll von Apis mellifera ­ Gefahr der Verwechslung mit Tropilaelaps spp.

Infestation with Tropilaelaps mites is a disease that damages the bee brood and is subject to compulsory notification for Apis mellifera. Despite the high risk of introduction of this disease, it is not yet present in Europe. In order to prevent introduction and spreading, mites of Tropilaelaps size must be identified immediately when found in debris or in covered bee brood. In the present case, Parasitellus fucorum was identified as an additional mite species in the debris of Apis mellifera possessing a potential for misperception as Tropilaelaps spp.

A systematic revision of the genus Neopterygosoma Fajfer, 2019 (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae) with the description of a new species.

A systematic revision of the scale mites of the genus Neopterygosoma Fajfer, 2019 (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae) formerly placed in the genus Pterygosoma Peters, 1849, is presented. Two new natural species groups are established: the chilensis group for species found on Chilean liolaemid lizards (Sauria: Liolaemidae) and the patagonica group for N. patagonica (Dittmar de la Cruz, Morando & Avila, 2004) found on several Liolaemus spp. from Argentina. A neotype of N. patagonica is designated. A leg chaetotaxy model for tarsi-coxae I-IV is proposed for the genus. A key to all species of Neopterygosoma is provided and a full list of Neopterygosoma spp. with their updated host associations and distribution data is compiled. Additionally, a new species, N. schroederi n. sp. found on Liolaemus schroederi Müller & Hellmich, is described, including for the first time, description and illustrations of the immature stages of a species of Neopterygosoma.

Molecular characterization and genetic diversity of Ornithonyssus sylviarum in chickens (Gallus gallus) from Hainan Island, China.

BACKGROUND: The northern fowl mite (NFM), Ornithonyssus sylviarum, is an obligatory hematophagous ectoparasite of birds and one of the most important pests in the poultry industry on several continents. Although NFM poses a serious problem, it remains a neglected pest of poultry in China and other Asian countries. Therefore, a molecular analysis was conducted to provide baseline information on the occurrence, genetic diversity and emergence of NFM in poultry farms from China. METHODS: This study focused on morphological description and identification of adults based on electron microscopy, molecular sequencing of the mitochondrial cox1 gene and phylogenetic analysis. We have also used the DNA sequences of the cox1 gene to study the genetic diversity, population structure and demographic history. The neutrality tests were used to analyze signatures of historical demographic events. RESULTS: The mites collected were identified as the northern fowl mite Ornithonyssus sylviarum based on external morphological characterization using electron microscopy. Molecular analysis using a 756-bp long partial fragment of the cox1 gene revealed 99-100% sequence identity with NFM and phylogenetic inferences showed a bootstrap value of 99% indicating a well-supported monophyletic relationship. Molecular diversity indices showed high levels of haplotype diversity dominated by private haplotypes, but low nucleotide divergence between haplotypes. The Tajima's D test and Fu's Fs test showed negative value, indicating deviations from neutrality and both suggested recent population expansion of mite populations supported by a star-like topology of the isolates in the network analysis. Our genetic data are consistent with a single introduction of NFM infestations and the spread of NFM infestation in Hainan poultry farms and a private haplotype dominance, which suggest that infestations are recycled within the farms and transmission routes are limited between farms. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first time a molecular report of NFM in chicken from China including other Asian countries using DNA barcoding. The findings have potential implications with respect to understanding the transmission patterns, emergence and populations trends of parasitic infestations of poultry farms that will help for setting the parameters for integrated pest management (IPM) tactics against mite infestations.

Description of four new species of Haemaphysalis Koch, 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae) from the H. (Rhipistoma) spinulosa subgroup, parasites of carnivores and rodents in Africa.

Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) bochkovi n. sp., H. (R.) burkinae n. sp., H. (R.) horaki n. sp. and H. (R.) walkerae n. sp. (Acari: Ixodidae), are described based on males and females. Adults of H. bochkovi n. sp. were collected from the marsh mongoose, Atilax paludinosus (Cuvier) (Carnivora: Herpestidae) and the spotted-necked otter, Hydrictis maculicollis (Lichtenstein) (Carnivora: Mustelidae) in Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia; adults of H. burkinae n. sp. were collected from the rusty-spotted genet, Genetta maculata (Gray), the Haussa genet, Genetta thierryi Matschie (Carnivora: Viverridae) and the Cape hare, Lepus capensis Linnaeus (Lagomorpha: Leporidae) in Burkina Faso; adults of H. horaki n. sp. were collected from the Cape dune mole-rat, Bathyergus suillus (Schreber) (Rodentia: Bathyergidae) in South Africa; adults of H. walkerae n. sp. were collected from the striped polecat, Ictonyx striatus (Perry) (Carnivora: Mustelidae), the bat-eared fox, Otocyon megalotis (Desmarest) (Carnivora: Canidae), the aardwolf, Proteles cristata (Sparrman) (Carnivora: Hyaenidae) and the East African spring hare, Pedetes surdaster (Thomas) (Rodentia: Pedetidae) in Kenya. Males and females of these new species can be differentiated from each other and other H. spinulosa-like ticks by their size, pattern of punctations on conscutum/scutum, length of setae, shape and size of genital structures, spiracular plates, basis capituli, dorsal cornua, posterosdorsal and posteroventral spurs of palpal segment II and spur on coxae.

Description of the Males of Androlaelaps misionalis and Androlaelaps ulysespardinasi (Acari: Parasitiformes: Laelapidae) Parasitic of Sigmondontine Rodents From Northeastern Argentina.

Laelapinae mites are common ectoparasites of small mammals, mainly sigmodontine rodents, but males are not frequent in natural populations. In this study, the morphology of the unknown males of Androlaelaps misionalis Lareschi, 2010 and Androlaelaps ulysespardinasi Lareschi, 2011 are described. The males of these species differ from the male of Androlaelaps rotundus (da Fonseca, 1936), a close species, because of the size and shape of their dorsal shield and the length of paranal and sternal st1 and st2 setae. The males of A. misionalis and A. ulysespardinasi differ in their size, in the distance of j6 setae in the dorsal shield, length of hypostomal seta hyp3, number of accessory setae in holoventral shield, length of postanal and sternal st3 setae, number of opisthogastric setae in unarmed integument lateral to level of coxae IV, and shape of tip of movable digit in the chelicera.

Two New Species of Xenotarsonemus (Acari: Tarsonemidae) from the Atlantic Forest, Brazil.

Two new species, Xenotarsonemus quiriri n. sp. and Xenotarsonemus scorpius n. sp., are described and illustrated in this paper based on specimens collected on Myrtaceae plants in Atlantic Forest areas of the states of Bahia and Santa Catarina, Brazil. A key to identification of Xenotarsonemus species reported from Brazil is provided.

A review of Gonothrombium Feider, 1950 (Actinotrichida: Microtrombidiidae) with description of a new species from Turkey.

The genus Gonothrombium is reassessed, Gonothrombium oudemansianum (Feider, 1948) redescribed and Gonothrombium ozkani sp. nov. described. All larvae were obtained by experimental rearing from field-collected females. A key to species, for adults and larvae, is provided. The distribution of the genus, hitherto known from Africa and Romania, is extended to the territory of Turkey.

Description of a new species of Gaeolaelaps (Acari: Laelapidae) from Iran, with a key to world species of the genus with short peritremes.

A new species of Gaeolaelaps (Acari, Mesostigmata, Laelapidae) is described based on morphological characters of adult females collected from nest of Formica sp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Shahrekord Region, Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province, Iran. A key for the identification of species of Gaeolaelaps with short peritremes is presented.

Two new species of the genus Pterygosoma (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae) parasitizing agamid lizards (Sauria: Agamidae) from the Indian subcontinent.

Two new species of scale-mites parasitizing lizards of the family Agamidae (Sauria) are described: Pterygosoma blandfordi n. sp. from Psammophilus blanfordanus (Stoliczka) (Agamidae: Draconinae) from South India and Pterygosoma balochistani n. sp. from Laudakia nupta nupta (De Filippi) (Agamidae: Agaminae) from Pakistan. Pterygosoma blandfordi n. sp. (female) differs from P. foliosetis Jack, 1961 by the shape of the idiosoma which is much wider than long (vs. rounded idiosoma in P. foliosetis), the presence of 110-139 pairs of the dorsal anterolateral setae (vs. presence of about 35 pairs of these setae), 20-26 pairs of the peripheral setae (vs. 10-19 pairs), 3 pairs of the genital setae (vs. 1 pair), 6 pairs of the pseudoanal setae (vs. 4 pairs), the absence of leg setae vGII and presence of setae vGIV (vs. presence of setae vGII and absence of setae vGIV). P. balochistani n. sp. (female) differs from P. persicum Hirst, 1917 by the chelicerae 325-350 long (vs. 190-230 long in P. persicum), the fixed cheliceral digit bearing small tines (vs. spinous fixed cheliceral digit), presence of subcapitular setae n (vs. absence of setae n), serrate peripheral setae (vs. smooth peripheral setae), presence of leg setae vGII-III (vs. absence of setae vGII-III), 4 pairs of the genital setae (vs. 3 pairs) and 7 pairs of the pseudoanal serrate setae (vs. 9-11 pairs of filiform setae ps).

New data on the species Metacheyletia degenerata Fain and Bochkov (Acariformes: Cheyletidae)

Metacheyletia degenerata Fain and Bochkov, 2003 (Acariformes: Cheyletidae) is recorded for the first time from the quills of the European Bee-eater Merops apiaster L., 1758 (Coraciformes: Meropidae). It is also the first record of Metacheyletia found on coraciiform birds. Moreover, the following localities: Macedonia, Italy, Azerbaijan, Russia and Tanzania, are new for M. degenerata.

[Morphologic observation on Histiostoma feroniarum in Allium cepa].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the external morphology of Histiostoma feroniarum hypopus under a light microscope. METHODS: The samples were collected in a mushroom cultivation base, and the H. feroniarum hypopus was isolated and purified. The slide samples were prepared and observed under an optical microscope. RESULTS: The back body of the H. feroniarum hypopus was flat with tiny bristles, the epidermis was of significant ossification, the ventral had four pairs of slender feet stretched, the sucker plate was prosperous in the end of the body, and the sucker plate had eight suckers. The gnathosoma was thin, long and highly specialized. CONCLUSIONS: The light microscopy shows the morphological characteristics of H. feroniarum hypopus, providing the basis for identifying and life cycle study.

Morphological and molecular characteristics of Milandanielia intermedia (Feider, 1950) (Trombidiformes: Microtrombidiidae) with data on its biology and ecology.

Milandanielia intermedia (Feider, 1950) is re-described. A female from which larvae were obtained by experimental rearing is designated as neotype. Verified diagnoses of active life instars are supplemented with data on habitat preferences, phenology and life cycle. Molecular identification of the species based on its COI sequence is provided.

Two new Bdellidae (Trombidiformes: Bdelloidea) from Iran and the status of Neobiscirus Gomelauri, 1963.

Two new Bdellidae, Biscirus iranensis Paktinat-Saeej & Bagheri sp. nov. and Bdella farabii Paktinat-Saeej & Bagheri sp. nov., are described from northern Iran. The monotypic genus Neobiscirus considered a junior synonym of Biscirus, and its only species therefore considered Biscirus kobachidzei (Gomelauri, 1963) comb. nov.

Redescription of Myianoetus muscarum (Acari: Histiostomatidae) Associated with Human Remains in Texas, USA, with Designation of a Neotype from Western Europe.

Mites are receiving renewed interest in forensic entomology, but the identification of many species associated with carrion and human remains is problematic. We review the taxonomy of the mite species currently known as Myianoetus muscarum (L., 1758) and designate a neotype from the collection of Jean Cooreman in Brussels, Belgium. The species is redescribed based on Cooreman's specimens, specimens previously reported from California and Ontario, Canada, and a large series of new specimens collected from a human corpse in Texas. The species is compared with and distinguished from other species of Myianoetus.

Two New Species of Demodex (Acari: Demodecidae) with a Redescription of Demodex musculi and Data on Parasitism in Mus musculus (Rodentia: Muridae).

This article describes two new skin mite species found on the house mouse Mus musculus L., 1758. Demodex marculus sp. nov. is a very small demodecid mite (adult stages, on average, 99 µm in length) found in mouse skin in the abdomen, back, limbs, and anal area. It is characterized by relatively large bossing hammer-shaped supracoxal spines, embedded in the trapezoidal gnathosoma. Demodex fusiformis sp. nov., in turn, is a little larger (adult stages on average 111 µm in length), with a small oval gnathosoma equipped with fine, knob-like supracoxal spines. It was found in the skin of abdomen, back, and limbs. Moreover, Demodex musculi (Oudemans, 1897) was redescribed, which is small demodecid mite (adult stages on average 142 µm in length) and characterized by relatively large morphological variation and considerable sexual dimorphism. The characteristic feature of this species is the strongly elongated and rectangular gnathosoma equipped with very large wedge-shaped supracoxal spines. D. musculi was found in the skin of various, haired regions of the mice body (head, neck, abdomen, back, limbs, genital-anal region, and tail). Moreover, one more demodecid mite was found in the skin of the examined mice, it was Demodex flagellurus Bukva, 1985, which was found only in the genital area. Overall infection of Mus musculus L. by all species of Demodex was with the prevalence of 100%, mean intensity of 24.0, and range of intensity of 1-109. Despite high infection levels, no symptoms of parasitosis were observed in the hosts.

A new species of the feather mite genus Tyrannidectes Mironov, 2008 (Acariformes: Proctophyllodidae) from tapaculos (Passeriformes: Rhinocryptidae) in Chile.

A new feather mite species, Tyrannidectes pteroptochi sp. n. (Astigmata: Proctophyllodidae: Pterodectinae), is described from the Moustached Turca Pteroptochos megapodius Kittlitz, 1830 (Passeriformes: Rhinocryptidae) in Chile. This is the first record of mites of the genus Tyrannidectes Mironov 2008 from this family of passerines. Tyrannidectes pteroptochi is clearly distinguished from all previously known Tyrannidectes species by having several unique features in females: whip-like hysteronotal macrosetae h2, hysteronotal setae h3 exceeding the length of the terminal appendages, and spiculiform pseudanal setae ps2 and ps3. A brief review of taxonomic works on the Tyrannidectes is provided.

[NEW FINDINGS OF BAT ECTOPARASITES (CHIROPTERA: VESPERTILIONIDAE) IN SOUTHERN SIBERIA].

The data on new findings of ectoparasites (mites and insects) of bats (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in the Western Sayan and Tuva are represented. The bat fly Basilia mongolensis mongolensis Theodor, 1966 was discovered in the territory of Russia for the first time. Gamasid mite Spinturnix bregetovae Stanyukovich, 1995 is new for the region. New hosts were described for some ectoparasites.

The family Opilioacaridae (Parasitiformes: Opilioacarida) in Mexico, description of two new species and notes on biology and geographical distribution.

Two new species of Opilioacaridae from Mexico are described, Neocarus chactemalensis sp. nov. and N. comalensis sp. nov., and new records for N. texanus Chamberlin & Mulaik and N. veracruzensis Vazquez & Klompen are presented. Relative positions of internal structures of the ovipositor, a highly variable character, are described based on comparisons of invaginated and evaginated ovipositors. A study of records of Opilioacaridae in Mexico shows that the group is distributed across a wide range of ecosystems and elevations, from dry, semi-desert to wet tropical forest, and coastal plains to the altiplano (>2,000 m).