The studies reported here represent a collection of experiments and observations on sea bird ticks over a numberof years, undertaken on the rare occasions that material became available. Collection details from ticks in 70%ethanol were the source of basic seasonality data for 4 species. In addition, living Ixodes eudyptidis andOrnithodoros capensis collected from sea bird colonies were able to be fed in the laboratory using, respectively,mice and domestic chickens. Life cycle details were obtained from ticks kept at ambient temperature and in amoist atmosphere. Observations on birds in the field infested with I. eudyptidis showed that paralysis of thehosts was common, and in some instances was reversible once ticks were removed. Examples of paralysiscaused by other ticks and the implications for bird conservation in New Zealand are discussed.

Pollens of 19 plant species were used as diets in a laboratory study of the life history of Euseius aizawai (Ehara & Bhandhufalck) (Acari: Phytoseiidae). The mite ingested pollens of all tested plant species and produced eggs. On eight of them the predator completed all developmental stages, with a life cycle of 5.47±0.88 to 6.95±1.61 days. The longest life-span of adults was observed when feeding on pollens of Coriaria sinica, Zea mays, mixed species and Punica granatum. Larvae had a higher survival rate (70% to 82%) when reared with the pollens of Luffa cylindrica, Trachycarpus excelsa, punica granatum and Betula platyphylla. Longevity of adult females was longer with pollens of Coriaria sinica, Zea mays and mixed species. The oviposition period was from 15.05±4.05 to 25.55±15.25 days, the longest when feeding on pollens of Zea mays, mixed species and Coriaria sinica. Fecundity ranged from 23.50±13.50 to 54.50±19.50 per female and the highest was on pollens of mixed species, Luffa cylindrica and Punica granatum. The sex ratio (proportion of females) was highest when feeding on pollen of Luffa cylindrica. The most suitable range of humidities for egg hatching was 70% to 90%. The net reproduction rate of increase (R₀) was the highest on the pollen of Luffa.cylindrica, and the intrinsic rate of natural increase (r_m) and finite rate of increase (λ) were the highest on the pollen of Trachycarpus excelsa.

The mesostigmatid mite Macronyssus macroscutatus sp. nov. is described from female specimens removed from Nyctalus noctula bats caught in Surrey, England. It is also reported from N. leisleri. This species has a large dorsal shield, covering much of the idiodorsum, which uniquely bears more than 60 setae. The generic diagnosis of Macronyssus is amended to accommodate the opisthonotal hypertrichy seen. A key to adult females of Macronyssus species that occur in the British Isles is provided.

Five species of the mite family Phytoseiidae are reported from West Malaysia: Phytoseius (Phytoseius) malaysianus sp. nov. is described and illustrated, and four known species are recorded for the first time in Malaysia.

A species of Tarsonemus was intercepted by New Zealand Biosecurity from ya pears Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd. imported from China. It proved to be an undescribed species, Tarsonemus yali sp. nov., which is described and illustrated in this paper. A key to the females of Chinese species of Tarsonemus is provided.

Steneotarsonemus concavuscutum sp. nov. (Acari: Tarsonemidae) was described from adult females and males collected on Cocos nucifera L. in northeastern Brazil. This species was distinguished from other species of the genus Steneotarsonemus by the strong concave posterior margin of the prodorsal shield of females. This new species was more abundant during dry season in that region. The damage on coconut fruits caused by S. concavuscutum was observed as necrotic longitudinal bands.

Three water mite species of the genus Protzia Piersig, 1896 (Acari: Hydrachnidia, Hydryphantidae) are reported from Turkey. Protzia beyazoglui sp. nov. is described and the first record from Turkey is given for Protzia halberti (Walter, 1920).

New records of water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia, Halacaroidea) from interstitial waters of Iran are presented. Five species are recorded; Axonopsis caspica sp. nov. is described as new to science; new records from Iran are given of: Stygothrombium sp., Ljania macilenta Koenike, 1908, Kongsbergia pectinigera Motas & Tanasachi, 1946 and Lobohalacarus weberi (Romijn & K.Viets, 1924).

Carastrum sanurensis sp. nov., Charletonia lombokensis sp. nov., Leptus ubudicus sp. nov. and L. balicus sp. nov. from Indonesia are described and illustrated. Hauptmannia aitapensis Southcott and Charletonia shiroyama Yaita et al. are reported for the first time from Indonesia. Charletonia volzi (Oudemans) is reported for the first time from Lingga Islands and Bali.

Montenegtrombium milicae gen. et sp. nov. (Acari: Microtrombidiidae) is described and illustrated from larvae ectoparasitic on Calliptamus italicus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Orthoptera: Acrididae) and Carpocoris purpureipennis (De Geer, 1773) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) from Montenegro.

Eutrombidium djordjevici sp. nov. (Acari: Eutrombidiidae) is described and illustrated from larvae ectoparasitic on Caliptamus italicus Linnaeus and other, undetermined, grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) from Montenegro. The family Eutrombidiidae is new to the fauna of Montenegro.

A new genus and species of trombidiid mite with larvae which are ectoparasitic on Hyalopterus pruni (Geoffroy) (Aphidoidea: Aphididae) feeding on Prunus cerasifera L. (Rosaceae) are described from Oskoo, East Azarbaijan province, Iran. Oskootrombium prasadi Saboori, Bagheri & Haddad gen. nov., sp. nov. is placed in the subfamily Trombidiinae.

A monotypic genus Duplimedia gen. n. is erected in the tribe Intermedialiini Wen, 1984 with Gahrliepia armigera Fernandes et Kulkarni, 2003 as its type species. Larvae of this new genus have PL setae inserted adjacent to ALs and two intermedial setae on the scutum, differing from Intermedialia with PLs behind SB level and Wuella Wang et al., 1997 having four intermedial setae.

Bat sand-mite Whantonia acutigalea Wang et Lin, 1985 is redescribed. This mite species is synonymous with W. multisetosa Goff et Easton, 1991 confirmed by the present author after his examination of both type specimens. SIF=7B-B-3-2111.0000 of this species is in conformity with the generic identification of Whartonia, but not SIF=7B-B-3-3211.0000 or SIF=7B-B-2-2111.0000 as described in both original papers. Remarks and discussion on the important characteristics of this species are given.