The parasitic nasal mite Ptilonyssus sairae Castro has been classified as one species, but we find that significant sequence divergence exists between host-specific mite populations. The low level of gene flow between conspecifics is probably a result of the parasites' low rate of dispersal among different bird host species. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene from P. sairae populations was sequenced and used for phylogenetic inference and subsequently compared to their passerine bird host phylogeny. In addition to finding restricted gene flow between host-associated parasites, the reconciliation of host and parasite gene trees reveals statistically significant levels of strict cospeciation between bird hosts and host-specific mite populations. Our findings suggest that cryptic speciation may be common in this group of mites.

Bdella tropica Atyeo (Acari: Bdellidae) is an efficient predator of the black flat springtail, Xenylla longauda Folsom (Collembola: Hypogastruridae). It preys on all life stages of the prey, except the eggs. In this paper we show the effect of temperatures on the predation efficiency of the adult female B. tropica feeding on adult females of X. longauda. Equations intended to describe the effect of five different temperatures on the functional response of B. tropica to X. longauda were derived from the data. The predation efficiency of B. tropica on X. longauda increased along with rising temperatures. The implication of these results for biological control of springtail (X. longauda) in edible fungi is discussed.

The predatory mite Bdellodes japonicus (Ehara) (Bdellidae) preyed on Tetranychus urticae Koch, Tetranychus truncatus Ehara, Amphitetranychus viennenis (Zacher) and Oligonychus biharensis (Hirst) (all Tetranychidae) in the laboratory. The number of spider mites consumed by Bdellodes japonicus decreased in the order of: Oligonychus biharensis > Amphitetranychus viennenis > Tetranychus urticae > Tetranychus truncatus at 25±1°C. Functional responses of Bdellodes japonicus (Ehara) to adult females of Tetranychus urticae approximated the Holling type II response. The model equations of the functional responses were Na=0.7720N0/ (1 0.0366N0) at 25±1°C and Na= 1.1243N0/(1 0.0807N0) at 30±1°C.

Adult female Paraseiulus triporus (Chant & Yoshida-Shaul) and Proprioseiopsis dacus (Wainstein) are redescribed and illustrated based on specimens collected in Iran. These two species were collected from citrus trees in Mazandaran Province, Tonekabon County. The morphology of the mites collected in Iran is compared with that given in the original descriptions. Proprioseiopsis dacus is recorded for the first time in Iran.

New records of water mite of the family Torrenticolidae (Acari: Hydrachnidia) from hillstreams of the Garhwal Himalayas (Northern India) are presented. Monatractides garhwaliensis is described as new to science; first records from India are given for Torrenticola semisuta (Halik) and Torrenticola cf. turkestanica (Sokolow).

An updated list of the water mites of running waters of Guilan Province (Northern Iran) is given, and now includes 21 species. One of them, Atractides caspicus, is described as new; Eylais degenerata Koenike, Aturus intermedius (Protz) and Arrenurus walkanoffi K.Viets, are new for the Iranian fauna.

A new genus and species of chigger from The Gambia, West Africa, Tanautarsala callithrixa gen. nov., sp. nov., taken from cercopithicoid hosts of Chlorocebus sabaeus (L.) is described and notes on the collected host habitat are presented.

Two new species of oribatid mites of the family Lohmanniidae viz. Annectacarus hammerae and Cryptacarus keralensis are described from Calicut University Campus, Kerala, India. The unique combination of features of A. hammerae which enable its demarcation from all known species include the roughened nature of median notogastral setae c₁, d₁ and e₁, and bilaterally barbed nature of prodorsal setae except seta le. Cryptacarus keralensis is distinguished from other known members of the genus by its weakly developed ano-adanal suture and epimeral setal formula of 6-4-4-4. A key to Cryptacarus is provided.

This study deals with the members of oppiid mites (Acari: Oribatida: Oppiidae) from Mazandaran province, Northern Iran. Also, a new species, Medioppia bipectinata sp. n., is described. The new species is characterized by long and bipectinate sensillus; long interlamellar setae; presence of interbothridial tubercles in prodorsum and well developed seta c₂.

Mabulatrichus iranicus sp. nov. (Acari: Oribatida: Zetomotrichidae) is described from Mazandaran province, Northern Iran.

Mite species of genus Tyrophagus in the Oudemans Collection are revised. Povelsenia neotropicus Oudemans, 1917 is synonymized with T. putrescentiae (Schrank, 1781) and consequently Povelsenia Oudemans, 1924 with Tyrophagus Oudemans, 1924. Two species, T. palmarum and T. muris are redescribed. A key to species of Tyrophagus in the Oudemans Collection is provided.