The basic body structure of the Tenuipalpidae, or false spider, mites is discussed, along with morphological characters used for genus and species determination. The biology of these plant feeding mites is reviewed, including reproductive modes, dispersal and low chromosome number. The interactions of the false spider mites with their host plants and the damage they incur are considered, including the increasing economic importance of Brevipalpus spp. and of Raoiella indica Hirst. The associations of tenuipalpids with plant diseases, caused by bacteria, fungi and especially viruses, are discussed. Methods to reduce tenuipalpid damage are reviewed, including sampling and monitoring in the field, quarantine efforts and horticultural, chemical and biological control means. Lists of natural enemies are appended, and the scarcity of specific natural enemies of the Tenuipalpidae is noted. The postulated modes that these mites employ to elude their predators are discussed. Finally, suggestions for further research are outlined. These include exploration for false spider mites and their natural enemies in relatively little-surveyed regions, studies on the biology of additional pest species and on their toxins, studying the interactions between mites, hosts and plant diseases, and the various modes of sex determination and parthenogenesis in false spider mites, with emphasis on Brevipalpus spp. and their cryptic, possibly host-associated biotypes.

Specimens of Ixodes longiscutatus Boero, 1944 (Ixodidae) were collected in Uruguay and, to a lesser extent, Argentina from 1998 to 2004. Specimen data and literature records were used to compile a comprehensive list of hosts and to define the ecological parameters of this tick species, which is currently known from a total of only 6 females, 37 nymphs and 94 larvae. The male remains undescribed. Bona fide records of females were from cattle, horse, Cavia tschudii Fitzinger, 1857 and Cavia sp. (Rodentia: Caviidae). Most nymphs were collected on rodents of the family Cricetidae, especially Oxymycterus nasutus (Waterhouse, 1837) and Scapteromys tumidus (Waterhouse, 1837), but also C. tschudii. Again, most larvae were found on cricetid rodents, namely O. nasutus, S. tumidus, Akodon lutescens Allen, 1901, Oligoryzomys flavescens (Waterhouse, 1837) and Necromys obscurus (Waterhouse, 1837), and on Caviidae (Cavia aperea Erxleben, 1777 and C. tschudii). Both larvae and nymphs were found on hosts during all seasons of the year, with a higher prevalence in summer. Two allopatric populations of I. longiscutatus appear to exist, one in Uruguay and neighboring provinces of Argentina (Buenos Aires and Entre Ríos), the other in northwestern Argentina (Salta Province); DNA analysis may confirm their conspecificity. Scanning electron photomicrographs of the capituli of larvae and nymphs, as well as the posterior setae of the nymphal idiosoma, are provided.

The larval stage of Amblyomma ovale Koch is described using optical and scanning electron microscopy. Unfed larvae were obtained from a colony of A. ovale originating from engorged females collected on domestic dogs from Monte Negro County, state of Rondônia, Western Amazon, Brazil. Fifteen larvae were prepared and mounted on slides, and observed under a light microscope equipped with a drawing tube. Five specimens were prepared for scanning electron microscopy. Several morphological characters are described for the first time, including the chaetotaxy of the idiosoma, palps and Haller's organ, as well as morphological features of the idiosoma, gnathosoma and legs. In addition, topographical and numerical patterns of integumentary pores (porotaxy) on the idiosoma of larval A. ovale are described using a recently proposed nomenclature. Three types of integumentary pores were identified on the idiosoma of A. ovale larvae: lyrifissures, small glands, and large wax glands. These structures were observed isolated or associated over the entire idiosoma, except on the scutum, which lacks large wax glands. Larvae of A. ovale showed similar topographical and numerical patterns of integumentary structures, with 6 pairs of large wax glands (1 pair dorsal/5 pairs ventral), 24 pairs of lyrifissures (11 pairs dorsal/13 pairs ventral), and 54 pairs of small glands (32 pairs dorsal/22 pairs ventral). These topographical and numerical patterns of integumentary structures of larval A. ovale showed only minor differences when compared with patterns of other Amblyomma larvae; however, a few key features can be used to differentiate A. ovale from other members of its genus.

The argasid tick Ornithodoros spheniscus (Acari: Ixodidae) is reported from the Humboldt Penguin, Spheniscus humboldti, for the first time in Chile. An instance of human tick bite is also described, and the impact of O. spheniscus on human and avian health is discussed.

Amblyseius azerbaijanicus Abbasova, A. meridionalis Berlese, Neoseiulus multiporus (Wu & Li) and Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) bakeri (Garman), collected in northern Iran, are new species records for the Phytoseiidae fauna of Iran. Amblyseius azerbaijanicus and A. meridionalis were sampled from soil, and N. multiporus and T. bakeri from the foliage and trunk of plum respectively. Illustrations and measurements are provided for the Iranian specimens. We have also found that the spermatheca in T. bakeri can be differently shaped, depending on the position in which it is viewed, and some suspected synonymies are proposed based on this fact.

Litarachna smiti, a new species of the predominantly marine water mite family Pontarachnidae (Acari: Hydrachnidia) is described from the Red Sea (Saudi Arabia).

An updated list of the water mites of running waters of Kermanshah Province (Western Iran) is given, and now includes 25 species. One of them, Monatractides kermanshahus is described as new to science; Monatractides aberratus (Lundblad, 1941) is new for the Iranian fauna.

A new species of chigger from Morocco, northwestern Africa, Aboriginesia imlilica sp. nov., taken from small mammal hosts, is described and field notes on host habitat are presented.

A new species of spider mites, Sonotetranychus kermanensis sp. nov. (Acari: Tetranychidae), collected on Ficus carica L. (Moraceae) is described from Kerman, Iran. This is the first record of this genus in Iran. A key to all known species of Sonotetranychus is also given.

Eupalopsis Canestrini is a small genus of only three species: Eupalopsis gersoni Meyer & Ueckermann, Eupalopsis jamesi Gerson and Eupalopsis maseriensis (Canestrini & Fanzago). The family Eupalopsellidae Willmann was formerly represented in Turkey only by the genus Eupalopsellus Sellnick. Eupalopsis is now added as part of the eupalosellid fauna of Turkey, with the redescription of E. maseriensis, on the basis of a specimen collected from Bursa in north-western Turkey.