A total of 2,235 ticks were collected from 2,505 small mammals, representing nine mammal species in eight genera, captured from January to December 2009 in the Republic of Korea (ROK). Survey sites includedNightmare Range, a ROK-operated military training area, and Camp Humphreys, a US Army installation, in Gyeonggi Province. Apodemus agrarius (1,998, 79.8%) was the most frequently captured small mammal, followed by Microtus fortis (212, 8.5%), Crocidura lasiura (159, 6.3%), Myodes regulus (54, 2.2%), Mus musculus (49, 2.0%), Micromys minutus (26, 1.0%), Rattus norvegicus (3, 0.1%), Apodemus peninsulae (2, 0.08%), and Tamias sibiricus (2, 0.08%). While A. agrarius accounted for 91.1% of all small mammals at Nightmare Range, it only accounted for 68.0% at Camp Humphreys. Ixodes nipponensis (99.5%; 1,977 larvae, 247 nymphs) was the most frequently collected tick, having been found on 6/9 (66.7%) of the small mammal species, followed by Haemaphysalis flava (0.5%; 10 larvae, 1 nymph) from 3/9 (33.3%) species of small mammals. Overall, the highest infestation rate was observed for T. sibiricus (50.0%, 1/2), followed by A. agrarius (18.1%, 360/1,998), M. minutus (11.5%, 3/26), C. lasiura (4.4%, 7/159), M. fortis (3.8%, 8/212), M. musculus (2.0%, 1/49), and M. regulus (1.9%, 1/54). No ticks were collected from A. peninsulae (n=2) or R. norvegicus (n=3). Although similar numbers of small mammals were collected at Nightmare Range (1,272) and Camp Humphreys (1,233), the tick infestation rate was nearly four times higher at Nightmare Range (23.4%) compared to Camp Humphreys (6.7%). Ixodes nipponensis nymphs were first observed and peaked in April, followed by declining numbers through September/October. Low numbers of larvae were first observed in April and continued through June. Relatively large numbers of larvae were collected from July to September, resulting in higher than average infestation rates during the same period.

To assess the seasonality of adult and immature Ixodes scapularis ticks, weekly collections were made year-round with a drag cloth at two 0.5 ha sites in northern Mississippi. One hundred and four collection attempts were made between August 1, 2010 and July 31, 2011, and a total of 256 adult and 6 nymphal I. scapularis were collected from the sites. From Wall Doxey State Park near the Tennessee state line, 233 adult ticks were collected, whereas only 23 were collected from Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), which is located approximately 350 km southeast of that point. Three nymphal I. scapularis were collected from each collecting site, and no larval I. scapularis were collected at either site. The first adult I. scapularis was collected on October 19, 2010 at Wall Doxey Park, while at Noxubee NWR the first adult I. scapularis was collected 3 days later (October 21, 2010). The last adults were collected on April 3, 2011 at Noxubee NWR and on May 25, 2011 at Wall Doxey Park. Most adults were caught during March (97 adults, 37.9% of all I. scapularis collected), and no adults were collected from June through mid-October. The first I. scapularis nymph was collected on August 2, 2010 at Wall Doxey Park. Two more nymphs were collected (one each) at Noxubee NWR on September 3, 2010 and September 16, 2010. Another nymph was collected on March 14, 2011 at Noxubee NWR, then two more on May 17, 2011 at Wall Doxey Park. Statistical analyses showed no significant correlation between vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and number of adult ticks collected, or temperature and VPD combined and number of adult ticks collected.

An annotated checklist of identified Ecuadorian Oppioidea (10 species of 10 genera of three families) is presented. The genera Hammerella, Taiwanoppia, subgenera Hammerella (Woasella), Taiwanoppia(Paragloboppia) and the species T. (P.) trichotos (Balogh et Mahunka, 1977) are recorded for the first time in Ecuador. One new species of the family Granuloppiidae — Hammerella (Woasella) parasufflata sp. nov. — is described from the upper organic soil layer in a mostly undisturbed rain forest. This species differs from the type species of the subgenus, H. (W.) sufflata Franklin et Woas, 1992 from Brazil by the absence of translamella, presence of two prodorsal tubercles, localization of notogastral (la, lm) and aggenital setae, localization of sensillar branches, morphology of some subcapitular setae and the location of lyrifissures iad.

An annotated checklist of oribatid mite taxa from two forest plantations of Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve (Southern Vietnam) is presented. It includes 55 species, 39 genera and 23 families. Otocepheus spatulatus,Yoshiobodes aokii, Acrogalumna bipartita and the genera Yoshiobodes, Suctobelbata are first records from Vietnam. Suctobelbata is recorded for the first time from the Oriental region. Suctobelbata bituberculata sp. nov. (Suctobelbidae) is described from litter. The new species is most morphologically similar to Suctobelbata truncicola (Forsslund, 1941) from the Palearctic region, but it is clearly distinguishable from the latter by the rectangular tectopedial fields, setiform rostral setae and the prodorsal tubercle represented by a transverse line.

The genus Phrathicarus (Acari: Oribatida: Phthiracaridae) was represented by only one species prior to this work. In this paper, two new species of Phrathicarus are described from New Zealand: Phrathicaruslongisensillus sp. nov. from the Red Island, Mercury Islands, and Phrathicarus hikurangi sp. nov. from Mt. Hikurangi, Northland. A key to all known species of Phrathicarus is provided.

The two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch is a phytophagous spider mite that is now one of the most important pests of agricultural and economic crops worldwide. However, reports of T. urticae (green form) infection on cotton have been rare in China. Here we present two records of T. urticae (green form) on Gossypium hirsutum in China (Nanjing, Jiangsu Province and Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region). Because spider mites are difficult to identify, we confirmed the identification by both aedeagus morphology and PCR-RFLP (restriction fragment-length polymorphism) technology. These results also validate the usefulness of the RFLP technology for the identification of T. urticae.

Tetranychus iraniensis Mahdavi & Ueckermann sp. nov. (Tetranychidae) is described from Salsola sp. (Amaranthaceae) in Manujan-Kerman. This species belongs to the group one of Tetranychus by Flechtmann and Knihinicki's grouping. The new species is different from the other species in the group in having a peculiar shape of the aedeagus.

Simalurapolipus hiraii n. gen., n. sp. (Acari: Podapolipidae) collected in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan is described from Simalura coerulea (Lewis) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and compared with Tenebrapolipus ceropriae Kurosa and Husband, 2001 from Ceropria induta (Wiedemann, 1819) and T. imasakai Kurosa and Husband, 2001 from Ceropria laticollis Fairmaire,1903 collected in Japan. The unusual occurence of many larval females of the species on the host body surface is reported.

Moldoustium haitlingeri Noei, Saboori & Šundić sp. nov. (Acari: Erythraeidae) is described from northern Iran and Montenegro. It is the second known species of the genus and was found in soil samples. Also, Hirstiosoma latreillei (Grandjean, 1947) and Fessonia papillosa (Hermann, 1804) (Acari: Smarididae) are reported for the first time from Iran.

We describe a new species in the endemic Australian mite genus Acroseius Błoszyk et al., 2005. Acroseius weirisp. nov. is distinguished from the other two species in the genus by the presence of a row of greatly expanded leaf-like setae on the caudal margin of the idiosoma. New locality records substantially increase the known range of the other two species, A. tuberculatus and A. womersleyi. The three species show disjunct distributions on the east coast of Australia, each species associated with a different forest type and climate. This appears to be the result of geographic speciation associated with increasing aridity and habitat fragmentation.

A new species, Rhinonyssus dobromiri sp. nov., from the genus Rhinonyssus Trouessart, 1894 is described from the avian host the Northern Lapwing, Vanellus vanellus L. (Charadriidae), which was collected in Leningrad province, Russia.