Host plants usually play a crucial role in the first step of speciation, leading to host-associated differentiation (HAD) among populations that use different host plants. Previous studies of eriophyoid mite species have revealed HAD using morphometric and molecular methods. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that HAD occurred among different populations of the pink tea mite, Acaphylla theae and the purple tea mite, Calacarus carinatus from three tea-producing areas of China. These tea-producing areas grow recently radiated varieties of tea. Therefore, diversification within these phytophagous mites was expected. However, using a K2P comparison, calculation of pairwise F_ST, network analyses and AMOVA based on mitochondrial and nuclear markers, no association between genetic diversity and host plant species was detected. Moreover, a very low level of haplotype and nucleotide diversity and a lack of geographical structure were found. The absence of genetic differentiation among host-associated populations suggests that these two species are real generalists of different varieties of tea. The limited genetic diversity among the populations of these two species can be attributed to their recent colonization of tea, and to their passive spread by frequent human commercial activities.

Soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merril) (Fabaceae) are the most important grain crop in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Recently,significant infestations of phytophagous mites were observed in different regions of this state. This research aimed to identify the mite fauna associated with the soybean crop grown in the northwestern region of Rio Grande do Sul, particularly in Três de Maio and Mato Queimado counties. Assessments were made fortnightly in transgenic soybeans with irrigation (L1A) and without irrigation (L2A and B), in conventional soybeans without irrigation (L3C and D), and in edge plants (L1, 2 and 3). In soybean plants, we found 18,100 mites belonging to five families, nine genera and 12 species, besides those of Oribatida. Area L1A showed higher richness and abundance, with 10 species, followed by area L2B with insecticide application, with nine species. Lower richness was observed in L2A, with five species, and L3D showed lower abundance. Phytoseiidae showed higher richness, with five species, followed by Tetranychidae, with four species. Tetranychus urticae Koch, Mononychellus planki McGregor and Tetranychus ludeni Zacher were the most common phytophagous mites on soybean plants. Neoseiulus idaeus Denmark & Muma, Pseudopronematus sp., N. californicus McGregor and N. anonymus Chant & Baker. N. idaeus were the most common predators. On edge plants, T. ludeni and T. urticae were the most abundant, while N. idaeus and Agistemus riograndensisJohann & Ferla stood out among the predatory mites.

Pachyseius crymophilus sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on specimens collected in an alpine meadow habitat in the Făgăraş Mountains, the Carpathians, Romania. It is closely related to Pachyseius strandtmanni Solomon, 1982 by the form and sculpture of idiosoma, the setae Jv3 placed on soft integument off the ventrianal shield, the fragmentation and arrangement of shields and sclerites of the peritrematal-podal-sternal complex, the hypertrophy of some poroids, and the setation of lateral and opisthogastric soft integument. A new identification key to world species of the genus Pachyseius is provided.

A new mite species belonging to family Caligonellidae, Neognathus sinaei sp. nov., from western Iran (Mallayer vicinity, Hamedan province) is described and illustrated base on female and male from soil and litter under Russian olive trees, Elaeagnus angustifolia L.: Elaeagnaceae. A key to adult females of the genus Neognathus is also provided based in original descriptions and literatures.

A survey was carried out to study Pygmephoroidea (Acari: Prostigmata: Heterostigmatina) associated with insects in northeastern Iran. To capture insects, overnight samplings were examined in the areas. Nine species of three families of the superfamily were identified, including Neopygmephoridae (2 species), Scutacaridae (6 species) and Microdispidae (1 species). Kerdabania minuta Khaustov, 2009 (Neopygmephoridae), Imparipes (Apidacarus) paulyi Ebermann and Fain, 2002 (Scutacaridae), Archidispus minor Karafiat, 1959 (Scutacaridae), Scutacarus claviger Paoli, 1911 (Scutacaridae); and Premicrodispus krczali Khaustov, 2006 (Microdispidae) are new records for mite fauna of Iran. The subgenus Imparipes (Apidacarus) is recorded for the first time from Asia. Also, ten new insect host records are reported and the world distribution of the mites is reviewed.

In this study, Trichothyas anatolica sp. nov. of the family Hydryphantidae Piersig 1896 is described. Also, the first record for Turkey is given of Iranothyas alhajarica Pešić, Gerecke & Smit, 2009, a species previously known only from northern Oman.

The subgenus Atropacarus (Hoplophorella) (Acari: Oribatida: Phthiracaridae) was represented in China by only one known species prior to this work. In this paper, four species of Atropacarus (Hoplophorella) are identified, including two new species, Atropacarus (Hoplophorella) inflatus sp. nov. and Atropacarus (Hoplophorella) minimus sp. nov., and a newly recorded species from China, Atropacarus (Hoplophorella) vitrinus (Berlese, 1913). Some new data and remarks on known and newly recorded species from China are presented. A key to all known species of Atropacarus (Hoplophorella) in China is given.

The genus Phthiracarus (Acari: Oribatida: Phthiracaridae) was represented by nine species in China prior to this work. In this paper, eight species of Phthiracarus are identified, including three new species (Phthiracarusfujianensis Liu sp. nov., Phthiracarus sichuanensis Liu sp. nov. and Phthiracarus yunnanensis Liu sp. nov.), and two newly recorded species from China. Some remarks on known and newly recorded species from China are presented. A key to Chinese known species of Phthiracarus is also provided.

Three New Zealand species of Notophthiracarus (Oribatida: Phthiracaridae) are described as new to science:Notophthiracarus motumuka sp. nov. from the Lady Alice Island, Hen & Chickens Islands, Notophthiracarus tamaki sp. nov. from the Tamaki Estuary Tohuna Torea, Auckland, and Notophthiracarus rimi sp. nov. from the Red Island, Mercury Islands. All holotype specimens are deposited at New Zealand Arthropod Collection, Landcare Research and some paratypes are also deposited in Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The present study is based on oribatid mite material collected during a Russian-Ethiopian expedition in June 2013 from Ethiopia. We have registered 24 species, 20 genera and 16 families—an annotated checklist of identified taxa is presented. Suctobelbila dentata is recorded for the first time in the Ethiopian region; Tectocepheus velatus sarekensis is recorded for the first time in Ethiopia. A new oppiid species—Arcoppia(Wallworkoppia) minima sp. nov.—from litter of a Xerophitic forest is described. It differs from all known species of this subgenus by the medially concave rostrum (versus tripartite in the other species). An identification key to known species of Arcoppia (Wallworkoppia) is given.

Two new species of oribatid mites of the genus Dolicheremaeus (Oribatida, Tetracondylidae), D. dwalteri sp. nov. and D. donacunarensis sp. nov., are described from litter of Dong Nai Culture and Nature Reserve (southern Vietnam). An identification key to all known Vietnamese species of Dolicheremaeus is given.

An annotated checklist of oribatid mites collected from Costa Rica in 2012 is provided. We have registered 10 species in 8 genera and 6 families. Archegozetes magnus, Kokoppia euramosa, Neoamerioppia cocuyana, Xenillus venezuelanus, Lamellobates molecula, Trachyoribates glaber, Pergalumna silvatica are recorded for the first time from Costa Rica. Two species of the family Galumnidae, Pergalumna silvatica and P. sura, are redescribed, on the basis of Costa Rican specimens.

One new genus and three new species of the Diptilomiopidae from Zhejiang Province, China are described and illustrated. They are Linacutus cathayensis gen. nov. and sp. nov. on Carya cathayensis Sarg. (Juglandaceae), Diptacus elegantulum sp. nov. on Acer elegantulum Fang & Chiu (Sapindaceae) and Diptacus tianmuensis sp. nov. on Prunus sp. Linn. (Rosaceae). All the new species described in this paper are vagrants on their respective host plant.

Transgenic cotton is very effective in controlling targeted pests such as cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera). However, increases in spider mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) populations have been reported in fields of transgenic cotton. The objectives of our laboratory experiments were (i) to determine host plant preference (transgenic or non-transgenic cotton) of T. turkestani females and (ii) to compare the life table parameters of T. turkestani females reared on transgenic or non-transgenic cotton. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays indicated that T. turkestani females reared on transgenic cotton leaves contained 14.9±0.23 μg Bt toxic protein per gram fresh weight, about 57.4% toxin in the transgenic cotton leaves. Results of dual-choice disc tests showed that T. turkestani females preferred to feed and lay eggs on non-transgenic cotton. Food source (transgenic or non-transgenic cotton) had no significant effect on the life table parameters of T. turkestanifemales. We conclude that increases in the population of spider mites in fields of transgenic cotton cannot be attributed to host plant preference or to the effects of Bt toxic protein on the non-targeted arthropods life cycle. Additional studies should be done to determine if the increases are due to less insecticide application or less competition with primary insects in transgenic cotton fields.

The hard tick Dermacentor parumapertus is an ectoparasite commonly found on hares and rabbits and occurs over much of the western United States. These ticks are rarely encountered except by hunters or scientists collecting rabbits for study. Herein we describe 74 adult D. parumapertus ticks (21F, 53M) removed from 8 black-tailed jackrabbits, Lepus californicus, in central Utah, and 13 adult D. parumapertus (7F, 6M) found on 4 L. californicus in western Texas. The Utah ticks were barely ornamented. Females displayed only slight gray ornamentation near the posterior edge of the scutum and whitish-gray spots distally on the femur of legs II, III, and IV; males were completely devoid of any ornamentation. In contrast, Texas specimens were richly ornamented in white, closely resembling D. variabilis. Females were brightly marked with white (not gray) on the scutum and had white spots distally on all femurs. Males from Texas were variously ornamented along the posterolateral margins of the scutum and displayed white spots distally on all femurs. Documentation of this variability in ornamentation in D. parumapertus is important, particularly as white-marked specimens can easily be confused with D. variabilis and since both species have been reported from rabbit hosts.