This report describes collections of the Gulf Coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum Koch (Ixodida: Ixodidae), made during 2013 at the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Delaware, and at two sites in Maryland: the Blackwater NWR and the Chester River Field Research Station (CRFRS). Ticks were collected via field drags, dry ice-baited traps, and/or from the human field researchers (collections of ticks crawling on clothing/boots) at Bombay Hook NWR and Blackwater NWR. A total of 21 A. maculatum were successfully collected at Bombay Hook NWR during May 28–30, 2013. Using a genus-specific quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay and species-specific qPCR assays, a single male was found to be positive for the presence of Rickettsia parkeri DNA (a spotted fever group rickettsia). The repeated collection of this species in the adult stage at Bombay Hook NWR, the relatively large number collected (n=21), along with its continuity of presence pre- and post-winter, indicate that an established population may now exist at Bombay Hook NWR. A single adult female was collected from a field drag at Blackwater NWR on June 18, 2013; this specimen was negative for the presence of Rickettsia spp. DNA (including R. parkeri DNA). An adult male was collected on a researcher at CRFRS on August 8, 2013; this specimen was found to be positive for R. parkeri DNA. This report also summarizes data from 2008 to 2010 for A. maculatum collected during mist netting surveillance of migratory songbirds by the Foreman's Branch Bird Observatory, located at CRFRS: a total of 104 immature A. maculatum were collected. The adult specimens of A. maculatum collected at Blackwater NWR and at CRFRS are regarded as representing the first documentation of adult field-collected A. maculatum within the state. Future sampling is needed at each location to determine if A. maculatum is firmly established, the prevalence of R. parkeri infection, and the epidemiological risk to humans.

Patch departure decision is influenced by different factors such as progeny prey needs. Here, we tested developmental time, oviposition rate and patch leaving strategies in two phytoseiid predators, Phytoseiulus persimilis and Neoseiulus californicus when their diets consisted of spider mite eggs with and without pollen. Gradual decreasing trend in developmental times was obvious by increasing the number of prey eggs in both predators. Immature P. persimilis and N. californicus needed at least six spider mite eggs to reach adulthood. Predation rates of P. persimilis and N. californicus increased (6 to 24.4 and 6 to 21.9 respectively) with increasing the number of available spider mite eggs from 6 to 25. We recorded no significant differences in the developmental times and oviposition rates neither for P. persimilis nor for N. californicus after adding pollen to the predators' diet. Our experiments showed that both predator species left enough prey for their progeny before leaving patch.

Rhyncaphytoptus ficifoliae Keifer is one of the most important pests of fig in southwestern Iran.Phytoseius plumifer Canestrini & Fanzago is a phytoseiid mite on fig that is found naturally in Iran and can feed and reproduce on R. ficifoliae and other pest mites. The life table parameters of this predator on adult stages of R. ficifoliae were determined under laboratory conditions at 25±1°C, 65±5% RH and a photoperiod of 12:12 h (L: D). The results demonstrated that P. plumifer can develop on adult stages of R. ficifoliae. The developmental time of egg, larva, protonymph, deutonymph and all immature stages was 1.94±0.08, 1.12±0.05, 2.71±0.07, 2.92±0.04 and 8.73±0.07 days, respectively. The egg hatch rate and the survival rate for immature stages were 100%. Female adult longevity and life span were 39.36±0.26 and 48.10±0.25 days, respectively. The sex ratio was 65% female. The mean generation time (T), net reproductive rate (R₀), intrinsic rate of increase (r_m) and finite rate of increase (λ) were 18.78±0.19 days, 17.99±0.35 female offspring, 0.154±0.001 and 1.166±0.001 day^-1, respectively. The mean number of preys consumed daily by the protonymphs, deutonymphs and female individuals was 13.13, 18.46 and 26.70, respectively. The findings of this study offer new information on the life table parameters of P. plumifer fed on R. ficifoliae, and can be used in integrated management programs against this pest.

The study presents a review of the genus Pseudolaelaps Berlese, 1916 (Acari: Mesostigmata, Pseudolaelapidae), based on over 200 specimens collected from Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Ukraine, including the type specimens of three species (P. doderoi, P. gamaselloides, and P. paulseni) deposited in the Berlese Acaroteca, Florence. The European fauna is shown to include 14 species, 11 of which are described as new: P. barbatus sp. nov. (Romania, Serbia), P. brevipilis sp. nov. (Bulgaria), P. jozefi sp. nov. (Greece), P. lepidus sp. nov. (Italy), P. mirandus sp. nov. (Bulgaria), P.pallidus sp. nov. (Italy), P. propinquus sp. nov. (Italy), P. regularis sp. nov. (Bulgaria), P. rotundus sp. nov. (Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine), P. scaber sp. nov. (France, Italy), and P. stellifer sp. nov. (Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia). One of the Berlese species, P. gamaselloides Berlese, 1920, is redescribed and newly reported from Croatia and Slovakia. A key for identification of Pseudolaelaps species is provided.

Two new species of oribatid mites, Hermannobates dilatatus sp. nov. and Rhynchoribates longisetosus sp. nov., are described from Ecuadorian soils. Hermannobates dilatatus sp. nov. is most similar to H. ruseki Starý, 1998, however, it differs from the latter by the smaller body size, absence of flagelliform posterior notogastral setae, bacilliform exuvial setae d₁E and e₁E, longer adanal setae ad1 and bifurcate epimeral setae1a, 1c, 2a and 4b.Rhynchoribates longisetosus sp. nov. is most similar to R. insignis Balogh & Mahunka, 1969, however, it differs from the latter by the rostral setae bent backwards and long, flagelliform notogastral setae.

The holotype female of Tenuipalpus mansoniculus Ghai & Shenhmar, 1984 (replacement name of Colopalpus mansoni Collyer, 1973) is described and illustrated. The nomenclatural history of this species is documented and errors in the original description are corrected.

Five new species of the genus Tetra Keifer from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China are described and illustrated. They are Tetra tianschanicae sp. nov. and Tetra tianchiensis sp. nov. on Sorbus tianschanica Rupr. (Rosaceae); Tetra sativae sp. nov. on Medicago sativa L. (Fabaceae); Tetra viciae sp. nov. on Vicia ceacca L. (Fabaceae) and Tetra nitrariae sp. nov. on Nitraria schoheri L. (Zygophyllaceae). All eriophyid mites described here are vagrants on the undersurface of host leaves.

A new species of the genus Favognathus, F. farshchiani sp. nov., is described and illustrated, and Eryngiopus affinis Barilo, 1987 is recorded for the first time from Iran and re-described. Favognathus farshchiani sp. nov., were collected from soil under the trees of berry (Morus alba), apricot (Prunus armeniaca) and elm (Ulmus sp.)in various orchards and fields. Eryngiopus affinis were collected from the soil of berry orchards, Isfahan province, Iran.

The fauna of rahignathoid mites (Acari: Raphignathoidea) of the Cape Martyan Nature Reserve, Crimea is reviewed. Totally 21 species from 6 families are recorded. The genera Camerobia Southcott, 1957, Caligonella Berlese, 1910, Neognathus Willmann, 1952 and 5 species: Camerobia pistaciae Bolland, 1986 (Camerobiidae), Caligonella humilis (Koch, 1838), Neognathus terrestris Summers and Schlinger, 1955 (Caligonellidae), Raphignathus ueckermanni Koç and Kara, 2005 and R. hecmatanaensis Khanjani and Ueckermann, 2003 (Raphignathidae) are recorded from Crimea for the first time.

In the course of examination of mites on bees, Leioproctus imitatus Smith (Hymenoptera: Colletidae) in New Zealand, a mite species, Parapygmephorus luxtoni (Mahunka, 1970) comb. nov. (Acari: Neopygmephoridae),was rediscovered. Herein, we redescribe the mite and provide a key to the world species of Parapygmephorus.

One of the coauthors (Olman Alvarado-Rodríguez) alerted the publisher that his last name is misspelled: it appeared as Olman Alavadaro-Rodríguez when the correct form is Olman Alvarado-Rodríguez.