All five species of kiwi (Apteryx spp.) are listed as threatened or near threatened, and an important aspect of kiwi conservation is understanding the biology of parasites because of their potential to act as disease vectors and hinder kiwi survival. Although the ectoparasite fauna on kiwis has been categorized, there is a paucity of information on the biology of the kiwi tick, Ixodes anatis, and other parasites found on this unusual avian host. Here we explore the presence of I. anatis in burrows known to be used by North Island brown kiwi, Apteryx mantelli. There was a significant positive correlation between the frequency with which burrows were used by kiwi and both tick intensity and prevalence. The potential consequences of extended use of burrows by kiwi for nesting and tick intensity are discussed. Monthly tick distributions for varying age/sex classes are described as well as age/sex class distribution in different burrow types, with other invertebrates found in burrows also noted. Given the conservation risk for kiwi and the endemic status of I. anatis, understanding the impact of this tick species on kiwi as well as its natural history should be a priority for future research.

This study reports ticks collected from wild carnivores from different habitat types in Panama. We examined 94 individual wild carnivores and we found 87 parasitized by ticks: seven coyotes, six crab-eating foxes, 54 coatis, four raccoons, five ocelots, two pumas, two gray foxes, two skunks, and one each of kinkajou, jaguar, jaguaroundi, greater grison and tayra. We identified 13 species of tick: Ornithodoros puertoricensis, Amblyomma auricularium, A. dissimile, A. mixtum, A. oblongoguttatum, A. ovale, A. parvum, A. pecarium, A. tapirellum, A. varium, Haemaphysalis juxtakochi, Ixodes affinis, Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. and immatures of Ixodes and Amblyomma. Amblyomma ovale and A. oblongoguttatum were the most common species, found on nine and six carnivore species respectively. This is the first report of A. oblongoguttatum on Puma yagouaroundi and Procyon lotor; of A. dissimile, A. pecarium, A. tapirellum and A. varium on Nasua narica; and A. auricularium on P. lotor. Our data do not enable us to establish incidence of tick parasitism, but add valuable information to the current knowledge of the tick species that infest wild carnivores in Panama.

Immatures of Amblyomma maculatum have historically been difficult to collect when not on an animal host, thus a definite seasonality of the immatures has never been determined. In this study, we made tick collections at two sites during 2012–2014. Site A (Oktibbeha County) in northern Mississippi, and Site B (Jackson County) in southern Mississippi, were sampled from September-May and October-May, respectively. Sampling was made from vegetation with a 1 m² weighted white corduroy drag cloth, dry ice traps, and also a novel method known as “swabbing.” A total of 157 ticks was collected, with 42% (n=65) being A. maculatum. Of these 65, only 20% (n=13) were immatures, with 18.5% (n=12) being nymphs, and a larva (1.5%) (collected by swabbing). To our knowledge, this is only the third time that a larva of this species have been collected from vegetation in the United States. The larva is the first collected from Mississippi in November, and expands the known seasonality of this stage. Of the twelve nymphs collected, one was found during May, becoming the first collected south of U.S. Route 84 in Mississippi during this month.

The effects of the biopesticide azadirachtin-A (commercial product NeemAzal T/S; Trifolio-M GmbH, Germany) on behavior, survival, reproduction and population growth of the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) were investigated in laboratory bioassays. The biopesticide was applied to bean leaf discs or primary bean leaves positioned on moistened cotton wads in Petri dishes by using a Potter spray tower. In a choice test, T. urticae females preferred the untreated halves of leaves over the halves treated with 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25, 3.12, and 1.56 mg/L azadirachtin-A and their oviposition in those treatments was significantly greater on untreated halves in the first 24 h, as well as its sum over 72 h (the only exception was oviposition after treatment with 6.25 mg/L). A run-off effect, ranging 4–32%, was also observed in the choice test. Viability and reproduction of survivors, as well as population growth, were affected after treatments of T. urticae females with 70, 35, and 17.5 mg/L of azadirachtin-A during their preovipositional period. All biopesticide treatments significantly reduced both gross fecundity and net fecundity (summed over seven days), the reduction ranging from 20–30% and 39–53%, respectively, compared with control. Female longevity was significantly reduced as well: treated females lived 1.4–2 days shorter than control females. All concentrations significantly lowered the instantaneous rate of increase, 11–18% against control. In females that hatched from eggs treated with 15, 7.5, and 3.75 mg/L azadirachtin-A and completed juvenile development exposed to its residues, gross fecundity was reduced 14–32%, but a significant reduction was found only after treatment with the highest concentration. On the other hand, all concentrations significantly reduced net fecundity (26–43%). Treated females lived 0.8–1.2 days shorter than control females and the reduction was significant after all treatments. The instantaneous rate of increase was significantly lowered by 15 and 7.5 mg/L concentrations, i.e. by 12% and 9%, respectively, compared with control. Sublethal effects of azadirachtin-A (NeemAzal-T/S) and its impact on the management of T. urticae populations are discussed.

The cassava green mite (CGM), Mononychellus progresivus Doreste, causes serious leaf damage on cassava leading to low root yield in the dry savanna regions of Africa. A study to compare effectiveness of the predatory phytoseiid Typhlodromalus aripo (De Leon), an acaricide abamectin, an insecticide chlorpyrifos and fertilizer in management of CGM was carried out in various agro-ecological zones of the eastern dry low-midlands at Katumani (LM4), Kiboko (LM5), the cool upper midlands at Embu (UM2) and the warm humid coastal lowlands at Mtwapa (CL3) of Kenya. The acaricide abamectin was found most efficacious in controlling CGM at all agro-ecological zones. Further, the results revealed that the exotic phytoseiid T. aripo was effective in suppressing population densities of CGM by 45% in the dry-hot midlands (Kiboko) and 64% in the warm-humid coastal climatic zone, but the predator could not persist in the cool midlands. However, in the same cool midlands, high amounts of rainfall led to low CGM density of less than 20 mites per leaf, amid the presence of the indigenous phytoseiid Euseius fustis (Pritchard & Baker). Increase in CGM density was positively correlated to the warm and hot dry environment at the plots at Kiboko and Katumani. In the irrigated and wetter sites T. aripo increased with the increase in relative humidity in the environment at Kiboko and Mtwapa. Abamectin spray was the best option in suppressing CGM densities in the dry lowland zones. Similarly, soil fertility input led to higher yield in the sandy soils of low coastal and eastern midlands. High CGM densities did not result in low yield as other environmental factors such as soil fertility, and temperature influenced the final root yield. These findings give insight on the management options of the CGM pest in the different agro-ecological zones in Kenya and similar regions of Africa.

A new oribatid mite species of the family Thyrisomidae, Pantelozetes unitjumeniensis sp. nov., is described from the taiga forest at the eastern bank of lake Baikal (Siberia, Russia). The new species is morphologically most similar to Pantelozetes bayartogtokhi Ermilov, Salavatulin & Tolstikov, 2014 nom. nov., however, it differs from the latter by the larger body size, presence of body ornamentation and well developed costulae. Pantelozetes mongolicus (Balogh & Mahunka, 1965) is recorded for the first time in Russia. A new generic diagnosis of Pantelozetes is presented. A new species name is proposed: Pantelozetes bayartogtokhi (=Montizetes serratus Bayartogtokh, 2003, preoccupied by Wang & Cui 1996).

The ptyctimous mites (Oribatida) were represented in Colombia by only 11 known species prior to this work. In this paper, 16 ptyctimous mites species from seven genera and four families are identified, including one newly recorded family (Mesoplophoridae) from Colombia, four newly recorded genera, 13 newly recorded species, and one new species, Notophthiracarus colombianus sp. nov.. Detailed description and illustration of the new species are given, and Atropacarus (Hoplophorella) andrei (Balogh, 1958) is redescribed and treated as a valid species.

In this paper, Aceria genistae (Nalepa) on scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) from Mandagout, France is redescribed and a neotype is designated. A gall mite on Ulex europaeus L. (Fabaceae) in New Zealand, previously mis-identified by David Manson as A. genistae is here redescribed as a new species, Aceria davidmansoni sp. nov. Taxonomic and nomenclatural history of A. genistae is reviewed.

A new species Krugeria fuzhouensis Xu & Fan sp. nov. (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) on Pterospermum heterophyllum (Sterculiaceae) from China is described and illustrated. The ontogenetic changes in idiosoma and leg chaetotaxy on the female, male, deutonymph, protonymph and larva are presented. A key to the world species is provided.

A new species of the genus Tetranycopsis, T. iranensis sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on female and immature stages, collected from hazelnut trees, Ardabil Province, Iran.

Podothrombium zlatarum sp. nov. (Acari: Podotrombidiidae) is described and illustrated from larvae collected from herbaceous plants on the Zlatar mountain (West Serbia).

This paper reports on three species of mites of the family Laelapidae in Iran—Gymnolaelaps longiosetae sp. nov. collected from ants, Myrmica sp., and Laelaspis persicus Joharchi & Halliday, 2012 and Laelaspis dariusi Joharchi & Jalaeian, 2012, for which the males are herein described for the first time, whereas the females were previously described, also from Iran. Cosmolaelaps longogenitalis (Karg) is transferred to Laelaspis, based on expanded genito-ventral shield, surface with characteristic ornamentation including distinct Λ;-shaped lines and polygonal ornamentation, bearing the genital setae st5 and four pairs of long setae on its lateral edges.

We describe four new species of Olopachys Berlese collected from litter, moss and rotting wood in north-eastern Turkey (Erzincan, Giresun and Gümüşhane Provinces) — O. transversalis sp. nov., O. ovatus sp. nov., O. elongatus sp. nov. and O. prolixus sp. nov. A key to all known species of the genus is provided.