Chrysomelobia matsuzawai sp. nov. and Chrysomelobia nipponica sp. nov. (Acari: Podapolipidae) are described from Gonioctena rubripennis Baly (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) collected in Japan. This is the first record of the genus Chrysomelobia Regenfuss, 1968 in Asia. Adult females of the type species for Chrysomelobia, Chrysomelobia mahunkai Regenfuss, 1968, were recollected from female specimens infesting a Gonioctena sp. in Germany. An updated key to all species of Chrysomelobia is provided.

The effects of the extreme (30±2, 50±2, 90±2%) and a common (70±2%) relative humidity (RH) levels on functional response and fecundity of Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) were studied at a constant temperature 25±1 °C and 16:8 L:D photoperiod. In the experiments, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 T. urticae eggs were given to the predatory mite for 24 hours. According to logistic regression analysis, N. californicus showed a Type II functional response at all RH levels. The attack rate (α) and the handling time (Th) of Type II response were calculated by fitting Holling Disc Equation to the data. These two coefficients were varied depending on the RH. The highest and the shortest, α and Th values were determined to be 1.636 and 0.031 at 50 and 70% RHs, respectively. While the lowest average daily mean numbers of eggs laid by N. californicus was found to be 0.33 at 30% RH and five prey density, the highest value was determined to be 3.10 at 70% RH and 80 prey density. Although, performance of N. californicus was influenced by the extreme RHs, the predator had successfully continued predation and oviposition activities under those conditions. Therefore, the N. californicus population should be included in augmentative biological control programs in which considerable range of humidity fluctuations is expected.

Two new species of the genus Petrobia Murray, 1877, subgenus Petrobia, are described from Iran: P. (P.) norbakhshi sp. nov. from wild garlic and P. (P.) hordei sp. nov. from barley. The former species is described from females, and the latter is from females, deutonymphs, protonymphs and larvae. Petrobia (P.) latens (Müller, 1776) is also re-described based on females, deutonymphs and protonymphs. Leg chaetotaxy is provided for each species, and is shown to be reasonably consistent within species of Petrobia (Petrobia). The subgenera of Petrobia—Petrobia, Mesotetranychus and Tetranychina—are redefined, resulting in some species being re-classified in different subgenera. A key to species of the subgenus Petrobia is given.

Two new species of the genus Galumna (Oribatida, Galumnidae) are described from the Antigua and Aruba Islands (Lesser Antilles). Galumna (Galumna) antiguaensis sp. nov. is morphologically most similar to G.(Galumna) tetraporosa Ermilov, Martens & Tolstikov, 2014, but differs by the smaller body size, presence of three pairs of notogastral porose areas, short interlamellar seta and parallel lamellar and sublamellar lines.Galumna (Neogalumna) harrysmiti sp. nov. is morphologically most similar to G. (Neogalumna) curviporosa(Balakrishnan, 1986), but differs by the minute interlamellar seta, unusual long postanal porose area, band-like porose areas A2 and A3, paraanal position of adanal lyrifissure and the presence of a median pore and longer bothridial seta.

Four selective pesticides (chlorantraniliprole, flubendiamide, spirotetramat, metaflumizone) and a conventional pesticide (abamectin) were tested against Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) (Acari: Phytoseiidae), which is often used as a biological control agent. Abamectin caused high mortality (88.75-92.50%) in N. cucumeris adult females, while the other pesticides had a reduced effect. Chlorantraniliprole was found to have a clear repellent activity against N. cucumeris adult females. Flubendiamide, spirotetramat, and metaflumizone had significant impacts on the development and predation of immature mites; spirotetramat had the greatest effect. The four selective pesticides significantly reduced prey consumption and the number of eggs produced by gravid females. Overall, chlorantraniliprole was categorized as harmless to N. cucumeris, flubendiamide and metaflumizone showed an intermediate effect, and spirotetramat had a significant sublethal effect. Our findings showed that chlorantraniliprole could be used in fields with N. cucumeris, whereas flubendiamide and metaflumizone had poor compatibility with this predatory mite. It would be counterproductive to combine the use of this biological control agent with spirotetramat.

Mite communities inhabiting crops are influenced by several environmental factors, e.g. rainfall, seasonality and the presence of weeds within the plantation. In this study, we seek to clarify the seasonality patterns of mite communities present in physic nut crops, Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae), by evaluating the influence of these factors on the most abundant species found. We verified that Polyphagotarsonemus latus Banks (Tarsonemidae) and Tetranychus bastosi Tuttle, Baker & Sales (Tetranychidae), the most abundant phytophagous species, had random seasonality patterns in the physic nut crops. In the field, predatory species of natural occurrence were not able to control the population growth of phytophagous mite species. Also, the presence of weeds among physic nut crops increased the number of potential predators and the diversity of mite species in the agroecosystem.

This paper reports on a collection of eriophyid mites from broom (Cytisus scoparius), gorse (Ulex europaeus), and related plants (Fabaceae: Genisteae) in the western USA, to clarify the taxonomic problems within the “Aceria genistae” complex on different hosts. The mites from U. europaeus and Genista monspessulana, which were previously identified as or suspected to be Aceria genistae, are herein confirmed as Aceria davidmansoni—previously known only from U. europaeus in New Zealand. The mites from Lupinus albicaulis (no galls), Lupinus densiflorus (with gall-like deformities although not true galls), Cytisus striatus and C. scoparius are confirmed as A. genistae (the first three species were used in host specificity tests for A. genistae from C. scoparius and only C. striatus is confirmed as a new host for A. genistae). Another unrelated species, Aculops hussongi Keifer, was found on L. albicaulis in Nisqually, Washington, USA.

Quill mites of the family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata: Cheyletoidea) associated with birds in Madagascar are described for the first time. All host specimens were captured in humid forest formations of the Toliara Province of extreme southeastern Madagascar. Three new species are described: Rafapicobia copsychus Skoracki, OConnor and Goodman sp. nov. from Copsychus albospecularis (Eydoux and Gervais) (Passeriformes: Turdidae), Picobia neomixis Skoracki, OConnor and Goodman sp. nov. from Neomixis tenella (Hartlaub) (Passeriformes: Cisticolidae), and Picobia bernieriarum Skoracki, OConnor and Goodman sp. nov. from Xanthomixis zosterops (Sharpe) and Bernieria madagascariensis (Gmelin) (Passeriformes: Bernieridae). Additionally, three mite species were recorded from new hosts: Pipicobia terpsiphoni Glowska and Schmidt, 2014 from Terpsiphone mutata (Linnaeus) (Passeriformes: Monarchidae), Peristerophila accipitridicus Skoracki, Lontkowski and Stawarczyk, 2010 from Accipiter francesiae Smith (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae), and Neoaulonastus tanzanicus Skoracki, Hromada and Unsoeld, 2013 from Ploceus nelicourvi (Scopoli) (Passeriformes: Ploceidae).

A new endoparasitic mite, Novophytoptus longissimus Chetverikov et Petanović n. sp., living in parenchymatous stem tissue of the rush Juncus conglomeratus L. (Juncaceae) is described with the aid of conventional light microscopy, confocal light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Immatures of the new species lack eye-like structures (sensu Smith 1977), which are well-developed in adults. Adults possess unique globular protuberances on the dorsal surface of coxae I, uncommon localization of gnathosomal seta ep (situated in a pocket-like space formed by an antero-dorsal fold of the palpcoxa) and some uncommon attributes in the male and female genital areas. In one male the two putative podocephalic canals (sensu Nuzzaci & Alberti 1996) and the disjointed digitus mobilis and digitus fixus of the chelicerae were clearly seen under DIC LM. Senescent females of N. longissimus n. sp. exceed 510 micrometers, making this species the longest among contemporary eriophyoids. Remarks address the size limits of eriophyoids and the possible ways that novophytoptines penetrate the epidermis. Microphotographs of N. longissimus n. sp. moving within the aerenchyma of the rush stem are presented for the first time. The term “vermiformity”, referring to the elongation of the mite body, is discussed and width/length ratio is proposed as a precise estimate of “vermiformity”.

We collected ticks from feral swine, Sus scrofa L., during 1–3 September 2015, in pastures known to be infested by southern cattle ticks, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini), at the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in Cameron County, Texas, U.S.A. All 81 examined feral swine were infested by ticks, but none was infested by R. microplus. Tick species collected were Amblyomma maculatum Koch, Amblyomma mixtum Koch, Amblyomma tenellum Koch, Dermacentor halli McIntosh, and Dermaentor variabilis (Say). This is the first formal report of A. tenellum infesting feral swine.

The morphological ontogeny of Achipteria gigantea sp. nov. from northern Spain is described and illustrated. The adult of this species is the largest of known species of Achipteria Berlese, 1885, and has seta in inserted on the inner part of wide lamella, approximately 1/3 of the total length from its base, which is rare in this genus; most species have this seta inserted near the base of the lamella. The tarsi of A. gigantea are heterodactylous and dorsally serrate, but the outer claws are thinner and has longer dens than the middle claw. The juveniles of A. gigantea are plicate, as other species of Achipteria, but the subsequent instars are larger than congeners and most gastronotal setae are thicker and with denser barbs than in other species; some setae on femora, genua and tibiae on legs are also thicker. The leg claws of juveniles of A. gigantea are also serrate, but in the larva the dens are longer than in the nymphs. The ontogeny of A. gigantea is compared with that of congeners, and the morphology of the adult of this species is compared with other species of Achipteria. Three subgenera of Achipteria (Cubachipteria Balogh & Mahunka, 1979, Izuachipteria Balogh & Mahunka, 1979 and Hokkachipteria Balogh & Mahunka, 1979) and Parachipteria Hammen, 1952 are provisionally considered as junior synonyms of Achipteria.