The present study is based on oribatid mite material collected in 1936, 1964 and 1968 in Venezuela. A list of identified taxa, including 18 species from 18 genera and 15 families is presented; of these, eight species, eight genera and two families are recorded in this country for the first time, and one species is recorded in the Neotropical region for the first time. Two new species of the family Achipteriidae (Acari, Oribatida) are described. Campachipteria hummelincki sp. nov. differs from C. neotropicalis (Mahunka, 1983) by the smaller body size, long and similar in length notogastral setae and well dilated bothridial heads. Cubachipteria maxsellnicki sp. nov. differs from C. gaoligongensis Tang, Yang & Liang, 2015 and C. pianmaensis Tang, Yang & Liang, 2015 by the short, distally ciliate bothridial setae and the position of the lamellar setae.

Intensive egg production affects the welfare of confined laying hens, which increases the risk of epidemics. Ectoparasitic hematophagous mites and saprophagous feather mites cause low productivity and decreased egg quality. This study aimed to compare the biology of Cheyletus malaccensis (Oudemans) (Prostigmata: Cheyletidae) feeding on the prey Megninia ginglymura (Mégnin) (Astigmata: Analgidae) and Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Astigmata: Acaridae) in order to support the potential use of this predator in biological control strategies in the poultry industry. The study started with 30 eggs of C. malaccensis, isolated in experimental units, which developed into their different stages while feeding on the feather mite M. ginglymura and the stored product mite T. putrescentiae at 25±1°C, 80±5% relative humidity and 12-hour photoperiod. Immature stages were evaluated three times a day and the adult stage once a day. Adult females were unmated. Cheyletus malaccensis feeding on M. ginglymura resulted in a higher fertility rate, with 310.7±45.8 eggs/female, than with T. putrescentiae as prey, with 32.7±4.5 eggs/female. Furthermore, the oviposition period was higher feeding on M. ginglymura, 53.0±6.3 days, than on T. putrescentiae, 12.6±1.9 days. The net reproductive rate (R_o), the innate capacity for increase (r_m), the mean generation time (T) and the finite rate of increase (λ) were higher for the generation fed on M. ginglymura. Cheyletus malaccensis is a likely natural enemy of M. ginglymura, and it is able to develop and reproduce while feeding exclusively on it.

The family Phytoseiidae is considered the most important beneficial mite family worldwide, but little is known about this family in Shanxi of China. To understand the phytoseiid fauna of this province, an extensive study was initiated in 2013. We present herein the description of a new species, Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) shanxi sp. nov., and the redescription of three new provincial records, Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) coryli Wu and Lan, 1991, Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) porus Wu, 1988, Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) ternatus Ehara, 1972, found on various plants in Shanxi. A key to the known species of Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) reported form Shanxi is also presented.

Soybean (Glycine max (L.): Fabaceae) is considered the most important agricultural crop in Brazil. Phytophagous tetranychid mites such as Mononychellus planki McGregor, Tetranychus ludeni Zacher, and T. urticae Koch are considered pests of soybean crops. Neoseiulus idaeus Denmark & Muma (Phytoseiidae) is a predatory mite of T. ludeni and T. urticae. This study aimed at analyzing the feeding preference of N. idaeus among three types of prey (M. planki, T. ludeni, and T. urticae), its prey-stage preference, and its predation rate under controlled conditions. During immature stages of N. idaeus, we carried out observations to monitor predator survival and to ensure food availability (eggs and different prey stages) throughout the study period. Neoseiulus idaeus preferred T. urticae compared to T. ludeni and M. planki, and it preferred T. ludeni compared to M. planki. This predator preferred T. urticae and T. ludeni when compared to leaves without prey; however, when analyzed with M. planki and leaves without prey, it showed no preference. Regarding oviposition site, T. urticae was preferred over T. ludeni or M. planki. However, between T. ludeni and M. planki, N. idaeus preferred T. ludeni. This predator preferred to oviposit where T. urticae and T. ludeni were located instead of leaves without prey. However, when it was assessed with M. planki and on dry leaves without prey, there was no preferred oviposition site. These results show a strong preference for T. urticae as food; however, in the absence of this prey, N. idaeus feeds on T. ludeni and M. planki. In all immature stages and as adults, N. idaeus preferred T. urticae eggs. In protonymphal, deutonymphal, and adult stages it also consumed prey larvae and nymphs. Only adult N. idaeus consumed adult prey. The total predation rate for eggs, larvae, nymphs, and adults of T. urticae was 55.9%, 14.34%, 22.11%, and 7.65%, respectively. The average lifespan of females of this predator was 16.07 days, when they consumed 3.05 prey/female/day. These results suggest that N. idaeus has potential to be used in an applied biological control program for T. urticae.

The 65^th Medical Brigade and Public Health Command District-Korea, in collaboration with the Migratory Birds Center, National Park Research Institute, conducted a migratory bird tick-borne disease surveillance program on Chilbal Island, a small, remote, uninhabited island in southwestern Jeollanam Province, Republic of Korea (ROK), during 2014–2015. Ticks were collected by dragging vegetation and from nest soil and litter of the Ancient Murrelet, Synthliboramphus antiquus, and Swinhoe's Storm Petrel, Hydrobates monorhis, using Tullgren funnels. A total of 115 ticks belonging to three genera and three species were collected. Ornithodoros sawaii (98.3%, 113 ticks) was the most frequently collected tick species, followed by Ixodes signatus (0.9%, 1 nymph) collected from nest soil and litter, and Haemaphysalis flava (0.9%, 1 male) collected by tick drag.

Tetranychus urticae Koch (Arachnida: Acari: Tetranychidae) is an economically important agricultural and horticultural pest around the world. The present study investigated the prolonged exposure of eggs (i.e., 0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours) to low temperature (i.e., 5 °C) affecting the egg hatching, and subsequent immature development and survival as well as the reproductive fitness of resultant females. Our results show that chilling had no significant effect on egg hatching rate, but significantly shortened egg development. It was found that prolonged chilling significantly decreased the survival of immature stages. Prolonged chilling also significantly delayed the development of males and thus adult emergence, but had not significantly effect on female development and survival. Results further indicate that the negative effect of lengthy chilling extended to the resultant females resulting in the significantly shorter longevity and lower fecundity. It is interesting that the resultant females might benefit from parental egg chilling, i.e., they started oviposition significantly early and produced significantly higher female-biased sex ratio. The implications from the results of this study in forecasting spring populations and outbreak of this pest in the growing season were discussed.

Mites and insects cause damage to soybean crops (Glycine max (L.): Fabaceae). Mononychellus planki McGregor, Tetranychus ludeni Zacher (Acari: Tetranychidae) and Caliothrips phaseoli Hood (Insecta: Thripidae) have been mentioned as pests of soybean crops in Brazil, while Neoseiulus californicus McGregor (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is considered a generalist predatory mite. This work aimed to determine the biological parameters of N. californicus feeding on T. ludeni, M. planki and C. phaseoli on transgenic soybean leaves. Thirty N. californicus eggs were individually placed in arenas with T. ludeni, M. planki and C. phaseoli. Egg-to-adult duration (in days) was longest when fed T. ludeni (5.52±0.06) and shortest when fed C. phaseoli (4.89±0.06). Mean fertility was approximately 32 eggs/female and did not differ significantly when N. californicus fed on T. ludeni or M. planki. During the adult stage, N. californicus did not lay eggs when feeding on C. phaseoli and survived for only a few days. The net reproductive rate (R₀) of N. californicus was larger when fed T. ludeni (20.30±0.68) than M. planki (14.66±0.29). Both M. planki and T. ludeni were suitable prey for N. californicus, while C. phaseoli was not.

Flower-like galls have been observed on Haloxylon ammodendron and H. persicum in the Gurbantünggüt Desert in northwest China. The galls were induced by Aceria haloxylonis, a new species of Eriophyidae. The galls began as small protuberances at the base of new stems and on small branches. As they matured, the galls changed color from green to dark brown. Some galls on H. persicum became red. At maturity, the galls and the infected branches became desiccated. Adult females of A. haloxylonis overwintered in galls or in branch crevices of H. ammodendron and H. persicum. There were more galls on H. ammodendron than on H. persicum. Several ecological factors influenced gall number, including terrain, tree size, branch direction and slope aspect. H. ammodendron trees in gravel desert had more galls than trees at sand dune edges. Trees in the interdune space had the fewest galls. Large H. ammodendron trees had significantly more galls than small trees. Branches on the south side of the tree had more galls than branches on the north, east, and west sides. Terrain ^* tree size had significant interaction on gall number on H. ammodendron. H. persicum trees on low sand dunes had more galls than trees on high sand dunes and trees on sunny slopes had more galls than trees on shady slopes. There were more galls on large H. persicum trees than on medium-sized trees. Few galls were observed on small H. persicum trees. The number of galls on H. persicum was significantly affected by terrain, tree size and slope aspect. The terrain ^* slope aspect interaction and tree size ^* terrain interaction were also significantly. This study is important for the conservation and recovery of the ecological environment in the Gurbantünggüt Desert.

Varroosis is a disease of Apis mellifera L. caused by the mite Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman. Essential oils and their chemical constituents offer a safe alternative to synthetic acaricides for the control of this mite in bee hives. The present study was conducted to evaluate anti-parasitic activity of essential oils from Thymus kotschyanus Bioss & Hohen., Mentha longifolia L., Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., and Ferula gummosa L. at concentrations of 1, 2.5, 4, and 5.5 μl/l air for 5 and 10 h. Findings indicated that mite mortality increased as oils concentration and exposure time increased. T. kotschyanus oil at 5.5 μl/l air caused a mite mortality rate of 54.4% and 84.43% after 5 and 10 h fumigation, respectively. At the same concentration and exposure time, the honey bee mortality was 0% and 7.2%, respectively. Application of M. longifolia and E. camaldulensis oils at 5.5 μl/l air resulted in 65.53% and 71.06% mortality in Varroa mites and 10.13% and 12% mortality in honey bees after 10 h exposure. Despite moderate acaricidal activity of F. gummosa oil against Varroa mite (49.69%), it was highly toxic to honey bee (30%). Also, GC/MS analysis of the oils showed that carvacrol (47.99%) and thymol (30.61%) in T. kotschyanus oil, piperitenone (36.86%), piperitenone oxide (27.53%),Cispiperitone epoxide (22.21%), and pulegone (8.38%) in M. longifoliaoil, 1,8-cineol (74.7%) and α-pinene (8.35%) in E. camaldulensis oil, and β-pinene (87.29%) in F. gummosa oil were the main chemical constituents. Collectively, our results led to a conclusion that T. kotschyanus, M. longifolia, and E. camaldulensis oils have enough potential to play an important role in integrated control programs of varroosis in apiaries.

A survey of type localities of new species of the Parasitiformes described in two journals (Systematic & Applied Acarology and Zootaxa) during the last three years (2013–2015) revealed interesting patterns of species discovery. Taxonomically, the 142 new species are unevenly distributed among 24 families with the top three families accounting for over 61% of the total. The economically important Phytoseiidae is the top-ranked family. Geographically, the 142 new species of the Parasitiformes are described from 29 countries in the world. The pattern of distribution of these new species among the countries is highly uneven—over half of the new species (52.8%) are from the top 3 countries (Brazil, Iran and Turkey), whereas most countries (65.5%) have only 1–3 new species each.