The lifetime functional response and predation rate of Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot on eggs of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch were determined under laboratory conditions using cucumber leaf discs. Densities of 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 and 128 prey were offered to 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 17, 22 and 27-day-old A. swirskii individuals. Based on the logistic regression, the functional response of twelve-day-old A. swirskii was type III, while the other ages showed type II. The Rogers model was used to estimate searching efficiency (a) and handling time (T_h). The longest handling time (1.387±0.315 h) was observed in the protonymphal stage, while the shortest handling time and highest maximum attack rate (T/T_h) were estimated at the age of seven-days (0.396±0.057 h and 60.67 prey/day, respectively). In the functional response experiments, results of the highest prey density used (128 eggs) showed that the highest number of prey consumed by A. swirskii individuals aged twelve and seventeen-days old (35.6 and 43.1 eggs, respectively). It is concluded that A. swirskii could be an efficient biological control agent of T. urticae at the middle-age of its life and at higher prey densities.

Spider mites show various life types characterized by spinning behavior, web structure, and sociality. Individuals of the woven-nest (WN) species construct silken nests on the undersurface of host leaves, inside which they develop and reproduce. This nesting behavior may be related with the defense mechanism and life history traits of mites in the stable habitat (e.g., evergreen trees). If the WN life type affects the life-history traits, these traits may be similar within WN species. The WN species are known to be fragmentarily distributed in diverse genera, Stigmaeopsis, Schizotetranychus, Eotetranychus, and Oligonychus, and their life types are suspected to have secondarily converged. However, their life histories have not been elucidated except for several species in specific genera. To supply the information in Schizotetranychus, we investigated the demographic traits and the sex ratio of Schizotetranychus brevisetosus, which shows the WN life type and lives on the evergreen Japanese blue oak Quercus glauca. We estimated the development time of females as 22.6 ± 3.1 days (mean ± SD, n = 22) and the fecundity of fertilized females as 13.7 ± 5.9 (n = 37) at 25°C. The sex ratio of males to the total number of adults at emergence was low (0.072). The intrinsic rate of natural increase (r_m) was estimated as 0.060 day^-1, one of the lowest ever reported for spider mites at the same temperature. The present results were similar to other WN species in that fecundity and male ratio were low.

The predacious mite Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) is an effective natural enemy of pest insects and mites. To identify the relative fitness of the avermectin-resistant strain of N. cucumeris, the life history parameters of avermectin resistant (R) and susceptible (S) strains of N. cucumeris were observed under experimental conditions (25 ± 1°C, 90 ± 5% RH and L: D = 14:10 h) feeding upon Tetranychus truncatus (Ehara). Fertility, net reproductive rates (R₀ /female), intrinsic rates of increase (r/day) and development durations of the two strains were compared. The abamectin resistant strain of N. cucumeris had significantly shorter developmental duration and longevity than the sensitive stain. However, the mean fecundity of the resistant strain was significantly higher than that of the susceptible strain. The net reproductive rate (R₀=30.3833 offspring), the intrinsic rate of increase (r=0.2231 d^-1) and the finite rate of increase (λ=1.2499 d^-1) of the resistant strain were only slightly higher than those of the susceptible strain (R₀=29.5333 offspring, r=0.2130 d^-1, λ=1.2373 d^-1); the differences were not significant. However, the mean generation time (T=15.1768 d) of the resistant strain was significantly shorter than that of the susceptible strain (T=16.0314 d).

A new species of the subgenus Lohmannia (Lohmannia) is described from decomposing logs in the Vietnamese polydominant forest, based on the adult and tritonymphal instars. Lohmannia (Lohmannia) pseudoturcmenica sp. nov. differs from L. (Lohmannia) jornoti Mahunka, 1985, L. (Lohmannia) juliae Mahunka, 1984 and L. (Lohmannia) turcmenica Bulanova-Zachvatkina, 1960 by the presence of heavily tuberculate sculpture on the body and legs. A supplementary description of L. (Lohmannia) turcmenica is presented based on Spanish specimens.

We document the first report of a blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say, parasitizing an American Kestrel, Falco sparverius Linnaeus (Falconiformes: Falconidae), in Canada. A fully engorged I. scapularis nymph was collected from the base of the tongue of an American Kestrel nestling recovered at Mirabel, Québec. This nestling had recently fledged the nest, and was exposed to I. scapularis immatures that were host-seeking in the surrounding low-level vegetation. DNA barcoding was used to confirm the identification of the tick. Primers of the flagellin (fla) gene were employed to determine whether the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) Johnson, Schmid, Hyde, Steigerwalt & Brenner, was present in the I. scapularis nymph; the tick was negative. We provide the first report of I. scapularis parasitizing a raptor in Canada and, likewise, the first account of this tick species attached to the oral cavity of a bird. Moreover, this bird parasitism is the first documentation of a tick on a falconid bird in Canada.

The mite Spatulaphorus gymnopleuri Sobhi & Hajiqanbar sp. nov. (Acari: Heterostigmata: Pygmephoridae) collected from under the metanotum of the host beetle, Gymnopleurus flagellatus (Fabricius 1787) (Insecta: Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) is described and illustrated from Meshgin shahr, Ardabil province, northwestern Iran. Moreover, host range of the genus is reviewed and an updated key to world species of the genus Spatulaphorus is provided.

The morphological ontogeny of Cerachipteria iturrondobeitiai sp. nov. from northern Spain is described and illustrated. The adult of this species has wide, long prodorsal lamellae, protruding beyond the rostrum, as in other genera of Achipteriidae. However, the lamellae are separated as in other species of Cerachipteria Grandjean, 1935. In C. iturrondobeitiai, the translamella can be present, incomplete or absent, whereas most congeners lacks the translamella, except for C. jugata Mihelčič, 1956, in which it is well-formed. The ovipositor of C. iturrondobeitiai is unusual because it bears seven pairs of coronal setae, instead of three pairs in other species of Achipteriidae. The adult of C. iturrondobeitiai is similar to C. digita Grandjean, 1935, but differs from it mainly by the location of porose areas A2 and A3 and seta lm on the notogaster and the shape of the bothridial seta. The juveniles of C. iturrondobeitiai are plicate, with most prodorsal setae minute, as in other species of Achipteriidae, and the larva lacks seta h₃. In C. iturrondobeitiai, the gastronotal setae of c-series are also minute, whereas in other species these setae are longer and thicker, or at least c₁. The leg claws of this species are smooth. The ontogeny of C. iturrondobeitiai is compared with some other species of Achipteriidae, and the adult is compared with congeners.

A list of identified oribatid ptyctimous mites from Lesser Antilles and Bahamas, including 18 species, six genera and three families, is provided. Of these, three species are new records for the Caribbean, and three species are new to science. Oribotritia grossa Niedbała sp. nov. differs from other neotropical Oribotritia by the presence of relatively short, thick, distally blunt sensilli. Arphthiracarus alienus Niedbała sp. nov. differs from other Arphthiracarus species by the presence of uniquely shaped sensilli, short spiniform setae, the median sigillar field long and narrow with an incision between the rostral setae, four pairs of notogastral lyrifissures and the location of vestigial setae f₁ anterior to h₁. Arphthiracarus strictus Niedbała sp. nov. differs from A. brasiliensis Niedbała, 1988, A. iubatus Niedbała, 2003, A. latebrosus (Niedbała, 1982) and A. pervalidus Niedbała, 2003 by the presence of a unique tight location of genital setae g_4–6 and bifurcated setae d of femora I. In addition, descriptions of three tritonymphs are presented.

Supplementary descriptions of an infrequently encountered species Novophytoptus stipae Keifer 1962 (Eriophyoidea, Phytoptidae) from Achnatherum speciosum (Poaceae) based on topotypes recovered from dry plant material from California is given. Comparison of topotypes of N. stipae with fresh Novophytoptus mites from Juncus tenuis and J. balticus (Juncaceae) collected in West Virginia and Ohio failed to reveal distinct morphological differences sufficient enough to establish new taxa. All studied mites are considered belonging to one species, N. stipae. This is putatively an example of polyphagous eriophyoid species inhabiting phylogenetically remote hosts. Remarks on polyphagy and dispersal modes in eriophyoids are addressed. Uncommon features of the gnathosoma and the anal region of novophytoptines were discovered under LT-SEM. These findings emphasize peculiarities of novophytoptines in relation to their endoparasitic life style and underline numerous gaps in our knowledge on anatomy and functioning of the organism of eriophyoid mites.

Tick-borne disease surveillance was conducted from March–October 2014 in two southeastern provinces, including three metropolitan areas, in the Republic of Korea (ROK). Three general habitats were surveyed: Grasses (grasses and herbaceous and crawling vegetation), Forests (pine, larch, deciduous, and mixed), and Forests Grasses. A total of 40,048 ticks (1,480 adults; 24,201 nymphs; 14,367 larvae) belonging to three genera and six species were collected. Haemaphysalis longicornis (84.25%; 33,741) was the most commonly collected tick, followed by Haemaphysalis flava (14.52%; 5,816), Ixodes nipponensis (1.09%; 436), Amblyomma testudinarium (0.07%; 27), Haemaphysalis phasiana (0.06%; 23), and Ixodes turdus (0.01%; 5). Overall, adult ticks accounted for only 3.70% of all ticks collected, while nymphs and larvae accounted for 60.43% and 35.87%, respectively. The proportion of H. longicornis nymphs was highest beginning in March (99.51%), slowly declined through July (82.01%) and then rapidly declined to a low in October (6.45%). Large increases in the proportion of H. longicornis larvae were observed in August (42.05%), September (84.19%) and October (93.55%) following increased numbers of adults collected in June (4.20%), July (17.99%) and August (9.79%). Haemaphysalis flava adults and nymphs were commonly collected from April–May and October, while larvae were first collected from July, with peak numbers collected in August and low numbers collected during September–October. The proportion of I. nipponensis adults was highest in March (75.34%), declined to a low in July (0%), and then increased in September (60.00%) and October (90.32%). Larvae were collected only in August–September and accounted for 64.29% and 20.00% of all I. nipponensis collected during those months. Similar proportions of males and females of H. flava (51.47% and 48.53%, respectively) were collected from all habitats, while significantly more I. nipponensis males (62.20%) were collected than females (37.80%). Conversely, the proportion of H. longicornis females (80.00%) collected was significantly higher than for males (20.00%). Overall, the mean number of ticks collected/hr of collection for all habitats was 156.06/hr of collection. Similar numbers were collected/hr for Forests (172.61) and Grasses (168.64), while lower numbers were collected/hr for Forests Grasses (128.12).

Neotrombidium hajizadehi Noei & Saboori sp. nov. and Neotrombidium khanjanii Noei & Saboori sp. nov. (Acari: Neotrombidiidae), collected from unidentified beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in Khorramabad, Aleshtar and Dore Chegeni cities, Lorestan Province, Iran, are described. A key to larval species of Neotrombidium of the world is provided and the generic diagnosis is amended.

Brazil is a mega-diverse country, yet several invertebrate groups remain poorly-known. In order to assess the current state of knowledge about species that dwell on natural vegetation and highlight the main taxonomic patterns in these studies we reviewed biological surveys for plant mites in remnants of natural vegetation of Brazil. We found 35 publications of plant mites in natural ecosystems encompassing 75 sites in 51 municipalities and 13 states. Altogether we compiled 453 mite species belonging to 181 genera and 40 families. The most diverse families were Phytoseiidae (115), Tarsonemidae (60) and Tetranychidae (52), however, only 216 mite species (47.6%) were identified to species level. Among the 10 most diverse mite families, Phytoseiidae was the most taxonomically well-known family in natural systems (87.82% identified to species level) while Ascidae was the most problematic (only 6.2%). The most common mite species was Euseius citrifolius Denmark and Muma (Phytoseiidae), which was recorded at 35 sites. The number of mites recorded in Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, and Amazon were 191, 70 and 18 species, respectively. Our analysis suggests a high degree of subsampling of plant mite species for all Brazilian biomes, which hold great potential for possessing high species richness of plant mites, including several undescribed species. We corroborate previous studies that highlight the limited knowledge about mite diversity in Brazilian natural vegetation, and recommend that major efforts be made to more accurately assess the true plant mite diversity in remnants of natural vegetation in Brazil.