One new species of Cunaxa, C. iranica Paktinat-Saeij, Bagheri & Castro sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on female, male and tritonymph collected from Mazandaran Province, northern Iran. The female, male and nymphal stages of Armascirus hastus Shiba, 1986 are redescribed based on Iranian specimens. In addition, the species Cunaxa gordeevae Sergeyenko, 2009 and Rubroscirus khaustovi Sergeyenko, 2006 are recorded for the first time from Iran.

Holotypes and paratypes of three species in the genus Mixonychus from Mainland China (M. ganjuis, M. murrayae and M. nanchangensis) were examined and redescribed. The deutonymph of M. murrayae was described for the first time. The dorsal striae in M. nanchangensis show remarkable sexual dimorphism.

Development time, survival, reproduction, and sex ratio were determined for the predatory mite Neoseiulus longispinosus (Evans) at six constant temperatures (20, 25, 27.5, 30, 32.5 and 35 °C) reared on citrus red spider mite Panonychus citri (McGregor). No predatory mite reached adulthood at 35°C. All female and male immature stages of N. longispinosus developed significantly faster as the temperature increased from 20 to 30°C, but development slowed down as the temperature exceeded 30 °C. The mean total developmental time of females was longest at 20 °C (9.73 days), followed by 25°C (5.67 days), 27.5°C (4.46 days), and 32.5 °C (4.55 days) and was shortest at 30°C (3.69 days). The oviposition rate and lifetime fecundity were highest at 27.5 °C (2.80 eggs/female/day and 43.76 eggs/female, respectively) and lowest at 20 °C (0.78 eggs/female/day and 21.64 eggs/female, respectively). However, temperature had no influence on the sex ratio of offspring with the proportion of females ranging from 0.62 to 0.65. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) of N. longispinosus averaged 0.323, 0.303, 0.267, 0.189 and 0.107 females female^-1 day^-1 at 30, 27.5, 32.5, 25, and 20°C, respectively. These values suggested that the most optimal temperatures for the population growth of N. longispinosus were between 27.5 and 30°C.

Water mites of the genus Hygrobates are widely distributed in all biogeographic regions except the Antarctic. Palaearctic Hygrobates species with reticulated soft integument generally have been considered as representatives of one common and widely distributed species, Hygrobates fluviatilis Strøm, 1768. Based on partial COI sequences (DNA-barcodes) and statistical analysis of morphological data, we show that these mites belong to six distinct lineages. Two of them are widely distributed in Central Europe: Hygrobates fluviatilis here redescribed based on a neotype designated from the type locality in Norway, and a species new to science, H. arenarius Smit & Pešić. The four remaining lineages represent additional species new to science that appear to have more restricted distributions: H. corsicus Pešić & Smit (Corsica, Sardinia), H. marezaensis Pešić & Dabert (Montenegro, Albania, Croatia), H. turcicus Pešić, Esen & Dabert (Turkey), and H. persicus Pešić & Asadi (Iran, E Turkey). Statistical morphometric analysis reveals that the latter two species cannot be separated on morphological characters and should be considered true cryptic species. We provide data concerning biology and geographical distributions together with a key to all species of the complex.

The genus Sonotetranychus Tuttle, Baker & Abbatiello is recorded from mainland China for the first time. Sonotetranychus neosalicis sp. nov. is described from females collected on the leaves of Salix chaenomeloidesKimura (Salicaceae) in Nanchang, Jiangxi, China. This new species can be distinguished from other members of Sonotetranychus by femora I–IV with 8-6-3-2 tactile setae, genu III with three tactile setae, tibiae III–IV with 5-5 tactile setae and transverse striae between dorsal setae e. The key to Sonotetranychus species of the world is updated.

Female, larva and protonymph of a new species, Neophyllobius abiegnus sp. nov., collected in the galleries of Pityophthorus micrographus (Linnaeus) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in European Russia are described. Protonymph of Neophyllobius sp. is recorded from Crimea in the galleries of Pityogenes bistridentatus (Eichhoff). Stigmaeus mitrofanovi Khaustov, 2014 is recorded from Western Siberia in the galleries of bark beetles Polygraphus proximus Blandford and Polygraphus subopacus Thomson for the first time from Asia.

A new genus and two new species of the subfamily Diptilomiopinae (Acari: Diptilomiopidae) from China's Hainan Island are described and illustrated. They are Dividilobus parvifolius gen. nov. and sp. nov. on Gnetum parvifolium (Warb.) C. Y. Cheng (Gnetaceae) and Vimola samarangensis sp. nov. on Syzygium samarangense(Blume.) Merr. et Perry (Myrtaceae). Both of the two new species are vagrant on leaf lower surface. No damage to the host was observed. A key to species of Vimola is provided.

A new species of the genus Stigmaeus Koch, 1836 (Acari: Stigmaeidae), S. grandis sp. nov. is described from litter under White Stinkwood (Celtis africana) in South Africa. A key to species of the genus Stigmaeus in Africa is provided.

This study evaluated the biological characteristics of predatory mite Cheyletus malaccensis fed on Dermanyssus gallinae at different temperatures. The study started with thirty individual eggs of C. malaccensis each isolated in an experimental unit, which developed throughout their life stages while feeding on D. gallinae at each temperature tested (20ºC, 25ºC and 30±1ºC and 80±5% relative humidity). Emerged adult females were not mated, thus producing only male offspring (arrhenotoky). Fecundity was the highest at 25°C (415.62±24.78 eggs/female) and lowest at 20°C followed at 30ºC. The mean length of a generation did not displayed difference among the three temperatures, but the net reproductive rate (Ro), innate capacity for increase (rm) finite increase rate (λ) were significantly higher at 30°C and lower at 20°C. Cheyletus malaccensis was able to develop and reproduce successfully when fed D. gallinae, and the optimum temperature for development, fertility and survival was 25°C. Our findings proved that C. malaccensis might be a natural enemy of D. gallinae, because it was able to develop and reproduce while feeding exclusively on this ectoparasite.

A new species, Terminalichus simplex sp. nov., is described based on adult females, deutonymphs and protonymphs, collected on Terminalia catappa L. (Combretaceae) from Thailand. The relationship of Terminalichus with other brevipalpine genera is discussed and a key to species of Terminalichus, Tenuilichus, Amblypalpus, Colopalpus and Priscapalpus is provided.

A comprehensive survey was conducted at different provinces of Saudi Arabia (SA) to investigate predacious prostigmatid mites (Acari: Trombidiformes: Prostigmata) mainly collected from the date palm, Phoenix dactylifera L. (Arecaceae) agro-ecosystem. A total of 41 species belonging to 28 genera in 14 families are recorded in the present study. Out of these, three families, 18 genera and 36 species are new to the mite fauna of SA. The new species, Neobonzia tabukensis sp.nov. (Cunaxidae), Cheletomimus (Philippicheyla) taifensis sp.nov. (Cheyletidae) are described and illustrated. A checklist of predatory prostigmatid mites from SA is given. A key to all terrestrial predatory prostigmatid mites, excluding Parasitegona and Heterostigmatina, reported from SA is provided. Also, a key to world species of the subgenus Philippicheyla Corpuz-Raros of the genus Cheletomimus Oudemans is given.

The tomato/potato psyllid (TPP), Bactericera cockerelli, is a serious pest of some agricultural and ornamental plants, especially of the Solanaceae family. It has been an invasive species in New Zealand since 2006, heavily impacting the potato and tomato industry. The functional and numerical responses of the phytoseiid predators Amblydromalus limonicus and Neoseiulus cucumeris were examined by offering a range of prey densities (two, four, eight, 12, 16, 20, 24 and 28 TPP eggs or 1^st instar nymphs) and compared on a capsicum leaf disc under 25 ± 1ºC, 85% ± 5% RH and a 14:10 h light: dark (L:D) photoperiod. Both species displayed a type 2 functional response when fed on eggs or 1^st instar nymphs of TPP, indicating an increase in the number of prey killed with an increase in prey population density. The results were analysed by using a logistic regression and Holling disc equation. A. limonicus had a higher attack rate for both eggs (0.05 ± 0.01) and 1^st instar nymphs (0.06 ± 0.01) than N. cucumeris, which had an attack rate of (0.03 ± 0.01) for eggs and (0.02 ± 0.01) for 1^st instar nymphs of TPP. N. cucumeris had a longer handling time for both eggs (3.68 ± 0.67 hrs) and 1^st instar nymphs (2.50 ± 0.79 hrs) compared with A. limonicus, with a handling time of (1.74 ± 0.23 hrs) for eggs and (1.15 ± 0.15 hrs) for 1^st instar nymphs. A. limonicus consistently produced significantly more eggs than N. cucumeris across all densities when fed on either eggs or 1^st instar nymphs of TPP. However, the results showed the lack of numerical response of both predator species to prey density. The stronger functional response of A. limonicus to TPP eggs and 1^st instar nymphs indicates that this species can potentially be a more effective biocontrol agent of TPP than N. cucumeris.

The new phytoseiid species Iphiseiodes noronhensis n. sp (Acari: Mesostigmata) is described and illustrated based on specimens collected from Byrsonima crassifolia L. (Malpighiaceae) in Belém and Tomé-Açu, Pará State, Brazil. A key to world species of this genus is provided.

Oligonychus metasequoiae Kuang, 1992 is redescribed based on the larva, protonymph, deutonymph and adult male and female specimens from China. The ontogenetic development of chaetotaxy in O. metasequoiae and the number and position of solenidia on tibia I are discussed. Patterns of setal addition on legs I–IV from larvae to adults in this species are different from the basic pattern of the Tetranychinae outlined by Lindquist.