Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was used to the analysis of the haplotypes of Varroa destrcuctor in southern half of Iran. Eight Varroa populations were collected and five RAPD primers were used to determine their genotype. All samples showed the K pattern genotype. Furthermore 30 loci were amplified; from which 29 were polymorphic (96.67%) and 1 was monomorphic (3.33%). This is the first molecular genetic study of V. destructor in Iran. Detailed investigations at DNA sequence level are needed to characterize genetic structure of V. destructor populations in Iran.

This study was conducted to determine the sensitivity to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Trouessart) and D. farinae Hughes with skin prick tests (SPT) and serologic tests in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR), and to specifically search for those mites in homes of patients. A total of 51 participants, (23 patients and 28 controls) were utilized. Skin-prick tests with D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae allergens were performed on all participants, and serum levels of allergen-specific lgE and total IgE were also measured. Dust samples were collected from homes of all participants and examined under a stereo microscope. 977 D. pteronyssinus (mean 44.4/g) and 24 D. farinae (mean 4.0/g) were isolated from the homes of patients, whereas 35 D. pteronyssinus (mean 4.4/g), and four D. farinae (mean 2.0/g) were isolated from the homes of the controls. Patients with D. pteronyssinus in their homes had 95.5% sensitivity to the species according to SPT and 27.3 according to IgE. Patients with D. farinae in their homes had 83.3% sensitivity to the species according to SPT, and 50% according to IgE. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus sensitivity in the controls was detected as 12.5% according to SPT; however, D. farinae sensitivity was not detected according to both SPT and mite-specific IgE. Differences between patients and controls utilizing SPT results was statistically significant, but not when using mite-specific IgE results. As a result, it was determined that patients with AR in Erzincan province were sensitized to D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae, and that their homes contained those species. It may be helpful to consider these findings in clinical assessment of patients with AR, and also in treatment utilizing immunotherapy techniques.

A new species of the neotenic flat mite genus Larvacarus Baker and Pritchard, 1952 (Acariformes: Tetranychoidea: Tenuipalpidae), Larvacarus iranicus sp. nov., is described from females collected from Astragalus sp. (Fabaceae) in Iran (Kerman Province). This is the second report of this genus in the world. The relationships of Larvacarus with other flat mite genera, including the other larviform species in the genera Raoiellana Baker and Tuttle, 1972 and Phytoptipalpus Trägårdh, 1904 are discussed.

Two new species of the genus Oligonychus Berlese, namely O. shojaeii sp. nov. and O. hamedaniensis sp. nov., are described from plane trees, Platanus orientalis L. (Platanaceae), in Hamedan, Hamedan province, Iran. Four species are re-described based on new Iranian material: O. afrasiaticus (McGregor, 1939), O. coniferarum (McGregor, 1950), O. punicae (Hirst, 1926) and O. saccharinus Baker & Pritchard, 1960. Among them O. saccharinus is the most important pest on sugarcane farms in southern Iran. All active life stages are described for all species except O. afrasiaticus, allowing us to confirm the ontogenetic patterns of leg setae in the Tetranychini. We refine the definition of the ununguis species group and discuss taxonomic problems relating to the members of this species group, and also regarding the identification of O. sacchari (McGregor, 1942) and O. saccharinus.

The water mite Unionicola penicillatus (Wen, Gao & Zhu) (Acari: Unionicolidae) was collected in freshwater bivalve Cristaria plicata (Unionidae). The population variation of U. penicillatus was investigated in 504 bivalves during the period from August 2013 to July 2014 in Poyang Lake, East China. The results indicated that the overall prevalence and abundance of U. penicillatus was 9.52% and 1.58±10.38. The highest prevalence was 58.70% in September. The highest abundance levels were observed when the length of bivalves was in 220– 300 mm. The number of U. penicillatus in a host was not correlated with the sex of bivalves. The outer and inner gills of bivalves were the preferred sites of U. penicillatus.

A new species of Petalomium Cross 1965 (Acari: Heterostigmatina: Neopygmephoridae) with a very large palpal solenidion is described. It was found attached to workers of an ant, Camponotus cingulatus Mayr 1862 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the state of Bahia, Northeastern Brazil. The inclusion of the new species in Petalomium is discussed. A key to ant associated species of Neopygmephoridae in Neotropical region is provided.

Two new Aceria species were found in a survey of the eriophyoid mites in the Ajabshir region of the East Azerbaijan province (Iran). Aceria halocnemi Lotfollahi & Tajaddod sp. nov. was collected on Halocnemum strobilaceum (Pall.) M. Bieb. (Amaranthaceae) and A. loborectiangulae Lotfollahi & Tajaddod sp. nov. was collected on Atraphaxis aucheri Jaub. & Spach (Polygonaceae). Both species are herein described and illustrated also by means of scanning electron microscopy. They are the first eriophyoid species recorded on plant species of the genera Halocnemum and Atraphaxis.

The present study is based on oribatid mite material (Acari, Oribatida) collected from Tam Dao National Park (Northern Vietnam) in 1988. A list of identified taxa, including 119 species from 80 genera and 47 families, is presented; of these, 13 species (Epilohmannoides rabori, Camisia spinifer, Sadocepheus undulatus, Eremobelba flexuosa, Hammerella excisa, Suctobelbella inenodabilis, Dolicheremaeus auritus, Eupelops acromios, Protoribates genitalis, Allogalumna machadoi, Carinogalumna philippinensis, Pergalumna magnipora capillaris, Galumnella nipponica) and five genera (Epilohmannoides, Camisia, Sadocepheus, Brassiella, Carinogalumna) are recorded in the Vietnamese fauna for the first time, and two species (Tokunocepheus mizusawai, Flagellozetes (Cosmogalumna) ornatus), one genus (Tokunocepheus) and one family (Tokunocepheidae) are recorded in the Oriental region for the first time. Two new species are described: Ramusella paraarcuata sp. nov. differs from Ramusella arcuata Mahunka & Mahunka-Papp, 2012 by the larger body size, lamellar setae similar in length and thickness to interlamellar setae, the presence of two or three branches on bothridial setae, and the absence of notogastral setae c. Neoribates paragracilis sp. nov. differs from Neoribates gracilis Travé, 1972 by the larger body size, and the presence of long apex (not shorter than head) on bothridial setae.

The morphological ontogeny of Chamobates pusillus (Berlese, 1895) is described and illustrated. The larva of this species is unpigmented and without a gastronotal shield, whereas the shield is present in the nymphs and has 10 pairs of setae (d-, l-, h-series and p₁), while setae p₂, p₃ and of c-series are inserted on unsclerotized cuticle. In the juveniles, the length of most prodorsal setae and gastronotal seta c₃ increases during the ontogeny, whereas the length of most other gastronotal setae varies with stage. In the larva, these setae are of medium size, whereas in the protonymph and deutonymph the length of setae gradually decreases and remains short in the tritonymph. In the adult, most prodorsal setae remain long, but the notogastral setae are either lost (c₁, c₃ and d-series) or remain as alveoli (l- and h-series) or minute (c₂ and p-series) setae.

Abrolophus marianopolicus sp. nov. (Acari: Erythraeidae) is described from Marianopoli, Sicily, Italy. Abrolophus hieronimi, A. miyatakei and A. trifarius are transferred to the genus Marantelophus. New or corrected data for Abrolophus baardi and A. sardiniensis are given. A key to larval Abrolophus (without comb-like seta on palptarsus) of the world is presented.

The mite species Thaumatopelvis lorasiacus Navabi & Hajiqanbar sp. nov. (Acari: Heterostigmata: Scutacaridae) associated with ants of the genera Formica Linnaeus, 1758 and Pheidole Westwood, 1839 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is described form Borujerd, Lorestan Province, western Iran. This finding presents the first evidence of the genus Thaumatopelvis Mahunka, 1973 from Asia and a new association between ants of the genera Formica and Pheidole with mites of this genus. A key to world species of the Thaumatopelvis is also provided.

Two new species of oribatid mites of the genus Pilizetes (Oribatida, Galumnidae) are described from litter and soil in the Korup National Park (Cameroon). Pilizetes paradudichi sp. nov. differs from Pilizetes dudichi Balogh, 1966 by the presence of long interlamellar setae and clearly longer notogastral setae. Pilizetes parasellnicki sp. nov. differs from Pilizetes sellnicki Balogh, 1958 by the presence of thickened, heavily ciliated and long epimeral setae 3b, 4a, 4b and 4c.

Whole legume flour and its fractions possess a potential in controlling insect pests. Information concerning the activity of various legume flours as bioacaricides against storage mites is rare. Therefore, two kinds of legume flours were obtained from common faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and pea (Pisum sativum L.) seeds to evaluate their effects on growth and development time of two species of storage mites, Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) and Suidasia medanensis Oudemans via feeding test. The diet was dusted with legume flours at seven concentrations (0, 0.01, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1%). After 21 days, the instantaneous rate of increase (r_i) and mortality of both mite species were estimated. There was a significant decrease in (r_i) values of both mite populations at concentrations higher than 0.1% of both legume flours. The concentration of 1% faba bean or pea flour was responsible for 100% mortality of T. putrescentiae and S. medanensis. Based on the LD₅₀ and LD₉₀ values, pea flour was more toxic to T. putrescentiae and S. medanensis than faba bean flour. Moreover, T. putrescentiae was more sensitive than S. medanensis to legume flours. Development time of the two studied species was considerably prolonged by the addition of bean and pea flours. All tests were conducted under the optimal development conditions of storage mites. The results proved that both faba bean and pea flours possess potent acaricidal activity.

Our study yielded a list of ticks found on amphibians and reptiles at five sites within seasonally dry Amazon forest in Mato Grosso State, central Brazil, in addition to new host records for A. rotundatum. We collected 431 tick specimens: 79 larvae, 115 nymphs, 38 females, and 199 males belonging to A. humerale, A. rotundatum, and Amblyomma sp., on 39 anurans and 21 reptiles. The toads R. guttatus and R. margaritifera and the frog L. pentadactylus are new hosts for A. rotundatum.

Two new species of eriophyoid mites (Acari: Trombidiformes: Eriophyoidea) were found on Zelkova carpinifolia (Ulmaceae) in Golestan Province, Iran. They are described as Tegolophus zelkofoliae sp. nov. and Rectalox dorsoenodis sp. nov. Both new species were vagrants on the leaf underside and no damage was observed on the infested plants. It is the first record of a species within the genus Rectalox from Iran.