Wild rodents are carriers of ectoparasites such as ticks that are vectors of infectious diseases with human and veterinary significances. Due to their close association with human dwellings, synanthropic wild rodents may aid the spread and transmission of tick-borne pathogens. In light of this, an effort was initiated to study the cultivable bacteria within ticks collected from wild rodents trapped in Sungai Congkak Recreational Forest, Selangor. Ticks collected from four different rodent species; Sundamys muelleri, Maxomys whiteheadi, Maxomys rajah and Rattus rattus, were sterilely homogenized and cultured. One unique bacterial isolate originating from an engorged adult female Ixodes granulatus Supino collected off a Sundamys muelleri rat was identified as Paenibacilus lautus via 16S rDNA, ctpA sequencing and biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that the P. lautus isolate was resistant to ampicillin, penicillin, clindamycin, chloramphenicol, rifampicin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, mirroring the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of clinical strains. Recovery of this opportunistic bacterial pathogen from the tick suggests that it may be transmitted to humans or other hosts through tick bites and cause disease once it enters the bloodstream. Therefore, it is important to remain vigilant due to its pathogenic potential and improve our waste disposal practices to avoid attracting rodents.

Two new species of Galumna Heyden, 1826, Galumna (Galumna) wuzhishanensis sp. nov. and Galumna (Galumna) longisensilla sp. nov., are described from soil and leaf litter samples in Hainan and Guizhou Provinces, China. Adults of Galumna (Galumna) wuzhishanensis sp. nov., is morphologically most similar to Galumna (Galumna) acutirostrum Ermilov, 2010, however it differs from the latter by the body length and pattern of surface, length of interlamellar setae, location of im and the absence of median pore and postanal porose area. Adults of Galumna (Galumna) longisensilla sp. nov., is morphologically most similar to Galumna (Galumna) calva Starý, 1997, but differs by the shape of Aa and location of gla, size of A₃ and the presence of postanal porose area.

The morphological ontogeny of Protoribates dentatus (Berlese, 1883) is described and illustrated. The juveniles of P. dentatus are elongated, oval in cross section, and their prodorsal, gastronotal setae and most setae on the legs are thin, smooth or with short barbs, which is typical of xylophages. Typical for this group is also a posterior position of the anal opening and relatively thick leg segments and claws, especially on leg I. The larva of P. dentatus has 11 pairs of gastronotal setae, including h₂; and setae c₂, la and lm are with excentrosclerites. The nymphs have 15 pairs of setae, of which c₂ l- and h-series are with excentrosclerites. The adult of this species has a long seta ad₁ (which is short in most congeners) and the number of claws varies on all leg tarsi.

Three new species of eriophyoid mites are described from Karadag Nature Reserve, Crimea: Cecidophyopsis cephalarius n. sp. from Crimean endemic Cephalaria demetrii (Caprifoliaceae), Aculus althaeus n. sp. from Althaea cannabina (Malvaceae) and Aculus karadagensis n. sp. from Ballota nigra (Lamiaceae). Seven new records are reported from Karadag: Aceria ankarensis Denizhan et al. 2006 from Dianthus capitatus, Aceria cichorii Petanović, Boczek, Shi 2000 from Cichorium inthybus, Aceria paradianthi Keifer 1952 from Dianthus capitatus, Aceria stipacea Sukhareva, 1983 from Stipa capillata, Aculops acraspis (Nalepa 1891) Nalepa 1892 from Medicago falcata, Tegonotus tataricis (Farkas 1963) from Acer tataricum and Rhyncaphytoptus amplusKeifer 1961 from Acer tataricum.

A new species of the genus Aokiella (Oribatida, Carabodidae) is described from soil of Taiwan. Aokiella liaoi sp. nov. differs from Aokiella xuansoni Vu, Ermilov & Dao, 2010 in that notogastral setae c₁ and c₂ as well as da and la are similar in length, and the surface of the notogaster has small, sparse foveoles. A revised generic diagnosis, an identification key to known species, and data on the distribution and ecology of Aokiella are presented.

The morphological ontogeny of Melanozetes stagnatilis (Hull, 1914) is described and illustrated. The juveniles of this species have a humeral organ and a humeral macrosclerite, bearing seta c₁, which occur in most species of Sphaerozetinae (Ceratozetidae), but also have well-developed lamellae, without the translamella, which is unique in Sphaerozetinae. The juveniles have a gastronotal shield, with seven pairs of setae in the larva (d-, l-series and h₁), and 10 pairs in the nymphs (d-, ₁-, h-series and p₁), and setae p₂ and p₃ are inserted on a large ventral macrosclerite. The legs of juveniles and adult are stocky, with large and flattened femora I and II, having a large ventral carina. The adult of M. stagnatilis has well-developed lamellae, with a translamella, and 14 pairs of notogastral setae, but the number of porose areas varies from six to eight, which is unique in MelanozetesHull, 1916.

To explore the effects of heat shock proteins in the conventional strain (CS) and high temperature-adapted strain (HTAS) of Neoseiulus barkeri, we cloned and characterized the cDNA of the NbHsp40, NbHsp60, NbHsp70, and NbHsp90 genes and examined changes in expression levels with short-term exposure to heat or cold stress. All four of the genes showed highly conserved amino acid sequences and high homology to Galendromus occidentalis and N. cucumeris. Phylogenetic analysis of NbHsps indicated a high consistency with the known genes of model insects. These results demonstrate variations in the sensitivity of NbHsps to heat or cold stress; i.e., the expression of NbHsp60 did not change with the application of heat and cold stress, NbHsp90 and NbHsp40 were upregulated at high temperature compared to that at low temperature responses, and the expression of NbHsp70 increased with both heat and cold stress. Hsp expression also differed between the two strains: The application of a 40°C heat shock resulted in a decrease in the expression of NbHsp40/70/90 in the CS within 1–2 h, but increased in the HTAS strain in 2 h. However, exposure to cold stress (0 °C and 5 °C) did not result in distinct changes in the expression of NbHsps in the CS, but a significant decrease in the HTAS. The expression of NbHsps further demonstrates that the HTAS has been acclimated to high temperatures. The results also determine that heat acclimation decreases cold tolerance in HTAS mites. This study reveals differences in the characteristics of heat and cold tolerance between the two strains of N. barkeri and provides useful information for future commercialization of N. barkeri for pest biological control, particularly the HTAS. Furthermore, it also describes high heat tolerance in HTAS at the molecular level.

Little is known about the biology of the tick, Ixodes hexagonus Leach 1815 a nest ectoparasite of hedgehogs. This is surprising as it is frequently encountered on domestic pets and is a known vector of various tick borne pathogens. This review examines the biology, life-history and population dynamics of I. hexagonus. The ability of I. hexagonus to transmit pathogens between hedgehog hosts means it could play an important role in the persistence of tick borne diseases. The favoured hedgehog hosts of I. hexagonus are frequently found in suburban habitats, thus it may be important in the maintenance of disease cycles in such areas.

A new species of Stigmaeidae (Acari: Trombidiformes), namely Stigmaeus pampaensis Da-Costa & Johann n. sp., is described and illustrated based on the specimens collected from litter in the municipality of São Francisco de Assis, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. A key to the Brazilian species is provided.

The water mite genus Wettina has a Holarctic distribution and includes only one known species from the Palaearctic, i.e. W. podagrica (Koch, 1837). This species has been considered as a rhitrobiontic and crenophilous species. In the present study we used morphological data and DNA barcoding to describe a new species of the genus, W. lacustris sp. nov. from the glacial Biogradsko Lake in northern Montenegro. The level of COI differentiation between lake population of Wettina lacustris sp. nov. and stream and spring populations of W. podagrica from Western Europe (The Netherlands) was 8.4%. It is likely that Wettina lacustris sp. nov. is more widely distributed in the Palaearctic.

The present study is based on oribatid mite material (Acari, Oribatida) collected from the Cameroonian Korup National Park in 2016. A list of identified taxa, including 51 species from 33 genera and 19 families, is presented; of these, 28 species, 16 genera and 6 families are recorded in Cameroon for the first time. Two new species belonging to the genera Lasiobelba and Haplozetes are described: Lasiobelba camerunica sp. nov. differs from Lasiobelba decui (Vasiliu & Ivan, 1995) by the presence of eight pairs of notogastral setae (c represented by alveoli, h₃ and their alveoli absent), spindle-form bothridial setae with distinct thin apex and longer notogastral setae la, lm and lp; Haplozetes paracancellatus sp. nov. differs from Haplozetes cancellatus Beck, 1964 by the presence of long interlamellar setae and foveolate anogenital region.

During the survey of eriophyoid mite fauna in Ajabshir region of Iran in summer 2016, two new eriophyid species, Aculus asparagi Lotfollahi & Tajaddod sp. nov. on Asparagus verticillatus L. (Asparagaceae) and Aculus thyrsoidi Lotfollahi & Tajaddod sp. nov. on Eryngium thyrsoideum Boiss. (Apiaceae), were found, described and illustrated. Aculus asparagi sp. nov. is the first eriophyoid mite found on an Asparagus and the first Aculus from Asparagaceae. Aculus thyrsoidi sp. nov. is the first Aculus collected on an Eryngium. Both new species appeared to be vagrants on their host plants and no apparent damage was associated to them. A key of the worldwide Aculus species associated with Apiaceae was provided.

A survey of reptile-associated ticks was conducted from March–October 2016 to determine their relative abundance, stage of development, and geographic and host distributions among lizards, skinks, and snakes in the Republic of Korea. A total of 30 lizards (3 species), 5 skinks (1 species), and 63 snakes (10 species) were collected. A total of 66 ixodid ticks belonging to two species (Ixodes nipponensis and Amblyomma testudinarium) were collected from 11/30 (36.7%) lizards, 2/5 skinks (40.0%), and 6/63 snakes (9.5%). Ixodes nipponensis was collected only from lizards and skinks, while A. testudinarium was collected only from snakes. The Amur Grass lizard, Takydromus amurensis, had the highest tick index (3.0) (total number ticks/total number hosts) among lizards and skinks, while the Short-tailed Mamushi (Viperidae), Gloydius brevicaudus, had the highest tick index (0.57) among snakes. Ixodes nipponensis larvae and nymphs accounted for 46.4% and 53.6% of all ticks collected from lizards and skinks, respectively, while only A. testudinarium nymphs were collected from snakes. Nymphs of both species of ticks were collected from lizards, skinks, and snakes from March-September, while I. nipponensis larvae were collected only from June-September. Ixodes nipponensis larvae and nymphs were preferentially attached on the foreleg axillae (66.1%), followed by lateral trunk (23.2%) and head and near the eye (10.7%) of lizards and skinks. None of the ticks collected from lizards, skinks or snakes were positive for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV).

Ocesobates (Oribatida, Chamobatidae) is recorded in the Oriental region for the first time; a new species of this genus is described from soil, ferns, lichens and gramineous weeds of Taiwan. Ocesobates ziweiensis sp. nov. differs from other Ocesobates-species by the presence of translamella (versus translamella absent). A revised generic diagnosis and an identification key to known species of Ocesobates are presented. Ocesobates bregetovae Shaldybina, 1974 is proposed as a junior subjective synonym of Ocesobates boedvarssoni (Sellnick, 1974). Ocesobates galaicus Subías & Shtanchaeva, 2012 is moved to the genus Globozetes Sellnick, 1928.

The development, survival and reproduction of Stratiolaelaps scimitus (Acari: Laelapidae) were determined on four diets (Ephestia kuehniella eggs, Artemia sp. cysts, Typha orientalis pollen, and Tyrophagus curvipenis) in the laboratory at 25 ± 1°C, 80 ± 5% RH, 24 h D: 0 h L. E. kuehniella eggs and T. curvipenis were very suitable for the overall development of S. scimitus to adulthood, with over 90% survival rates. Shrimp cysts were not suitable, with 11.1% survival to adults, and T. orientalis pollen were intermediate, with 50% survival to adults. S. scimitus immature development was the fastest on T. curvipenis (9.67 ± 0.18 days), and it was also very fast on E. kuehniella eggs, but relatively slow on T. orientalis pollen (18.26 ± 0.68 days) and the slowest on Artemiacysts (21.36 ± 1.23 days). The female pre-ovipositional period (APOP) averaged less than 3 days on E. kuehniella eggs but over 3 days on T. curvipenis, but mated and unmated females had a similar APOP, regardless of diet. Neither diet nor mating had significant effects on the total pre-ovipositional period from birth to oviposition (around 13 days). The oviposition period averaged 1 to 2 days longer for mated females than unmated ones, regardless of diet, which had no significant effects. Mated females produced 50% more eggs than unmated females when feeding on E. kuehniella eggs, but 69% more than unmated females when feeding on T. curvipenis; the effects of mating were significant, and the effects of diet were different depending on mating status of the predators: fecundity was higher on E. kuehniella eggs (20.21 ± 1.16) than on T. curvipenis (17.07 ± 0.49) only for unmated females. Most life table parameters (intrinsic rate of population increase r, finite rate of population increase λ, and net reproductive rate R0) were not significantly affected by diet and mating. However, the mean generation time T was shorter in unmated females than in mated ones, and more so when feeding on T. curvipenis. T. curvipenis is easy to rear, so it is considered a very promising diet for S. scimitus as it does not damage plants nor cause allergenic reactions in workers or users. Since T. curvipenis is common on plants, future studies should explore the combined use of foliar predators (e.g. Phytoseiidae) and soil predators for the biocontrol of greenhouse pests (e.g. thrips) using a shared non-pest prey such as T. curvipenis.