Salivary proteins of herbivorous insects play a central role in plant-insect interactions. Spider mite Tetranychus truncatus is a polyphagous agricultural pest harboring various bacterial symbionts. However, whether endosymbionts infection in spider mite alters the host saliva protein remains largely unknown. Here, by using shotgun LC-MS/MS analysis, we identified and characterized the components of saliva in Wolbachia-Spiroplasma infected and uninfected T. truncatus. In total, 177 putative salivary proteins were identified. The function of many proteins remains unknown, while in numerous cases belong to catalytic activity and binding proteins. The saliva enzymes included oxidoreductase, hydratase, isomerase, transferase, protease, esterase, ribonuclease, kinase, lyase and phosphorylase. Other proteins, such as ATP-binding, actin, heat shock proteins and vitellogenin were also detected in the T. truncatus saliva. In addition, we found some of the saliva proteins are mite strain-specific salivary proteins—14 proteins were only found in Wolbachia-Spiroplasma infected spider mite, and 6 proteins were only found in Wolbachia-Spiroplasma uninfected spider mite. Overall, this is the first research to identify and characterize the proteins in saliva of facultative symbionts-infected and uninfected spider mites, T. truncatus. Our novel findings revealed that the presence of bacterial symbionts affected the saliva components of spider mites, opening the path for future studies.

Two new Diptacus species (Diptilomiopidae: Diptilomiopinae) including D. genusetosus sp. nov. and D. longiscatuber sp. nov. were collected from Alnus subcordata C. A. Meyer (Betulaceae) and Cornus sanguinea L. (Cornaceae), respectively, in Aliabad-e-Katul, Iran. They are described and illustrated. The new species appear to be vagrants on the leaf underside, they are white wax producers and no damage was observed on the infested plants. This is the first record of an eriophyoid mite on Cornaceae in Iran.

Five stigmaeid species belonging to the genus Agistemus Summers (Acari: Trombidiformes: Stigmaeidae) are recorded from different regions of Saudi Arabia. Among these, Agistemus jawadi sp. nov., inhabiting on Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf. is described and illustrated based on female. Two species, A. fleschneri Summers and A. aimogastaensis Leiva et al. are recorded as new to the fauna of Saudi Arabia. Two species A. fleschneri and A. exsertus Gonzalez-Rodriguez are re-described based on adult females. Moreover, Agistemus species are categorized in two species groups;fleschneri and terminalis based on one and two pairs of aggenital setae respectively. A key to the world species of the genus Agistemus is provided. Three species, Agistemus rafiqi Khan et al., A. rawalpindiensis Khan et al. and A. layyahensis Khan et al. are considered as junior synonyms of Agistemus garrulus Chaudhri et al. 1974.

A new genus, Tumescoptella n. g., with two new sympatric species Tumescoptella aculeata n. sp. and T. rotundiscuta n. sp., was found on the indigenous South African palm Hyphaene coriacea, Lala palm. Both species are described and illustrated with the aid of conventional light microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy and low temperature scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, a new record of Tumescoptes dicrus Meyer collected from Phoenix reclinata (Arecaceae), near Kirstenbosch Gardens (Cape Town, South Africa), is reported. Morphologically the Tumescoptella n. g. is most similar to Tumescoptes Keifer, but possesses a more reduced chaetome and more derived pseudotagmosis. Pseudotagmosis is one type of body consolidation in vagrant eriophyoids, realized through the formation of dorsal opisthosomal plates, pseudotagmata. Along with previously described pseudotagmata (prodorsum, cervix, postprodorsum, superpostprodorsum, pretelosoma, and telosoma), a new term, anteroscutum, is proposed for the complex pseudotagma formed as a fusion of the three anterior pseudotagmata (prodorsum cervix postprodorsum) in several phyllocoptine mites from palms. An anteroscutum is present in monotypic Scolocenus Keifer from coconut and in the new genus Tumescoptella n. g. Protogyne females of Tumescoptella n. g. have uncommonly large lateral opisthosomal spines. Along with tiny spinules, triangular cuticular plates, band-shaped processes, and areas of thickened cuticle, the lateral spines belong to a common group of serial derivatives of dorsal opisthosomal annuli. We give a brief review on variation of spine-like structures across taxa of Eriophyoidea and their morpho-functional evaluation. Contrary to protogyne females, deutogyne females of T. aculeata n. sp. lack lateral spines, and they possess a smoother topography of the anteroscutum. Morphological similarity of these deutogynes with mites of the less transformed genus Tumescoptes is in accordance with a previous hypothesis on the possible correspondence of deutogyne morphology to that of an ancestral taxon. Two hypotheses on the origin of the presumably monophyletic group of Tumescoptes-like phyllocoptines (TP) from palms, comprising genera Scolocenus, Tumescoptella n. g., Tumescoptes, and Pseudotagmus, are proposed based on morphological similarity with two groups of eriophyoid genera: (a) pseudotagmic genera associated with aboriginal Asian dicotyledonous tropical trees, and (b) South American phyllocoptines from arecoid palms.

Post-embryonic development of Megalolaelaps colossus sp. nov., is described and illustrated. This unusually large species of mite is closely associated with the dung beetle Oxysternon conspicillatum (Weber) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in Colombia. All instars of the mite occur on the beetle, except for the larva. This is the first description of all instars for a species in this genus.

The subfamily Pteridopodinae (Chyzeriidae) is reviewed and an updated diagnosis is provided for the family and the subfamily. A new genus, Iberochyzeria gen. nov., is described from mites parasitizing Orthoptera (Acrididae) in southern Spain. In addition, a list of species and a diagnosis for the larvae and postlarval instars are provided for each genus of the subfamily, as well as comments about their taxonomic status. Napassenia Haitlinger, 1999 is synonymized with Parawenhoekia Paoli 1937. A key to the species of Pteridopodinae is presented.

The life cycles, under experimental conditions, of many neotropical ticks including Amblyomma brasiliense Aragão have been elucidated, however relatively little information is available with reference to their life cycles under natural conditions. The present study sought to investigate the natural life cycle of A. brasiliense, an aggressive human biting tick, within the Itatiaia National Park (INP), Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. A total of 245 ticks, collected from wild birds, peccaries (Tayassu pecari) and humans or recovered free-living on forest trails, were included in the analyses. All ticks were identified as A. brasiliense using a combination of morphological and molecular techniques (polymerase chain reaction and nucleotide sequencing). The parasitological data produced in this investigation, were combined with findings from previous studies to elaborate a proposed, natural life cycle for A. brasiliense in the INP, a preserved Atlantic rainforest habitat. It is suggested that, T. pecari serve as primary hosts, with wild birds and small mammals functioning as alternative hosts for immature stages and that humans may act as occasional hosts, possibly in consequence of eco-tourism activities. The molecular analyses performed in this study resulted in the identification and deposition of new sequences for fragments of the mitochondrial genes encoding 12S ribosomal RNA (12S rRNA) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). The availability of those sequences will be beneficial to other researchers conducting future or retrospective analysis of tick sequencing data. Finally, in common with previous surveys, molecular screening by PCR for the 17kDa and gltA targets provided no evidence for A. brasiliense as a vector of Rickettsia sp.

A new species of the spider mite genus Petrobia Murray, 1877 subgenus Mesotetranychus, Petrobia iranica sp. nov. is described from females, deutonymphs and protonymphs collected from Ephedra sp. in southeast of Iran (Kerman Province). This is the ninth and the second report of this subgenus for the world and Iran, respectively. A key to all known species of subgenus Mesotetranychus is also provided.

The morphological ontogeny of Minunthozetes pseudofusiger (Schweizer, 1922) is described and illustrated. The juveniles of this species have a humeral organ and a gastronotal shield which bears four pairs of setae in the larva (dm, dp, lp, h₁) and 10 pairs in the nymphs (d-, l-, h-series, p₁). The larva has 12 pairs of gastronotal setae, including h₃, whereas the nymphs have 15 pairs. Setae of c-series are inserted on unsclerotized integument in all juveniles. Solenidion ω₂ on tarsus I is longer than ω₁ and situated anteriorly to ω₁ in the nymphs and adult stage, as in most species of Melanozetes Hull, 1916.

The southern cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is one of the most important tick species affecting bovine wealth worldwide. Three uninterrupted generations of this species were observed under laboratory conditions (28±3 °C and 80±5% R.H.) using rabbit hosts. The average life cycle was determined as 65±8 days. Adult feeding period averaged 7..1±1.24 days. Pre-oviposition and oviposition periods averaged 4.1±1.3 days and 8.6±0.85 days, respectively. Pre-hatching periods averaged 21.03±2.99 days. Larval free-living and feeding to moulting periods averaged 3.5±0.75 days and 7.9±0.69 days, respectively. Nymphal feeding to moulting periods averaged 10.9±1.38 days. Weights of unfed and fed females averaged 1.26±0.29 mg and 120.32±45.6 mg, respectively and produced egg masses with average weights of 29.5±9.03 mg. Number of eggs per female averaged 1455.3±434.5 eggs with peak oviposition on the 3^rd day. Average hatching rate was 83.5±2.94%, and the reproduction efficiency index averaged at 12.79±2.85. The conversion efficiency index averaged at 0.26±0.05 and the reproduction fitness index averaged at 10.68±2.4. Tick recovery rate averaged at 4.7%. A strong linear relationship was found between weights of engorged females and weights of egg masses (r = 0.83) and also between weights of engorged females and number of eggs laid (r = 0.82). This work aims to describe temporal and quantitative biological facts of R. (B.) microplus life cycles. Few studies have discussed R. (B.) microplus biology in quantitative terms, and these data can be useful in designing control plans or in epidemiological studies under laboratory conditions.

In a survey on insect-associate heterostigmatic mites in northern forests of Iran, six species of the genus Petalomium Cross, 1965 (Acari: Pygmephoroidea: Neopygmephoridae) were collected from different ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). One species, P. mazandaranicum Abbasi-Moqadam and Hajiqanbar sp. nov., is new to science and described here. Other species, all new to mite fauna of Iran, are as follows: P. fimbrisetum Ebermann & Rack, 1982, P. heterotrichus Mahunka, 1970 (new for Asian fauna), P. rarus (Sevastianov, 1967), P. sawtschuki (Sevastianov, 1967), and P. scyphicum (Sevastianov, 1967). Petalomium heterotrichus is redescribed, three new ant hosts are recorded, and world distributions of all mites are reviewed.

The aim of this work is to report the presence of Aculus schlechtendali (Nalepa, 1890) (Prostigmata: Eriophyidae) (Apple rust mite—ARM), in apple orchards of Serra Gaúcha, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Surveys were conducted from apple leaves of Gala cultivar in a commercial orchard of Vacaria County (S 28′ 34.540 W 050′ 52.153) in the Northeast region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, between November 2016 and January of 2017. The morphological traits and the relative measurements matched with those of A. schlechtendali. This is the first report of this mite pest in Brazil, so far regulated as a quarantine pest, and the third country report in South America. Consideration on the potential pest status of ARM is discussed.

A new vagrant species of Diptilomiopidae mite, in the Diptacus Keifer, 1951 genus, namely Diptacus rubuscolum sp. nov., living on the lower leaf surface of blackberry-Rubus sp. (Rosaceae) in South Brazil, is described and illustrated. In addition, Acalitus orthomerus Keifer, 1951, for the first time reported in Brazil and even in South America; a supplementary description of this species is presented based on females, males and immature specimens associated to the drupelets. Main morphological differences distinguishing the new Diptacus species and A. orthomerus species from those belonging to the same genera or morphologically similar also associated with Rubus are presented.