Hypopi of Lardoglyphus zacheriOudemans, 1927 were found attached to larder beetles (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) colonising experimental pig carcasses in the Parque Natural Aiako Harria, Errenteria, Gipuzkoa, northern Spain. Five pig carcasses were used for a study of arthropod colonisation during the decomposition process, and the experiment lasted 88 days (from July to October 2010). Hypopi were found when the carcasses commenced reduction to dried remains, on day 29 (August 24), and were attached to Dermestes frischi Kugelann, 1792 and to D. undulatus Brahm, 1790, all collected on the same carcass (carcass 3, C3). No more lardoglyphid mites were detected from August 29 to the last day of sampling, October 22 2010. This is the first record of Lardoglyphus hypopi on D. undulatus and of L. zacheri from the Iberian Peninsula.

Origmatrachys mahnertisp. nov. is discovered and described from Ivory Coast. The new species differs from its congeners in the presence of a network of grooves on the dorsal and ventral idiosoma, in the shape of the dorsal and ventral setae, and in the sculptural pattern on the sternal and ventral shield. This is the first record of the genus Origmatrachys Hirschmann, 1979 in the Afrotropical region. A list and a new key to the known Origmatrachys is presented. Twelve Trachyuropoda species are moved to the genus Origmatrachys as: O. angustioculata (Hirschmann 1976) comb. nov.; O. boliviensis (Hirschmann 1976) comb. nov.; O. dicarinata (Hirschmann 1976) comb. nov.; O. dicarinatasimilis (Hirschmann 1976) comb. nov.;O. dictyoeides (Hirschmann 1976) comb. nov.; O. gracilis (Hirschmann 1976) comb. nov.;O. reticulata (Hirschmann 1976) comb. nov.; O. woelkei (Hirschmann 1976) comb. nov. O. chimboensis (Kontschán 2011) comb. nov.; O. ecuadorica (Kontschán 2011) comb. nov.; O. pesici (Kontschán 2011) comb. nov. and O. costaricana (Kontschán 2011) comb. nov.

The virulence of aerial conidia of the entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo-Crivelli) Vuillemin (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) has been documented on a very broad range of arthropods; however, the activity of blastospores against the two-spotted spider mite has been seldomly reported. Moreover, studies investigating the activity of blastospores under greenhouse conditions were not found in the literature. In this study, we tested the efficacy of blastospores and aerial conidia of two B. bassiana strains, against all life stages of Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae). The concentration of 10⁹ blastospores/ml of the Lebanese strain was the most efficient in laboratory experiments, and the recorded mortalities were 52, 67.9 and 95.3% in treated eggs, motile juveniles and adults, respectively. In greenhouse experiments, higher T. urticae mortalities were recorded among strawberry plants (Fragaria × ananassa) sprayed with blastospores of B. bassiana. Furthermore, the latter plants also recorded a higher yield (454.92 ± 5 g/plant) compared to infested control plants (144.42 ± 5 g/plant) during the growing season. In addition, this study also investigated for the first time the resistance development of T. urticae to different types of infective propagules of B. bassiana. Under selective pressure for 40 generations, the laboratory yielded aerial conidia (AC-TSM) and blastospores (BS-TSM) resistant strains of the mite recorded 28.8- and 8.4- fold change in LC₅₀ values respectively when compared to the field strain; however, this resistance ratio was minimal when compared to those of chemical acaricides.

The present study is based on ptyctimous oribatid mite material collected from the Oriental region (Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Macau Peninsula, Taiwan). A list of identified taxa, including 33 species from 15 genera and six families, is presented. Two new species, Euphthiracarus (Pocsia) insperatus Niedbała sp. nov. (Euphthiracaridae) from Indonesia and Hoplophthiracarus paraconcinuus Niedbała sp. nov. (Steganacaridae) from Malaysia are described. Morphological additions to Mesoplophora (Parplophora) brevicarinata, Acrotritia ardua, A. paraardua, A. sterigma, Plonaphacarus kugohi, and P. protrusus are presented. Deuto- and tritonymph of Apoplophora phalerata are described. Mesoplophora (Parplophora) flavida and Indotritia (Indotritia) krakatauensis are recorded for the first time in Sri Lanka, Austrotritia robusta, Sabahtritia sarawak and Phthiracarus pygmaeus in Indonesia, Microtritia minima, Atropacarus (Atropacarus) striculus, Plonaphacarus foveolatus, and P. protrusus in Taiwan. Acrotritia mahunkai and A. paraardua are recorded for the first time in the Oriental region.

The morphological ontogeny of Damaeolus ornatissimusCsiszár, 1962 from Romania is described and illustrated. The nymphs of this species are quadrideficient and eupheredermous, i.e. they carry the exuvial scalps of previous instars on the gastronotum. The bothridial seta of juveniles is fusiform, with long apical flagellum, and all prodorsal and gastronotal setae are smooth, and some of them are covered with thick layer of granular cerotegument. The larva has polygonal pattern on the gastronotum, two pairs of setae on paraproctal valves and 12 pairs of gastronotal setae, the nymphs have 12 pairs of latter setae. In all instars, seta d on all genua and tibiae is present.

This study was conducted to further understand the biology of Eutetranychus africanus Tucker, a newly invasive pest mite in Taiwan that can cause serious damage to papaya. We report the life history of E. africanus on papaya in laboratory conditions at 12, 17, 22, 27 and 32 ± 0.5 °C, with 70 ± 5 % relative humidity and a photoperiod of L12: D12. Eggs did not hatch at 12 °C. Both developmental duration and longevity were significantly shortened with the increase of temperature. The longest and shortest developmental durations of the immature stage were 37.28 days at 17 °C and 8.70 days at 32 °C, respectively. The longevity of both sexes varied similarly with the change in temperature, with shorter lifespan in males: Females survived for 3.64 days (shortest) at 32 °C to 17.50 days (longest) at 17 °C, whereas males survived for 11.00 days (longest) at 17 °C to 2.57 days (shortest) at 32 °C. The differences in fecundity were significant among all tested temperatures, with 17.61 eggs/female at 27 °C being the highest. The low developmental threshold and thermal summation of the full immature stage were 11.48 °C and 163.93 degree-days, respectively. In two-sex life table analysis, population parameters were significantly affected by temperature except the net reproduction rate. The highest intrinsic rate of increase was 0.1221 day^–1 at 27 °C; the average generation time was the shortest (12.61 days) at 32 °C and the longest (48.70 days) at 17 °C. The highest net reproduction rate was 5.06 eggs/female at 27 °C. This report contributes background knowledge to the management of the damage caused by E. africanus on papaya.

A new species of Cerocepheus (Oribatida, Cerocepheidae) is described from rainforest litter in southern Chile. Cerocepheus osornoensissp. nov. differs from Cerocepheus mirabilis by the smaller body size and the presence of bidentate lamellar cusps. Revised generic diagnosis, data on distribution of Cerocepheus and an identification key to known species of Cerocepheidae are presented.

Eriophyoid mites are highly specific to host plants. In this study we identified a new species (Phyllocoptes maackissp. nov.) from Euonymus maackii Rupr. (Celastraceae) and explored its population dynamics and relationship with abiotic factors (i.e., temperature and rainfall). We determined that P. maackissp. nov. is vagrant on lower leaf surface and does not damage the host plant. Additionally, it was first detected in June. Its population peaked in July and decreased in August. The mites were undetectable on leaves in September. Thus, P. maackissp. nov. was active in the summer when conditions were suitable (e.g., most of the leaves were young and full of moisture), with peak activity in July under high-temperature conditions. Its activity decreased under suboptimal conditions, such as low temperatures and heavy rainfall. The abundance of eriophyoid mites varied over time. The increase and decrease in the number of eriophyoid mites during the study period was basically consistent with the temperature changes.

Schizotetranychus smirnovi Wainstein is an important phytophagous pest of almond trees which causes serious damage in southwestern Iran. Scolothrips longicornis Priesner has been considered as an efficient predatory thrips that feeds on this spider mite and hence its efficiency for controlling S. smirnovi should be evaluated. In the current study, all main biological parameters of S. longicornis fed on S. smirnovi were determined under laboratory conditions. Data analysis was performed using both female age-specific and age-stage, two-sex life table theories. Duration of incubation, larval, pre-pupal, pupal and pre-adult periods of male predators were 4.73, 3.18, 1.05, 1.86 and 10.82 days, respectively. These periods in female individuals lasted 4.57, 3.92, 1.04, 1.87 and 11.00 days, respectively. Our findings showed that each female laid an average of 62.74 eggs during its ovipositional period (13.61 days). Using the age-stage, two-sex life table, the values of the net reproductive rate (R₀), intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ) and mean generation time (T) were estimated to be 26.236 (eggs/individual), 0.171 (day^-1), 1.186 (day^-1) and 19.130 (days), respectively. Using the female age-specific life table, these parameters had different values. Our findings revealed that S. longicornis has a reliable capability to increase its population by feeding on S. smirnovi. This information can expand our knowledge for assessing biological efficiency of this predatory thrips in sustainable management of the destructive mite pest.

Eotetranychus frosti (McGregor) (Tetranychidae) is a main pest of apple and some fruit trees in Iran. The life table parameters of E. frosti on seven apple cultivars (Red, Golab Kohanz, Gala Imperial, Gala Royal, Fuji, Granny Smith and Golden) at 27±1°C, 50±10% RH and a photoperiod of 16: 8 (L: D) h were determined. The immature developmental times of E. frosti ranged from 6.50 days on Granny Smith to 18.31 days on Golab Kohanz. The lowest and highest survival rate for whole immature stages was 85.71% and 95.72% on Golab Kohanz and Red, respectively. Fecundity of E. frosti was affected by cultivars; varied from 60.43 eggs on Golab Kohanz to 110.19 eggs on Granny Smith. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (r) varied significantly among different cultivars in which the lowest value (0.119 day^-1) was on Golab Kohanz and highest value (0.365 day^-1) was on Granny Smith. The mean generation time (T) was shortest on Granny Smith (11.45 days) and longest on Golab Kohanz (30.09 days). According to the results, Granny Smith and Golab Kohanz were susceptible and resistant cultivars, respectively among the ones tested. The findings of this study provide new information that can be used to design a more comprehensive IPM program for this important pest.

In this study, developmental time of Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot feeding on immature stages of Tetranychus urticae Koch was evaluated at eight constant temperatures (15, 20, 25, 27.5, 30, 32.5, 35, and 37.5 °C) providing 60±5% RH and a photoperiod of 16 L: 8 D. Duration of the egg to adult developmental time decreased sharply with increasing temperature, except at 37.5°C. To describe the developmental rate of A. swirskii as a function of temperature, one linear and 9 nonlinear models (Logan-6, Logan-10, Lactin-1, Lactin-2, Briere-1, Briere-2, Analytis-3, Polynomial, and Equation-16) were fitted. The lower temperature threshold (T₀) and the thermal constant (K) were estimated by the linear model for the total immature stage as 7.90 °C and 140.85 DD, respectively. Based on the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and R²_adj, Polynomial, Analytis-3, Analytis-3, Logan-10 and Briere-2 were the best models for eggs, larvae, protonymphs, deutonymphs and total immature stages of A. swirskii, respectively. Our findings showed that development and predation of A. swirskii occurs in a wide range of temperatures. Therefore, this predatory mite could be applied in control of T. urticae in different weather conditions.

Mites of the family Cunaxidae of Western Siberia, Russia are reviewed. Female, male, protonymph and deutonymph of Parabonzia sibiriensissp. nov. are described from the rotting log of birch. Dactyloscirus dolichosetosus Den Heyer is recorded for the first time in Palaearctic. Bonzia sphagnicola Willmann is recorded from Russia for the first time. Bonzia halacaroides Oudemans, Neobonzia kuznetsovi (Sergeyenko), Cunaxa setirostris (Hermann), C. capreolus (Berlese), C. bochkovi Khaustov, Cunaxoides croceus (Koch), and Lupaeus subterraneus (Berlese) are recorded for the first time for the Asian part of Russia. The Grandjean's nomenclature for leg setae is applied to the family Cunaxidae for the first time.

Two new species of eriophyoid mites viz., Cymeda indicasp. nov. on Cyclosorus dentatus. (Thelypteridaceae) and Neoacaphyllisa alangiasp. nov. on Alangium sp. (Cornaceae) are described here from Darjeeling district of West Bengal and Guwahati district of Assam, India respectively. The new species belong to the family Eriophyidae, subfamily Phyllocoptinae and tribe Acaricalini. They are the second members in the respective genera.

Most mesostigmatid mites (Arachnida: Parasitiformes) are soil-dwelling predators, feeding predominantly on detritivorous and fungivorous invertebrates. Little is known about the role of environmental and spatial parameters in driving the structure of their local communities. The aim of this study is to assess the relative importance of environmental/spatial parameters in different scales and microhabitats on the community structure of edaphic mesostigmatid mites in the southern Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Soil and litter samples were collected in 20 sites (six subsamples per microhabitat per site; N = 240 samples) distant from each other over ranges varying from 100 m to seven km. Geographic distances between sampling sites and spatial eigenfunctions were used as proxies of stochastic processes to assess the influence of spatial parameters on mite community structure. Environmental parameters included soil grain size, moisture and organic matter, vegetation structure, litter depth and percentage of leaves, branches, and thin roots in plant litter. We collected 1135 Mesostigmata individuals from 77 species/morphospecies. Mite composition strongly differed between soil and litter microhabitats. Mite communities geographically closer were more similar to each other in terms of Mesostigmata composition than expected if there is no spatial structure. Litter depth, soil organic matter and soil moisture significantly contributed to edaphic mite community structure. Deterministic processes predominated in explaining the composition of the litter fauna, while the composition of the soil fauna was more sensitive to stochastic processes. Our results provide evidence that the composition of Mesostigmata communities not only differ between microhabitats, but they are differently structured by environmental and spatial parameters depending on the scale. This provides new insight into the processes affecting of mite diversity within soil ecosystem at fine and broad scales, and highlights the importance of the spatial proximity and microhabitat in driving the composition of mite communities.