A new species of pterygosomatid mite, Pimeliaphilus lindquisti Khadem-Safdarkhani & Hajiqanbar sp. nov. (Acari: Trombidiformes: Pterygosomatidae) parasitizing Trachyderma (Trachyderma) christophi (Faust, 1875) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pimeliinae: Pimeliini) from Yazd province, central Iran is described and illustrated based on adult female, deutonymph and larva. For all active life stages, legs setal designations are provided for the first time. Furthermore, host specificity and world distribution of the genus is reviewed and a key to world species of the Pimeliaphilus mites ectoparasitic on beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera) is provided as well.

Life history strategies of a species may affect its invasion success. Here, we used a haplodiploid pest, Tetranychus ludeni Zacher (Acari: Tetranychidae), which is native to Europe but now cosmopolitan, to investigate its life history strategies in relation to its dispersal tendency and distance. We tested whether and how dispersal influenced survival, lifetime fecundity, age-specific reproduction, and life table parameters of mated females. We show that mated females did not trade off their survival and lifetime reproductive output with dispersal but adjusted their resource allocations during different reproductive stages depending on whether and how far they dispersed. Long-distance dispersers invested more in dispersal in their early life while resident mites and short-distance dispersers invested more in reproduction during their early life. These resource allocation strategies may allow long-distance dispersers to explore the novel environment more effectively without compromising lifetime reproductive fitness, contributing to the invasion success of T. ludeni.

Three new species of Fungitarsonemus Cromroy, 1958 (Acari: Heterostigmatina: Tarsonemidae), F. baganbilasae Karmakar & Mondal sp. nov., F. icchepaharicus Karmakar & Mondal sp. nov., F. rishyapensis Karmakar & Mondal sp. nov., are described based on the specimens collected from Bougainvillea glabra (Nyctaginaceae) in a part of the lower Gangetic plains located in Nadia district; Citrus reticulata (Rutaceae), Jasminum mesnyi (Oleaceae) and Prunus domestica (Rosaceae) in parts of the Central Himalayan biotic province spread across the hills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong district of West Bengal, India. This registers the first record of Fungitarsonemus from India.

The population size at which Tyrophagus putrescentiae can produce damage on anthurium plants (Anthurium sp.), cultivated in vitro, was determined. Symptoms caused by these mites on the plants are described. Two anthurium varieties coded as ANMIRO and ANWHGE, were cultivated in a Murashige and Skoog medium for four weeks. The treatments for each variety were as follows: a) Absolute Control (AC), b) fungus inoculated in the cultured medium (CF), c) fungus on leaves + mites (FLM), d) fungus in medium + mites (FMM), and e) only mites (OM). Mite density within the vessels increased through time. Fifty-five days after the first evaluation, the highest amount of injury was observed in the treatments FLM, FMM, and OM. The observed symptoms were holes on the foliar lamina produced by the feeding of mites until complete plant deterioration. According to the prediction model, when there is an average population close to 62 mites per vessel, it would be expected to find 20% damaged. The probability of observing damage on the variety ANWHGE was 1.7 times higher than on the variety ANMIRO. Although T. putrescentiae is a known contaminant in tissue culture laboratories as it carries bacteria and fungi on its body, this is the first record of this species causing direct damage to plants cultivated in vitro.

Two new species of oribatid mites of the genus Mainothrus (Oribatida, Trhypochthoniidae)—M. paratransaltaicus sp. nov. and M. davidmarshalli sp. nov.—are described on the basis of adult specimens sampled from Russia and Brunei (first record of the genus in the Oriental region). Supplementary description (SEM micrographs) for Mainothrus badius (Berlese, 1905) is presented. A revised generic diagnosis and an identification key to known species of Mainothrus are provided.

This study was conducted to compare the goose down and the woolen pillows in terms of number of house dust mites per gram of dust. The study was conducted in Kars province, Turkey in September 2020. A total of 180 house dust samples were collected from 45 randomly selected houses in various districts of the city. The number of houses in which at least one sample was positive regarding mites was found to be 39 (86.66%). Overall, 137 (76.11%) of dust samples were mite positive. This rate was 87.77% in dust samples of woolen and 64.44% in dust samples of goose down pillows. The number of mites/g dust varied between 15 and 625 in mite-positive woolen pillows, 10 and 420 in mite-positive goose down pillows. Mean number of mites per g of dust was 127.67 in woolen pillows and 79.39 in goose down pillows. A statistically significant difference was found between woolen and goose down pillows in terms of the number of mites per gram of dust (P<0.05). A total of 1,362 mite specimens were isolated from the dust samples. As a result of the identification of isolated specimens; a total of 16 species belong to 10 genera and 6 families were determined. Of these; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Trouessart, 1897) (65.85%), Lepidoglyphus destructor (Schrank) (9.25%) and Acarus siro Linnaeus (6.16%) were the most dominant species in terms of number of specimens.

The genus Mesotritia (Oribatida, Oribotritiidae) was represented by eight species in China prior to this work. In this study, two new species, Mesotritia baxoiensis sp. nov. from Tibet and Mesotritia paranitida sp. nov. from Xinjiang, are described. An identification key to Chinese species of Mesotritia is provided to facilitate the further study on this group.

Two new species of oribatid mites of the genus Oribatella (Oribatida, Oribatellidae)—O. friedrichi sp. nov. and O. cornuta sp. nov.—are described from soil and leaf litter of the primary evergreen lowland rainforest in Amazonian Peru. An identification key to known species/subspecies of Oribatella from the Neotropical region is presented.

Blattisocius mali (Oudemans) is a candidate predatory mite on some astigmatid mite pests like Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank). In current study, life table parameters of B. mali were comparatively evaluated when fed on mixed life stages, frozen (one day at -20°C) and cold stored (90 days at -20°C and 4°C) eggs of T. putrescentiae. The highest and lowest values of fecundity, total longevity, oviposition period, life span and adult longevity of B. mali were observed when the predator provided with one-day and 90-days frozen eggs (stored at 4°C) of T. putrescentiae, respectively. Moreover, the highest values of net reproductive rate (R₀), intrinsic rate of increase (r) and finite rate of increase (λ) of B. mali were obtained by feeding on one-day frozen eggs (23.94 offspring/individual, 0.332 day^-1, 1.39 day^-1, respectively), without significant differences from the predators reared on alive mixed stages of T. putrescentiae. However, the lowest values of R₀ (1.54 offspring/individual), r (0.058 day^-1) and λ (1.06 day^-1) were recorded when B. mali was reared on 90-days frozen eggs (stored at 4°C). The results, as first evidence of life-history of B. mali, represent not only the potential of the predator as suitable biological control agent against T. putrescentiae, but also the possibility of its mass production by frozen host stages. Provision of one-day frozen eggs of T. putrescentiae were the best choice for B. mali survival and reproduction with no harmful effects of living stages (direct damage, frass and exuviae) on crop.

Haplochthoniidae is a small family within the superfamily Cosmochthonioidea and consists of only two genera and 17 species. In this paper a new species, Haplochthonius (Haplochthonius) longiapophysus sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on adult specimens sampled from soil in Sistan and Baluchestan province, southeastern Iran. The new species is characterised by very long prominent rostral apophyses; blade-like prodorsal and notogastral setae; genital plates with six and anal and adanal plates each with four pairs of setae, an₁, ad₁ and ad₂ thicker than other ano-adanal setae; epimeral setation 3-2-2-3; solenidion φ of tibiae I very long, solenidion ω of tarsi I longer than famulus, seta d longer than solenidion on tibiae II and III. The new species is morphologically very similar to Haplochthonius (Haplochthonius) sanctaeluciae Bernini, 1973, however, the most significant differences between them is in the morphology of rostral apophyses and number and size of genital setae. The family Haplochthoniidae is recorded for the first time from Sistan and Baluchestan province. An updated diagnostic key to the adults of known species of Haplochthonius (Haplochthonius) is given.

Tetranychus truncatus Ehara (Acari: Tetranychidae) is one of the serious pests that infests different agricultural crops in field and greenhouse crops, and its distribution is limited to mostly Asian countries. The experiments were conducted to know the effectiveness of different concentrations of bifenazate against the T. truncatus, and to evaluate and compare the demographic parameters of T. truncatus on host plant Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet (Fabaceae), which were obtained from females treated with bifenazate. The LC₁₅, LC₃₀, LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values are determined through the bioassay from the results of the first application of bifenazate on adult females of T. truncatus. The LC₁₅, LC₃₀, LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ concentrations of bifenazate were 0.417, 1.028, 2.591 and 24.792 ml/ l, respectively. The response of adult females against the two lethal concentrations (LC₁₅ and LC₃₀) was mostly alike but had a little bit difference. The differences in life table parameters were observed between control and treated spider mites. The results demonstrated that LC₁₅ and LC₃₀ of bifenazate could reduce the survival rate, oviposition period, fecundity and longevity of females of T. truncatus and it significantly affected the developmental times, especially larval duration and fecundity of T. truncatus. Life-table parameters of T. truncatus were much reduced in LC₁₅ and LC₃₀ compared to the control and their growth and other factors showed significant differences. The present study showed that the lower lethal concentration (LC₁₅ and LC₃₀) of the tested acaricide showed negative effects on survivorship and life-table parameters of the subsequent generation of T. truncatus.

A new species of oribatid mite of the family Galumnidae is described and illustrated based on adult specimens from soil in Mashhad county, Razavi Khorasan Province, northeastern Iran. Pilogalumna khorasanica sp. nov. is characterised by rounded rostrum; very long interlamellar setae; long, nearly setiform, finely bilaterally barbed bothridial setae; medially interrupted dorsosejugal furrow; elongated porose areas A2, very long and narrow, ribbon shaped A3 and large body size. The new species is most similar morphologically to Pilogalumna crassiclava longiareata (Pérez-Íñigo, 1976), however, differs from it in morphology of bothridial setae and structure of notogastral porose areas, by the presence of longer interlamellar setae and larger body size. An updated identification key to known species of Pilogalumna is presented.

Two new genera, three new species and three new records of eriophyoid mites from China are described and illustrated: Medicavarus rhododendrus gen. nov. et sp. nov. from Rhododendron delavayi Franch. (Ericaceae); Rhycanonaequitas laevifolia gen. nov. et sp. nov. from Magnolia laevifolia (Y.W. Law & Y.F. Wu) Noot. (Magnoliaceae); Cosella quihouis sp. nov. on Ligustrum quihoui Carr. (Oleaceae); Rhombacus eucalypti Ghosh & Chakrabarti, 1987 rec. nov. on Eucalyptus sp. (Myrtaceae); Keiferana neolitsiae (Channabasavanna, 1966) rec. nov. on Cinnamomum burmanni (Nees et T. Nees) Blume (Lauraceae); Petanovicia cathartica Zhao, Li & Wang, 2018 rec. nov. on Allamanda schottii Pohl (Apocynaceae).

Being generalist predators makes many members of the Phytoseiidae family a more favourable choice for biocontrol. Amblyseius herbicolus, a predator of several phytophagous pest mites and insects, has recently gained focus as an important biocontrol agent. Most studies focus on providing alternative food such as pollens as a way to increase their persistence on the targets when prey is absent. In this study, we evaluated the developmental and reproductive performance of A. herbicolus on two different diets: the dried fruit mite Carpoglyphus lactis and Raupo Typha orientalis pollen. The groups treated with C. lactis took 7 days to reach adulthood, while the groups treated with pollen took 11 days. The pollen-treated mites did not reproduce but this is likely due to the reduction of pollen quality. When given C. lactis, A. herbicolus produced more than 20 eggs over two weeks and the adults survived 18–19 days. The ratio of A. herbicolus egg to C. lactis adult used (1:20, 40 & 120) in the experiment did not affect the final population size. Cannibalism and competition seemed to affect all treatments, especially those cells started with three A. herbicolus eggs. Under laboratory conditions, A. herbicolus can be successfully cultured using C. lactis, which is an advantageous method for the laboratory and mass rearing of A. herbicolus.

The authors of the study present an analysis of the structure and changes in the examined community of ptyctimous mites (Acari: Acariformes: Oribatida) found in Dorrigo National Park in Australia. The research was conducted during two periods: between 1990 and 1993 and later in 2007. The analysed mite community comprises 35 species, though, the dominance and frequency of particular species were different for each period. In the first research period (1990–1993) in the area of Dorrigo National Park, 28 species were recorded, whereas in 2007 – 23 species were found. There were 16 species that occurred in both research periods, and 12 species only in the samples collected in the 90's, and 7 species only in those collected in 2007. The analysis also embraces the geographical distribution of the species in the area of Australia. Three species were designated as endemic, occurring only in the area of the examined national park (Austrophthiracarus dissonus Niedbała et Collof, 1997, Austrophthiracarus parapulchellus Niedbała, 2006 and Notophthiracarus distinctus Niedbała, 1989). The analysed samples contained only few specimens of these species. Due to the low abundance, great rarity of the local populations and high endemism, these species should be regarded as potentially endangered (EN according to the IUCN scale). A comparative analysis of the community from Dorrigo National Park (New South Wales) with those found in other larger areas of Australia in Victoria (Otway Ranges Area, Yarra Ranges Area, Strzelecki Ranges Area and Errinundra Plateau Area) examined by Niedbała and Szywilewska-Szczykutowicz (2017) has revealed that the communities found in Dorrigo National Park contained far more species, which constituted 30% of the whole fauna of Australia. In contrast to the communities of ptyctimous mites from Dorrigo, the individual communities in the area of Victoria contained only between 5% and 14% of all known species in Australia from this group.

The Bryobiinae (Acari: Tetranychidae) of Turkey are reviewed and presented here. The distribution and habitats of these species are provided. A new Bryobia species, Bryobia cagani sp. nov., is described based on four females which were collected on grass and lettuce in a garlic field located at Kastamonu. Aplonobia eurotiae (Mitrofanov & Strunkova) (Acari, Tetranychidae) is reported for the first time in Turkey, based on specimens collected on a Pinus sp. (Pinaceae) from the Nemrut Mountains close to Adıyaman. Aplonobia eurotiae is re-described and an identification key to the Turkish species of Bryobiinae and world species of Aplonobia is presented.