The first record of a Hystrichonychini (Trombidiformes: Tetranychidae) mite from Brazil with the description of a new species of the genus Paraplonobia Wainstein is reported.

Two new species of the subgenus Scheloribates (Bischeloribates) from China are described and illustrated. Scheloribates (Bischeloribates) liangshanensissp. nov. differs from S. (Bischeloribates) dalawaeusCorpuz-Raros,1980 by longer bothridial setae with unilaterally dilated, apically pointed, barbed head. Scheloribates (Bischeloribates) sanmingensissp. nov. differs from other known species of this genus by the presence of U-shaped furrow underneath the Notogaster. The subgenus Scheloribates (Bischeloribates) is recorded in mainland China for the first time. Scheloribates (Bischeloribates) mahunkai Subías, 2010 is recorded in China for the first time. An identification key to world species of Scheloribates (Bischeloribates) is given.

The reception of chemical cues in the environment is essential for the survival of almost all organisms, including phytoseiid mites. Compared with the progress made in the field of insect olfaction, the understanding of how predatory mites perceive chemical compounds and react to their surroundings is merely fragmentarily documented in past decades. In this review, we provide a guide in the field from chemoecology of herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) as early as 1980s to the advances made in comparative genomics of predatory mites in 2019. We present from three aspects, i.e., chemosensory-guided feeding behavior, sensory structures and chemoreceptors predicted from genomes. The molecular principles of chemosensory system remain exciting areas for future research, since insights into the mechanisms underlying the sensing of chemical signals will not only contribute to a better understanding of predator behavior and physiology but may also open new avenues for the development of more specific and sustainable approaches to control pests by manipulating behaviors in predators. We then suggest three directions for future research: 1) chemoreceptor gene identification and function verification; 2) neural response circuit to stimuli and 3) application of chemoperception on feeding behavior. The potential methods and techniques are provided as well.

A checklist of the oribatid mite species from two boreal fens in Northern Ontario, Canada is presented. 174 peat soil samples, collected between 2015–2020, yielded a heterogeneous assemblage of 80 species, 57 genera and 33 families. Species richness and diversity were significantly higher in a Sphagnum-dominated fen (69 species) compared to a Carex-dominated fen (51 species), and although 40 species were found at both sites, overall composition was significantly different between the two sites. We also present an update to the seminal work of Behan-Pelletier and Bissett (1994) on Oribatida of Canadian peatlands with 45 new species records for peatlands. Records for the parthenogenetic families Brachychthoniidae Thor, 1934 and Suctobelbidae Jacot, 1938 were considerably expanded, but other families such as Punctoribatidae, Thor, 1937 remain poorly represented in Canadian peatlands. Taken together, species richness estimates range from 86–105 species based on our sampling and the number of undescribed species recorded suggests that the oribatid mite fauna still need further examination to encompass their actual biodiversity in peatlands. We report that the oribatid mite fauna of Canadian peatlands comprise 186 species that includes all published records as of February 2021 and species presented here.

Three new species of oribatid mites (Allonothrus malgorzatae Ermilov & Bąkowski sp. nov., Aleurodamaeus murombodziensis Ermilov sp. nov. and Pilobatella sofalaensis Ermilov sp. nov.) are described from central Mozambique. The morphology of tritonymph of A. murombodziensis is studied.

The morphological ontogeny of Proteremaeus oralensissp. nov. from the elderberry litter (Sambucus nigra L.) from Kazakhstan is described and illustrated. The adult of this species is the most similar to that of P. macleani Behan-Pelletier, 1982, but differs from it mainly in the shape of lamellar complex, posterior notogastral tip, distribution of genital setae, and some leg characters. The juveniles of P. oralensis are oval, light-brown, with short prodorsal and gastronotal setae and clavate bothridial seta. The nymphs are quadrideficient and eupheredermous, i.e. they lack setae of d-series and carry the exuvial scalps of previous instars on the gastronotum. In the nymphs, setae p₁ and h₁ are inserted close to each other, and seta h₂ is placed approximately at similar distances from seta p₁ and p₂.

Temperature plays an important role in the development and reproduction of mites. The present study assesses how temperature affects the biology (development and survival of immatures) and life table parameters of Oligonychus punicae. This study also determines the mite thermal requirements (thermal requirement and development base temperature). The experiments were conducted in an air-conditioned chamber under different temperatures (21, 25, 29, 33, and 37°C). The period of each stage (egg to adult) of O. punicae at different temperatures was used to determine the thermal constant and the lower thermal limit of development. The duration of the periods of pre-oviposition, oviposition, post-oviposition, fecundity, and longevity was recorded. The life table at different temperatures was created using data from the biological cycle. There was an inverse relationship between the development time of O. punicae and temperatures. However, there was no hatching of eggs at 37°C. All O. punicae eggs resulted in females. The survival analysis for the immature and adult (female) stages of O. punicae showed a decreased life span with increasing temperatures. For the egg-adult period, the lower thermal threshold and the thermal constant for females of O. punicae were 10.34°C and 163.93 degree-days, respectively. Temperature affected the periods of pre-oviposition, oviposition, and fecundity of adult females of O. punicae, tending to decrease with increasing temperatures. Specific fecundity varied over the oviposition period, decreasing with increasing temperatures. The net reproduction rate decreased significantly following temperatures 21°C to 33°C. The increase in temperature results in a significantly shorter average generation time. The intrinsic rate of increase ranged from 0.15 to 0.20. The finite rates of increase were all greater than 1.00. The effects of temperature on the development of O. punicae varies according to the stage of development. The optimum temperature for O. punicae is between 25 and 29°C.

Two new species of eriophyoid mites were discovered in Hungary, viz. Aculodes caespiticolussp. nov. collected from Sesleria sadleriana Janka (Poaceae) and Aceria cumaniamajorissp. nov. found on Polygonum aviculare L. (Polygonaceae). Detailed morphological description of female, male and nymph is given. A key to Aculodes spp. already known from Hungary is given.

Tetranychus ludeni Zacher is a spider mite that has invaded all continents except Antarctica and become an economically important pest around the world. Understanding the plasticity of its life history traits as a response to temperatures provides critical information for its risk analysis and management. Here we tested its response to temperatures ranging from 15 to 30°C over two generations. We found that there was no difference in the egg hatch rate and immature survival rate across temperatures in the first generation. However, the egg hatch rate was lower and immature survival rate was higher at 30°C in the second generation. The sex ratio (proportion of females) of resultant adults was consistent under all test temperatures in both generations except for 30°C in the second generation which was lower. Higher temperature accelerated development in both generations but the development at the lower temperatures was faster in the second generation. Adult body size in both generations generally decreased with the increase of temperature, with females being more likely than males to adjust body size in response to temperature changes they first experienced. Temperature-dependent body size was not translated into fecundity, but larger adults lived longer. The thermal threshold was lower and degree days (DD) were greater in the second generation than in the first generation. Our findings indicate that life history traits of T. ludeni are highly flexible and adaptive to dynamic thermal environment in successive generations. Furthermore, increasing temperature elevated the intrinsic rate of increase (r_m) but shortened the generation time (T) and the time to double the population size (Dt). The net population growth rate (R₀) was higher at 20 and 25°C as compared to lower and higher temperatures.

Taurine breeds and animals crossbred for genetic resistance to Rhipicephalus microplus have been the focus of several studies aimed at producing better responses of cattle to tick infestations and seeking to reduce treatment costs and improve the quality of bovine byproducts. Another way to increase gains is the introduction of taurine breeds with the goal of obtaining morphological and physiological characteristics more adapted to production. Although several studies have compared taurine and zebu breeds, little is known about the differences found within the taurine group. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the sensitivity of the Senepol and Caracu breeds to artificial R. microplus infestations. For this purpose, a stall test was conducted on 16 Caracu and 14 Senepol bulls. The animals were subjected to artificial infestation with a total of 15,000 R. microplus larvae per animal. The Senepol group accounted for 71.7% of the retrieved engorged female ticks. The biological parameters analyzed that showed a significant difference included the mean number of engorged female ticks retrieved (p = 0.000), weight of engorged female ticks (p = 0.000), rate of engorged female ticks retrieved (p = 0.03) and egg mass weight (p = 0.032). Thus, the present study demonst rated a higher susceptib ility of the Senepol breed to parasitism by the Asian blue tick than the Caracu breed, providing support for new studies on the subjects of genetic resistance, animal breeding and cattle production.

The development, longevity, and reproductive potential of Schizotetranychus smirnovi concerning different almond cultivars including Sefid, Azar, Shokofeh, Shahrood₆, Shahrood₇, Ferragnes, Shahrood₁₃, Shahrood₂₁, Rabie, Nonpareil, and Mamaei were investigated in the current study. Our results indicated the longest developmental time of females on Shahrood₂₁ (7.35 ± 0.10), while the shortest duration of this parameter was found on Rabie (6.21 ± 0.10) and Nonpareil (5.88 ± 0.17) cultivars. The total mortality ranged from 13.30 to 50.00% on Azar and Shokofeh, respectively. On the majority of cultivars, the highest proportion of mortality among all stages was allocated to larvae which indicated that it was the most sensitive stage. The fecundity of S. smirnovi on Mamaei (34.19 ± 3.60), Sefid (30.50 ± 2.67), and Ferragnes (30.31 ± 3.02) was significantly higher than other cultivars. However, the lowest fecundity (11.21 ± 1.70) was observed on Shokofeh cultivar. Moreover, different cultivars resulted in significant differences in all population growth parameters. Azar had the highest value of both intrinsic rate of increase (r) (0.2675 ± 0.0164) and finite rate of increase (λ) (1.3067 ± 0.0213), whereas the value of these parameters on Shokofeh and Shahrood₂₁ were significantly lower than other cultivars. The mean generation time (T) ranged from 9.51 ± 0.16 on Shahrood₇ to 11.69 ± 0.39 d on Shahrood₂₁ cultivar. According to our results, Mamaei, Nonpareil, Rabie, Ferragnes and Azar cultivars were more susceptible, while Shokofeh, Shahrood₂₁, and Shahrood₁₃ seemed to be more tolerant to S. smirnovi.

The first fossil representative of the family Barbutiidae is recorded from late Eocene Rovno amber. Barbutia theronisp. nov. is described based on deutonymph female. An updated key to deutonymph females of Barbutia is provided. For recently described fossil species Hoplocheylus similisKhaustov, Vorontsov, Perkovsky & Lindquist, 2021 a replacement name H. neosimilisnom. nov. is proposed.

New genus and four new species of the family Cunaxidae: Quasiscutopalus impalagen. nov., sp. nov., Armascirus livingstonisp. nov., Cunaxa mukunisp. nov. and Cunaxa niedbalaisp. nov. are described and figured from Zambia. Additionally, Cunaxa gazella (Berlese, 1916) is recorded and discussed.

The generalist predatory mite, Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) is one of the most effective natural enemies on many crops in indoor cultivations. As supply of alternative food such as pollen is generally thought to enhance the reproductive and biological control performance of generalist predatory mites, the life table parameters of the predatory mite, N. cucumeris were determined in laboratory at 25±1°C, 60±5% RH, and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L: D) hours when fed on seven different pollen (almond, bitter orange, maize, date palm, castor bean, sunflower, and bee-collected). Our results indicated that feeding the predator on castor bean, almond, date palm, and sunflower pollen led to better performance in terms of higher oviposition (38.18, 33.53, 32.87, and 29.48 eggs/female, respectively), intrinsic rate of increase (0.146, 0.129, 0.152, and 0.123 day^-1, respectively) and net reproductive rate (19.55, 12.58, 14.93, and 14.06 eggs/individual, respectively), and shorter development time (7.08, 7.73, 7.19, and 9.30 days, respectively). Bitter orange and bee-collected pollen were not suitable diets for both development and reproduction of N. cucumeris. The shortest (7.08 days) and longest (16.09 days) development times were observed on castor bean and bee-collected pollen, respectively. Adult longevity varied from 6.88 days on maize to 60.4 days on castor bean pollen. The highest fecundity was obtained on almond, followed by date palm, and castor bean pollen, while feeding on maize pollen did not lead to oviposition. Overall, we found that castor bean along with date palm, almond, and sunflower pollen are suitable diets for large scale rearing of N. cucumeris for subsequent use in biological control of pests in greenhouses.