Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is an ectoparasite of economic importance to cattle-rearing in tropical and subtropical countries, especially Brazil. This study aimed to assess the biological control activity of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae in pastures at experimental farms belonging to the Unidade Regional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento de Pindamonhangaba (PRP) and Americana (IZ). Two areas were established in each location (treatment area vs. control area), and each contained seven animals. The treatment areas were sprayed with suspensions of the fungus M. anisopliae (IBCB 425) at a concentration of 5 x 10¹³ conidia per hectare (ha) in association with mineral oil. The control areas were sprayed only with water and mineral oil. Every two weeks, the levels of tick infestation on the animals were assessed in both the treated and the control area. The results from counting teleogynes on the cattle showed that the treatment with M. anisopliae was efficient, such that infestation remained greater in the control group in both locations evaluated. The annual mean efficacy was 36% for PRP and 48% for IZ. The application of the fungus M. anisopliae (IBCB 425) to pastures reduced the infestation of R. microplus and may constitute an effective strategy to combat this ectoparasite. Further studies will enable the refinement of this treatment.

The production of apples (Malus domestica: Rosaceae) in Brazil is concentrated in three states in the southern region of the country. This crop is of great economic importance for the region, and is usually susceptible to infestations of mite populations. However, recent surveys of mite species associated to apples are scarce. The aim of the present study was to fill this void by analyzing species abundance and composition on three apple cultivars in the southern region of Brazil. The survey was carried out in the states of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Santa Catarina (SC), and Paraná (PR). A total of 94 apple orchards were evaluated (43 Gala, 40 Fuji and 11 Eva), in 19 municipalities. Twenty plants were sampled from each orchard in March 2019, with four leaves collected from each plant, thus totaling 80 leaves/orchard. Mites were screened and identified in the Laboratório de Acarologia of Universidade do Vale do Taquari - UNIVATES. Data were analyzed using the R software with mixed generalized linear models, non-metric multidimensional scaling, and PERMANOVA. A total of 4,909 mite specimens were identified, belonging to eight species and six genera, of which 1,833 were classified as phytophagous, 1,758 as predators, and 1,318 as generalists. The most abundant phytophagous species was Aculus schlechtendali (33.55%), followed by the predator Neoseiulus californicus (33.14%) and by the generalist Tarsonemus (Tarsonemus) sp. (23.99%). Abundance was similar between Eva and Fuji cultivars. However, these cultivars differed in composition, as did Eva and Gala. The mean number of mites found in Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul was similar, although Paraná had a higher number. Species composition also differed among the three states evaluated. Considering the importance of the apple production in the southern region of Brazil, studies on species composition and abundance are important, aiming to monitor potential damage-causing organisms to the crop and associated predators.

The present study is based on ptyctimous mite materials collected from 19 forest localities in Ethiopia during 2012–2020. A list of identified taxa, including 21 species from nine genera and four families is provided; of these, ten species are recorded for the first time in the Ethiopian fauna, among which one species is recorded for the first time in the Afrotropical region. One new species of Euphthiracaridae—Euphthiracarus (Pocsia) debreberhanensis Niedbała sp. nov.—is described. Morphological additions to descriptions of Acrotritia rustica, Plonaphacarus machadoi, P. ecphylus, and Notophthiracarus subitus are presented.

Aerial dispersal can occur in response to both internal state of individuals and environmental conditions and probably contributed to the expansion of red palm mite Raoiella indica throughout the American continent within a decade. We report here experiments using wind tunnel in the laboratory and adhesive traps in the field to identify general aspects and precursors of R. indica's aerial dispersal. Wind tunnel analyses indicated that dispersal rates increased with increasing wind speed up to 15 m/s and decreased with increasing population density. Although adult male and immature were dispersed by wind, adult females showed the highest frequency of dispersal. Mating status and 24 h food deprivation had no significant influence on the aerial dispersal of this species. In the field, the dispersal was also mainly observed among adult females. The number of captured mites increased progressively with height, up to the highest assessed state (4.8 m), and up to a distance of 48 m from infested coconut palms, at which colonization rates were equivalent to 1.4 × 10⁵ mites/plant, although it was lower at the distance of 64 m (farthest assessed distance) from the source. The results identify conditions that elicit R. indica's dispersal, and characterize its dispersal potential and colonization rates, allowing an ecological understanding of this invasive mite species.

A new genus and two new species of Tegonotini (Acari: Eriophyidae) from China are described and illustrated. They are Latuannulus engelhardiae gen. nov. and sp. nov. on Engelhardia roxburghiana Wall. (Juglandaceae) and Phyllocoptacus nepalensus sp. nov. on Alnus nepalensis D. Don (Betulaceae). Additionally, we provided more generic characters to Gongella Kuang, 2005 and redescribed Gongella carpini Kuang, 2005. All three species are vagrant on the lower leaf surface and no symptom to the host was observed.

Tenuipalpus panici De Leon was originally described from female specimens collected on Panicum maximum Jacq. (Poaceae) from South of Baranquetas, Puerto Rico. In this paper, we redescribe the female of T. panici based on the holotype and on specimens newly collected in Brazil. It is the first record of the species in South America. Females, nymphs and larvae were collected on Paspalum notatum Flüggé (Poaceae); males were absent. New morphological data for both females and immatures (e.g., dorsal and ventral ornamentation, gnathosomal, idiosomal, leg chaetotaxy, and measurements) and a discussion on the patterns of ontogenetic setal additions for all the immature stages are provided. Tenuipalpus panici is the only species of the genus known with two setae appearing on femur IV in the protonymph and successive stages.

In a study on the mites of the near seashore of the southern areas of the Caspian Sea, three species belonging to the family Raphignathidae were collected, viz. Raphignathus caspicus sp. nov., R. gracilis (Rack) and R. zhaoi Hu, Jing & Liang. The new species, R. caspicus sp. nov. is described based on the females and larvae. Also, a key to the known species of Raphignathus from Iran is presented.

This study reports the presence of six species of the subfamily Bryobiinae (Acari: Tetranychidae) collected from natural habitats of Kea Island, Greece. Bryobia (Lyobia) aetnensis Vacante, Bryobia (Lyobia) cooremani Eyndhoven & Vacante, Bryobia (Allobia) nikitensis Livshits & Mitrofanov and Bryobia (Bryobia) macrotibialis Mathys are new records for Greek fauna, while Mezranobia variata sp. nov. and Aplonobia carthaeae sp. nov. are described and illustrated as a new species. Additionally, thanks to the newly collected material and a taxonomical historical review, a new diagnosis of the genus Mezranobia Athias-Henriot, 1961 is provided.

In a laboratory experiment, the influence of air humidity on ticks of known calendar age was investigated. In desiccators at different humidities (44%, 55%, 70%, 84%, and 98%), we studied changes in the life span and development of eggs, hungry and fed larvae, nymphs, and adult ticks Ixodes persulcatus and I. ricinus. It was found that changes in air humidity at temperatures comfortable for ticks determine the lifetime of hungry ticks waiting for the host, the possibility of molting at the next stages, and the preservation of egg clutches. 84–98% humidity is ideal for the survival of hungry and fed larvae, nymphs, adult ticks, and egg clutches. A decrease in humidity to 70% for a month leads to a significant population reduction. Humidity of 40–55% is fatal for I. persulcatus after 10–15 days. At 40–55% air humidity, an insignificant part of the populations of I. ricinus survives for up to 1 month with a complete death of clutches.

In October 2019, specimens of Spinibdella lignicola (Canestrini, 1886) (Trombidiformes: Bdellidae) were isolated from a soybean sample in Anqing City, Anhui Province, China. The morphological features were observed under a digital microscope and digital pathological scanning system, and the DNA of a single mite was extracted. Cytochrome oxidase subunit I (Cox1) and the small ribosomal subunit RNA (18S rRNA) gene sequences were obtained by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification and sequencing, and BLAST comparison was performed. The base composition was analyzed using MEGA7.0 software, and a phylogenetic tree was constructed using the maximum likelihood method. PCR amplification results showed the Cox1 gene to be 1238 bp in length and the 18S rRNA gene to be 1740 bp in length. The content of the Cox1 gene (A+T) was 71.0%, and that of 18S rRNA gene (A+T) was 52.7%. In the phylogenetic tree constructed based on Cox1 gene and 18S rRNA gene, Spinibdella lignicola and the other mites in Bdelloidea gathered in one branch. The Cox1 gene and 18S rRNA gene can be useful tools for use as molecular markers for species identification.

The mating process in Uroactinia sp. (Mesostigmata: Uropodina: Uroactiniidae) is described. Mating is venter to venter with the male on top. Spermatophore production is relatively slow, and both partners cooperate in emptying the spermatophore. Observations on mating behavior are compared with those for other Uropodina. Spermatophore morphology and the process of spermatophore formation appear to be similar to those described in ticks (Ixodida).

The study presents a detailed description of all instars of Parasitus yuensis Ma & Lin, based on collected specimens from haystack, rotten leaves or the body surface of millipedes, and on laboratory reared specimens. The female is redescribed, male and immature instars are described for the first time.

A new species of Megalotocepheus from China, Megalotocepheus (Archegotocepheus) octocapillus sp. nov., is found and described based on adult material collected from Southwest China. It can be distinguished from other known species of Megalotocepheus by combination of following characters: eight pairs of notogastral setae, short and rounded sternal apodeme, a pair of arcuate marginalis laterally in upper parts of subcapitulum, lyrifissure ip located between p₁ and p₂, leg setae pv” on tarsi III–IV and v” on tibia III–IV pinniform. Meanwhile, Megalotocepheus (Archegotocepheus) singularis Mahunka, 1988 is reported in China for the first time. Neotypes of Megalotocepheus (Megalotocepheus) fornicatus Wen, 1999 and Megalotocepheus (Megalotocepheus) hainanensis Wen & Zhao, 1993 were designated, and supplementary descriptions of M. (M.) fornicatus and M. (M.) hainanensis are given. Megalotocepheus (M.) tianshanicus (Krivolutsky, 1969) is transferred to the genus Fissicepheus, M. (M.) ceylonicus Balogh, 1970 and M. (M.) loksai Balogh, 1970 are transferred to the genus Otocepheus. A key to the known taxa of Megalotocepheus is provided.

Abrolophus wratislaviensis, Charletonia cardinalis and Erythraeus (Zaracarus) budapestensis are recorded for the fisrst time from France, C. postojnensis from continental Italy and Serbia, Balaustium nikae and B. ryszardi from Sicily, B. nikae from Spain and B. murorum from Ukraine. New or corrected metric data for C. cardinalis C. postojnensis, B, murorum, B. nikae and B. ryszardi are provided. A list of Parasitengona mites for France, Serbia, Sicily and Ukraine is given. The relations between species of the genus Abrolophus and the Balaustiinae subfamily with their hosts are discussed.

A new genus and species of oribatid mites (Oribatida) of the family Zetomotrichidae are described from soil in the Central Plateau of Iran, Yazd Province. Iranotrichus gen. nov., with type species Iranotrichus crassisetosus sp. nov., differs from all other genera of the family by a combination of the following character states: large body size; denticulate rostrum; dorsosejugal furrow medially interrupted; divided posterior margin of notogaster; prodorsal, notogastral and ventral plates ornamented with fine, fragmented longitudinal striae; large, thick notogastral seta c₂; presence of notogastral lyrifissures ia and im, humeral sac and pyriform organ; absence of custodium; barbed epimeral setae, 1a and 1c longer than others, 1a longest; four pairs of genital, two pairs of anal and three pairs of adanal setae; tarsus I with 20 setae; presence of thick setae on genua I and II, tibia II and tarsi II–IV, with seta tc″ on tarsus IV slightly enlarged but not a thick spine; leg IV enlarged, acetabulum not dorsally displaced. Leg IV representing an intermediate stage between the genera with a well-developed jumping leg and those without a jumping leg. In addition, data on geographic distribution and some information about all known genera of Zetomotrichidae are given.

Many animal species can recognise and discriminate conspecifics differing in their genetic relatedness. The discrimination of kin from non-kin or more distantly related kin can benefit individuals with increased inclusive fitness and avoid adverse influences from inbreeding. A preference by mothers to oviposit near their own or closely related eggs rather than ovipositing near non-kin or distantly related eggs has been observed in several phytoseiids, possibly to reduce cannibalism and allow imprinting between siblings. The phytoseiid Amblyseius herbicolus reluctantly cannibalise kin (i.e. siblings or offspring) in the presence of non-kin or more distantly related kin. This study investigated the oviposition preference of A. herbicolus females when provided with two sites, each containing either their own eggs or eggs laid by non-kin. The influence of food on such oviposition site preference is largely unknown in phytoseiids. Thus, we also examined the oviposition site choice of A. herbicolus females in the presence and absence of its prey Carpoglyphus lactis eggs. Our results demonstrated a significant influence of prey on the oviposition site preference of A. herbicolus: adults preferred to oviposit near eggs of non-kin in the absence of prey but showed no preference when C. lactis eggs were present at both sites. We suggest that A. herbicolus females preferred to oviposit near eggs of non-kin in the absence of prey to possibly avoid kin cannibalism during food stress.

Epieremulus (Oribatida, Anderemaeidae) is recorded in the Peruvian fauna for the first time. A new species—Epieremulus mariacaballeroae sp. nov.—is described, based on materials collected from upper soil and leaf litter in primary mountain forests. Generic diagnosis, an identification key, distribution and habitats of representatives of Epieremulus are presented. A species status has been proposed for Epieremulus granulatus andicola: Epieremulus andicola (P. Balogh, 1988) stat. nov.