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Nasal mites are endoparasites that spend their entire life cycle inside the nasal cavities and respiratory passages of birds. The brown-headed cowbird, Molothrus ater (Boddaert, 1783) (hereafter BHCO), is an icterid bird that uses brood parasitism as a reproductive strategy in which it lays eggs in the nests of other bird species and allows the host to raise its young. Interestingly, nasal mites previously collected from brown-headed cowbirds represent some species shared by other icterids and others known from common host taxa. In this study, we examined how nasal mite species richness and prevalence differed geographically across three of the four migratory flyways of North America in a large sample size of BHCO. In total, ~4000 nasal mites (~3900 Rhinonyssidae (Mesostigmata) and 85 Ereynetidae (Trombidiformes)), representing nine species, were recovered from 856 cowbirds with a prevalence of 89%. Nasal mite prevalence was not significantly related with geographic location or host sex, suggesting that patterns of infection in BHCO occur similarly in all locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beetles (Coleoptera) are a charismatic group of insects targeted by collectors and often used in biodiversity surveys. As part of a larger project, we surveyed a small (4 hectare) plot in the Boston Mountains of Arkansas using 70 traps of 12 trap types and Berlese-Tullgren extraction of leaf litter and identified all Buprestidae, Carabidae, Cerambycidae, and Curculionoidea (Anthribidae, Attelabidae, Brachyceridae, Brentidae, and Curculionidae excluding Scolytinae) to species. This resulted in the collection of 7,973 specimens representing 242 species arranged in 8 families. In a previous publication, we reported new state records and the number of specimens collected per species. In this publication, we used these data to determine the most effective collection method for four beetle groups: Carabidae, Cerambycidae, Curculionoidea (excluding Scolytinae), and Buprestidae. We found that the combination of pitfall and Malaise traps was most effective for Carabidae, Cerambycidae, and Curculionoidea, but that the combination of Malaise and green Lindgren funnel traps was most effective at collecting Buprestidae. Species accumulation curves did not become asymptotic and extrapolated rarefaction curves did not become asymptotic until 350-1,000 samples, suggesting that much more effort is required to completely inventory even a small site. Additionally, seasonal activity is presented for each species and the similarity and overlap between collecting dates and seasons is discussed for each family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined subfamilial relationships within Braconidae, using 4 kb of sequence data for 139 taxa. Genetic sampling included previously used markers for phylogenetic studies of Braconidae ( 28S and 18S rDNA) as well as new nuclear protein-coding genes ( CAD and ACC). Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference of the concatenated dataset recovered a robust phylogeny, particularly for early divergences within the family. This study focused primarily on non-cyclostome subfamilies, but the monophyly of the cyclostome complex was strongly supported. There was evidence supporting an independent clade, termed the aphidioid complex, as sister to the cyclostome complex of subfamilies. Maxfischeria was removed from Helconinae and placed within its own subfamily within the aphidioid complex. Most relationships within the cyclostome complex were poorly supported, probably because of lower taxonomic sampling within this group. Similar to other studies, there was strong support for the alysioid subcomplex containing Gnamptodontinae, Alysiinae, Opiinae and Exothecinae. Cenocoeliinae was recovered as sister to all other subfamilies within the euphoroid complex. Planitorus and Mannokeraia, previously placed in Betylobraconinae and Masoninae, respectively, were moved to the Euphorinae, and may share a close affiliation with Neoneurinae. Neoneurinae and Ecnomiinae were placed as tribes within Euphorinae. A sister relationship between the microgastroid and sigalphoid complexes was also recovered. The helconoid complex included a well-supported lineage that is parasitic on lepidopteran larvae (macrocentroid subcomplex). Helconini was raised to subfamily status, and was recovered as sister to the macrocentroid subcomplex. Blacinae was demoted to tribal status and placed within the newly circumscribed subfamily Brachistinae, which also contains the tribes Diospilini, Brulleiini and Brachistini, all formerly in Helconinae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular markers for cladistic analyses may perform differently according to the taxonomic group considered and the historical level under investigation. Here we evaluate the phylogenetic potential of five different markers for resolving evolutionary relationships within the ectoparasitic genus Dermanyssus at the species level, and their ability to address questions about the evolution of specialization. COI provided 9-18% divergence between species (up to 9% within species), 16S rRNA 10-16% (up to 4% within species), ITS1 and 2 2-9% (up to 1% within species) and Tropomyosin intron n 8-20% (up to 6% within species). EF-1α revealed different non-orthologous copies within individuals of Dermanyssus and Ornithonyssus. Tropomyosin intron n was shown containing consistent phylogenetic signal at the specific level within Dermanyssus and represents a promising marker for future prospects in phylogenetics of Acari. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the generalist condition is apomorphic and D. gallinae might represent a complex of hybridized lineages. The split into hirsutus-group and gallinae-group in Dermanyssus does not seem to be appropriate based upon these results and D. longipes appears to be composed of two different entities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior studies involving two methods, Brooks Parsimony Analysis (BPA) and TreeMap, have found BPA to be the more reliable method. Recent criticisms leveled at these studies argue that the tests were unfairly created and biased in favor of BPA. The authors of a recent critique offered new exemplars to demonstrate flaws in BPA, plus a simple fix to correct the flaws found in TreeMap. A re-evaluation of their exemplars clearly shows that the authors' calculations are incorrect, their understanding of the methods is lacking, and that their simple fix does not work. Additional analyses using TreeMap 2.02 are run to show that TreeMap 2.02, like TreeMap 1.0, cannot adequately deal with widespread parasites, contrary to the claims of its supporters. Furthermore, the exemplars corroborate previous findings that BPA, when calculated correctly, is more reliable than TreeMap1.0 and TreeMap 2.02 and therefore the method of choice in coevolutionary and biogeographic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing evidence that nocturnal moths are important pollinators of agricultural crops. However, the contribution of these pollinators to the production of crops remains largely unknown. We explored the pollination input nocturnal insects provide to self-fertile varieties of peaches and muscadine grapes. Our goal was to determine if these fruit varieties need little or no input from insect pollinators, as previously believed, or if pollination is provided by the oft-ignored nocturnal-insect pollinators. Moths were anecdotally observed to be the dominant floral visitor in peaches, diurnal or nocturnal. No floral visitors were recorded in muscadine grapes. We found that the fruit set of self-fertile varieties of both fruits was not significantly increased by any pollinator group, suggesting that pollination contribution provided by insects was unnecessary. Interestingly, we observed both common moth visitors to consistently vibrate their wings during floral visits. This behavior is known to increase body temperature in moths for flight, but this is the first time the vibration behavior has been associated with floral visitation. While the examined fruit varieties received no benefit from insect pollination, important observations highlight our lack of understanding concerning nocturnal pollination and require focused research to elucidate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinturnicid mites are ectoparasites exclusively of bats. Herein, we provide a comprehensive catalogue of spinturnicid species recorded in Brazil focusing on their distribution nationwide. This catalogue listed 16 spinturnicid species into four different genera, and a key for the genera recorded in Brazil. Also, it provides new locality records for four species: Cameronieta almaensis Almeida, Gettinger and Gardner, Periglischrus acutisternus Machado-Allison, Periglischrus caligus Kolenati, and Periglischrus iheringi Oudemans. Additionally, this study includes a detailed discussion on the host-specificity and molecular data of these mites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rodents are mammals of the order Rodentia and can harbor a number of ectoparasites. Ectoparasites can transmit diseases to human and domestic animals in residential and non-residential areas. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of ectoparasites in Rattus rattus from Mangrove forests and villages of Qeshm Island. The rodent samples were collected by live traps during 2013-2014. The gender, genus, and species of captured animals were recorded and ectoparasites were collected by skin surface brushing, and subsequently, samples were identified in a laboratory. Overall, 100 rodents were captured in the present study and three species of ectoparasites were collected as follows: Polyplax spinulosa (66%), Laelaps nuttalli (61%), and Liponyssoides muris (10%). Generally, 80 rodents (80%) were infested with at least one species of ectoparasites. Statistical analysis by the chi-square test did not show any significant relation between gender and ectoparasites (p ˃ 0.05). The results of our study indicate that high infestation of the ectoparasite community associated with the rodents captured from Mangrove forests and villages of Qeshm Island is important in terms of public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The flat mite family Tenuipalpidae includes 41 genera and more than 1100 species worldwide, and is considered one of the most important families of phytophagous mites. The Ultratenuipalpus is a small genus with 25 known species present in almost all zoogeographic regions. Here, a new species Ultratenuipalpus parameekeri Castro, Ochoa & Feres sp. nov. is described from specimens collected on ferns from Brazil. It represents the first species of the genus described from the country. The type species of the genus Ultratenuipalpus meekeri (De Leon) is redescribed based on types and newly collected material from Mexico. Highly detailed low-temperature scanning electron image (LT-SEM) micrographs and DNA barcodes are provided for both species. The taxonomy of the genus Ultratenuipalpus and the ontogenetic additions of leg setae are discussed. Species of the genus Ultratenuipalpus bear a broad subquadrate propodosoma with many large, flattened, lanceolate to ovate dorsal setae. They also bear some plesiomorphic character states, such as the presence of three pairs of ventral ps setae. Here, we describe Ultratenuipalpus parameekeri Castro, Ochoa & Feres sp. nov. based on adult females, males, and immatures, collected on ferns from Brazil. We also re-describe Ultratenuipalpus meekeri (De Leon), the type species of the genus, based on types and newly collected material from Mexico, and include additional novel data (e.g., dorsal and ventral ornamentation, leg chaetotaxy, and setal measurements) in a standardized form. We include highly detailed images obtained using LT-SEM, accompanied by DNA barcodes, for both species. The ontogenetic additions of leg chaetotaxy are presented and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cunaxidae are predaceous mites found in a variety of habitats. This work provides comprehensive keys to world subfamilies, genera, and species. Diagnoses and historical reviews are provided for subfamilies and genera. Cunaxa boneti, C. denmarki, C. exoterica, C. floridanus, C. lehmanae, C. lukoschusi, C. metzi, C. myabunderensis, C newyorkensis, C. rackae, C. reevesi, and C. reticulatus are moved to Rubroscirus and C. otiosus, C. valentis, and C. rasile are returned to Rubroscirus. Cunaxoides neopectinatus is moved to Pulaeus. Neocunaxoides pradhani and N. gilbertoi are transferred to Scutopalus. Pulaeus minutus and P. subterraneus are moved to Lupaeus. Pseudobonzia bakari, P. malookensis, and P. shamshadi are transferred to Neobonzia. Dactyloscirus bifidus is transferred to Armascirus. Scirula papillata is reported from the Western Hemisphere for the first time. Armascirus ozarkensis, A. primigenius, and Dactyloscirus dolichosetosus are reported from new localities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ornithonyssus bursa, known as the "tropical fowl mite," is a hematophagous mite of domestic and wild birds, which occasionally bites humans. Accidental bites on humans occur mainly when abandoned bird nests are close to homes or when people are handling parasitized birds. In the present study, we describe five case reports of bites on humans and new records of localities for this species. Based on the material examined, we provide morphological and molecular characterizations for this species herein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large collection of earwigflies, Merope tuber, is reported from Arkansas, and flight period and sex ratio are discussed. In contrast to previous studies, earwigflies were caught more frequently in pan traps than in Malaise traps and male clasper size was found not to be bimodal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Populations of Sancassania mites were collected in Costa Rica from scarabaeid and passalid beetles and cultured. The populations proved to be reproductively incompatible due to postzygotic isolation and show 1,4% difference in domains 2 and 3 of the 28S nuclear rDNA gene, indicating the populations represent distinct species. Because the mites were virtually indistinguishable morphologically, 61 morphological characters of 50 females and 101 characters of 60 deutonymphs of the two species were analyzed. Traditional univariate morphometrics could not separate them. Multivariate analyses of variance (principal component and discriminant function) were used to interpret morphological differences between the two species in relation to factors that influence their morphology in a laboratory and field setting. Principal component analyses were done on size and shape as well as shape variables alone. The discriminant function analysis was done on a reduced subset of shape variables. In both cases, the shape analyses resulted in complete separation of the two species and the characters contributing strongly to the discrimination were used in formal description of the two species, Sancassania salasi sp. nov. and S. ochoai sp. nov. Although deutonymphs of S. salasi taken from field-collected beetles show a significantly smaller magnitude of size variation, they show significant deviation in shape compared with cultured deutonymphs of the same species, a potential problem for correlation of specimens of other Sancassania species from culture and nature. Characters that provide the strongest contribution to these intraspecific shape changes are, therefore, taxonomically unreliable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaise traps are important tools for the large-scale collection of arthropod taxa. Here, an extensive review of the history and literature concerning Malaise and canopy traps is given. This review highlights how trap design and placement can affect trap catch, which will help researchers to make more informed choices when planning research endeavors. Additionally, terrestrial and canopy-style Malaise traps are compared to each other and other types of arthropod traps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Lepronyssoides Fonseca comprises four Neotropical species associated mainly with rodents. One of these species, L. pereirai (Fonseca), has been recorded parasitizing rodents and marsupials in several states of the north, northeast, and central-west regions of Brazil. This study is based on samples housed at the Acari Collection of the Butantan Institute (IBSP) and the National Collection of Ectoparasites and Vectors of the Univasf (NCEV-Univasf, Petrolina, PE, Brazil). It includes the first record of L. pereirai for the states of Piauí, Mato Grosso do Sul, and new host-associations with Thrichomys pachyurus, T. laurentius and Oecomys cleberi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Host-symbiont relationships are ubiquitous in nature, yet evolutionary and ecological processes that shape these intricate associations are often poorly understood. All orders of birds engage in symbioses with feather mites, which are ectosymbiotic arthropods that spend their entire life on hosts. Due to their permanent obligatory association with hosts, limited dispersal and primarily vertical transmission, we hypothesized that the cospeciation between feather mites and hosts within one avian family (Parulidae) would be perfect (strict cospeciation). We assessed cophylogenetic patterns and tested for congruence between species in two confamiliar feather mite genera (Proctophyllodidae: Proctophyllodes, Amerodectes) found on 13 species of migratory warblers (and one other closely related migratory species) in the eastern United States. Based on COI sequence data, we found three Proctophyllodes lineages and six Amerodectes lineages. Distance- and event-based cophylogenetic analyses suggested different cophylogenetic trajectories of the two mite genera, and although some associations were significant, there was little overall evidence supporting strict cospeciation. Host switching is likely responsible for incongruent phylogenies. In one case, we documented prairie warblers Setophaga discolor harboring two mite species of the same genus. Most interestingly, we found strong evidence that host ecology may influence the likelihood of host switching occurring. For example, we documented relatively distantly related ground-nesting hosts (ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla and Kentucky warbler Geothlypis formosa) sharing a single mite species, while other birds are shrub/canopy or cavity nesters. Overall, our results suggest that cospeciation is not the case for feather mites and parulid hosts at this fine phylogenetic scale, and raise the question if cospeciation applies for other symbiotic systems involving hosts that have complex life histories. We also provide preliminary evidence that incorporating host ecological traits into cophylogenetic analyses may be useful for understanding how symbiotic systems have evolved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Each year, temperate deciduous forests produce a layer of litter comprised primarily of leaves. Two common and diverse taxa found in the litter layer are ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and ground spiders (Araneae: Gnaphosidae). We collected and identified these groups on a monthly basis from April 2014 to March 2015 at 4 sites in Northwest Arkansas to determine their abundance and diversity across the following 3 variables: season, litter depth, and site location. A total of 480 litter samples and 208 pitfall-trap samples were collected and processed. These samples resulted in 645 carabids representing 47 species and 421 gnaphosids representing 15 species. Statistical analyses detected significant differences in species richness, average number of individuals, and species diversity of gnaphosids among sites. In contrast, leaf-litter depth had no significant effect on the number of individuals collected, species richness (except at one site), or species diversity of carabids and gnaphosids. Both carabids and gnaphosids were most abundant and diverse during the spring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Pellonyssus Clark and Yunker, 1956 comprises 14 species worldwide that are associates of birds. One of these species, Pellonyssus gorgasi Yunker and Radovsky, 1966, parasitizes hummingbirds in the Americas. This study represents a new host association with Eupetomena macroura (Apodiformes: Trochilidae) and the first occurrence of this mite in the state of São Paulo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirteen new species of North American Testudacarus (Torrenticolidae: Testudacarinae) are described: T. deceptivus O'Neill & Dowling, sp. n., T. hitchensi O'Neill & Dowling, sp. n., T. harrisi O'Neill & Dowling, sp. n., T. dennetti O'Neill & Dowling, sp. n., T. dawkinsi O'Neill & Dowling, sp. n., T. radwellae O'Neill & Dowling, sp. n., T. kirkwoodae O'Neill & Dowling, sp. n., T. hyporhynchus O'Neill & Dowling, sp. n., T. smithi O'Neill & Dowling, sp. n., T. rollerae O'Neill & Dowling, sp. n., T. elongatus O'Neill & Dowling, sp. n., T. rectangulatus O'Neill & Dowling, sp. n., and T. oblongatus O'Neill & Dowling, sp. n. Testudacarus vulgaris Habeeb, 1954 is resurrected from synonymy with T. minimus and redescribed. Debsacarus (Habeeb, 1961), Testudacarus americanus Marshall, 1943, and T. minimus Marshall, 1943 are redescribed. All redescriptions are from original types. Species delimination was accomplished through examination of morphology, biogeography, and molecular phylogenetics of the barcoding region of COI. Other species are addressed and a key to world species is presented. For Testudacarinae, this represents the first published: 1) descriptions from multiple specimens (i.e. intraspecific variation); 2) colored photographs; 3) explicit illustrations and discussion of sexual dimorphism within the subfamily; 4) genetic data. A comprehensive testudacarine reference list is also included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study represents the second record of pre-ballooning behavior in Arkansas Ummidia Thorell 1875 (Ctenizidae). Mygalomorph ballooning is discussed and our observations are compared with previous authors' observations. Photographs and video of the behavior are included. Images and discussion are provided detailing genus-level identification of the spiderlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trachymolgus purpureus Fisher & Dowling sp. n. is described from the Ozark highlands of North America. A diversity of imaging techniques are used to illustrate the species including low-temperature scanning electron microscopy (LT-SEM), stereomicrography, compound light micrography, and digitally created line drawings. Developmental stages (larva, nymphs, and adult) and morphology are illustrated and discussed, and terminological corrections are suggested. Trachymolgus recki Gomelauri, 1961 is regarded as being described from tritonymphs. A key to Trachymolgus is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]