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This paper deals with two species of Scutascirus. Scutascirus hechiensis Chen & Jin sp. nov. is distinguished from the close species, S. pentascutellusCorpuz-Raros & Garcia, 1996 by the follows: basifemur IV with 2 sts; telofemora III with 4 sts and IV with 3 sts; genu IV with 6 sts; tibia I with 2 bsl and III with 1 bsl; tarsus I with 3 bsl. The male of Scutascirus triangulumLin, Zhang & Ji, 2001 is described for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The predatory mite, Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor), is an important biological control agent of Tetranychus urticae Koch in greenhouse crops. Oulenziella bakeri is an important alternative prey for the commercial production of N. californicus. To confirm that the predatory relationship between N. californicus and O. bakeri is beneficial to the reproduction of N. californicus, the functional and numerical responses of N. californicus to O. bakeri and T. urticae were compared when exposed to six prey densities (2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 individuals) under laboratory conditions. An analysis of the logistic regression showed that the adult female N. californicus displayed a type II functional response when fed on O. bakeri and T. urticae eggs and nymphs. The proportion of the consumed prey by N. californicus to the total supplied prey declined, even though the absolute number of predation events increased as the prey density increased. The Holling disc equation revealed that N. californicus had greater attack rates on the eggs (0.86-1.03) and nymphs (0.73-0.93) of T. urticae than those of O. bakeri, which were (0.55–0.73) and (0.71–0.96), respectively. N. californicus had longer handling times for the eggs (0.05–0.09) and nymphs (0.07–0.12) of O. bakeri compared with those of T. urticae, which were (0.03–0.05) and (0.04–0.07), respectively. The numbers of eggs laid by N. californicus feeding on eggs and nymphs of T. urticae were greater than those feeding on O. bakeri; but as the density increased, the difference in the oviposition rates between the predators feeding on two mites decreased. The comparison of the functional and numerical responses of the predator to O. bakeri and T. urticae revealed that the former is a good alternative food in the commercial production of N. californicus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of genus Pseudoscirus Wurlitzer & Rocha, 2021, P. menglaensis Chen & Jin sp. nov. is described, which represents a newly recorded genus Pseudoscirus to China. And a key to species (adult females) of Pseudoscirus is given in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A known species, Scirula papilataLin, 1997 based on samples collected from Hubei Province, China, is redescribed with the detailed illustration and the first description of males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of genus Cunaxa, namely, C. papilla Chen & Jin sp. nov. and C. striata Chen & Jin sp. nov. are described and illustrated. C. papilla Chen & Jin sp. nov. was collected in Ruyuan Yao Autonomous County, Shaoguan City, Guangdong province, China. It's similar to C. magoebaensis Den Heyer, 1979, but differs from it by the long finger-like apophysis on the palp telofemur, propodosomal shield with fine papillae and c1, c2, d1, e1, f1 and h1 situated on small platelets. C. striata Chen & Jin sp. nov. was collected in Qingchuan County, Sichuan province and Zhaoqing City, Guangdong province, China. It's similar to C. yaylensisSergeyenko, 2009, but differs from it by the propodosomal shield with broken striae, c1 longer than or equal to f1 and h1 in length, f1 extending beyond the base of h1 and two pairs of hysterogastral setae (hgs1–hgs2). A key to adult females of Cunaxa species of the China is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with a new species of genus Parabonzia and newly recorded genus Bonzia from China. Parabonzia bioxys Chen & Jin sp. nov., which is described and illustrated based on adult females collected from rotten wood in Hainan Province, China, differs from all other Parabonzia by the dorsal seta of the palp telofemur having two tines instead of three or more (most species) or being unbranched (P. mindanensisCorpuz-Raros, 1996). Bonzia halacaroidesOudemans, 1927 is redescribed based on adult females collected from fallen leaves in Jiangxi Province and Chongqing City, China, which represents a newly recorded genus BonziaOudemans, 1927 to China and adds more details and new illustrations to its original description. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to endure starvation is important for predatory mite survival and its effectiveness as biological control agent. We studied the longevity and functional response of the prodator mite Neoseiulus californicus (McGregaor) under starvation stress. N. californicus individuals were treated as three groups: the mites were provided with nothing (group I), with fresh bean leaves (group II), and with water (group III) to the larvae, protonymphs, deutonymphs, adult males and females. Functional response of N. californicus to Tetranychus urticae Koch eggs was evaluated after starvation for 0 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h. Results showed that all life stages of N. californicus in group III had the longest survival time among the three groups. Adult females had the strongest ability to endure starvation with a mean survival time of 8.16 d. Females had the ability to lay eggs, but the number of eggs laid was less than a mean of 1.2 eggs per female in the three starvation groups. N. californicus exhibited a Holling's Type II functional response at all hunger levels. The handling time (Th) and attack rate (α) of the predator were not significantly different in all hunger levels. Predation rate of starved 0 h to 72 h initially increased and then decreased. The highest predation rate was recorded when the predators were starved for 24 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chaetotaxy is an important character especially in mites and can be applied in species diagnosis, phylogenetics, ontogeny, and so on. Chaetotaxic ontogeny of Bdella was carried out through comparing both immature and adult descriptions of eight Bdella species, including a new species, B. xinisp. nov., from China. Based on these species, chaetotaxy changes in Bdella mainly focused on ventral hypostomal setae (vh), setae on palpal basifemur, aggenital setae (ag), genital setae (g), anal setae (ad) and leg setae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]