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Oribatulid mites inhabiting in a southwestern region of Amanos Mountains were evaluated based on samples collected in 2012. Seven taxa belonging to the family Oribatulidae Thor, 1929 were determined. Of these, Oribatula (Zygoribatula) exarata Berlese, 1916, Oribatula (Zygoribatula) excavata Berlese, 1916, Oribatula (Zygoribatula) propinqua (Oudemans, 1900), Oribatula (Oribatula) tibialis amblyptera Berlese, 1916 and Oribatula (Oribatula) interrupta interrupta (Willmann, 1939) are new records for the Turkish fauna; Oribatula (Zygoribatula) longisensilla (Djaparidze, 1985) and Oribatula (Zygoribatula) undulata Berlese, 1916 have already been determined in Turkey. Their distribution and diagnostic morphological characteristics were also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paurotyndareus Darbemamieh & Kazmierski n. gen. (Acari: Iolinidae: Tydaeolinae) is described and illustrated. The new genus can be separated from Tyndareus and near genera by reduced chaetotaxy of legs and genital region. This genus is characterized by double tip eupathidium at the end of palp, femur I with five setae, genu III with one seta, three pairs of genital and two pairs of aggenital setae. Paurotyndareus persicus Darbemamieh and Kaźmierski n. sp. collected from soil in Kermanshah, Iran is described as the type-species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An annotated checklist of identified oribatid mites of the superfamily Galumnoidea collected from Cuba, including ten species from four genera and two families, is provided. Galumna flabellifera Hammer, 1958, Pergalumna bifissurata Hammer, 1972, P. bryani (Jacot, 1934), P. decorata Balogh & Mahunka, 1977 and Galumnopsis secunda Sellnick, 1923 are recorded for the first time in the Cuban fauna. A new species of Pergalumna, P. cubaensis sp. n., is described; it is morphologically similar to P. decorata Balogh & Mahunka, 1977, but differs from the latter by the larger body size, heavily granulated prodorsum and well-developed interlamellar setae. The adult of Allogalumna cubana Balogh & Mahunka, 1979 is redescribed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of oribatid mite from New Zealand,Atropacarus(Atropacarus)niedbalaisp. nov.(Phthiracaridae), shows extreme neotrichy of the prodorsum, notogaster, genitoaggenital and anoadanal plates. The combination of these features is unique and is reported for the first time for a species of oribatid mite. This new species is the most hairy known ptyctimous mite and maybe the most neotrichous case in Oribatida (109–115 pairs of notogastral setae). Meanwhile, this species is the second example of neotrichy on the prodorsum in ptyctimous mites, and the second example of neotrichy on the genitoaggenital plates in Phthiracaridae. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:509952FF-5722-4094-A343-F9B03658CDF3 [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The morphology of juvenile stages ofEremaeus cordiformisGrandjean, 1934 is redescribed and illustrated, and those ofEueremaeus laticostulatusBayartogtokh, 2003 andProteremaeus punctulatusBayartogtokh, 2000 are described and illustrated for the first time. The juveniles of these species differ from each other mainly by the presence of distinct prodorsal ridges in the central part of the prodorsum, shape and distribution of some setae, and number of adanal and anal setae. The larva ofEr.cordiformishas these ridges, whereas other species lack them.Eueremaeus laticostulatushas relatively long and barbed prodorsal setainin the larva and most gastronotal setae similarly ornamented in all juveniles, whereas other species have these setae short and smooth. The nymphs ofEr.cordiformisandEu.laticostulatushave three pairs of posterior gastronotal setae (p1,h1,h2), which are inserted close to each other in transverse row, whereas those ofP.punctulatushave only two pairs (p1,h1) there, and setah2is inserted far from setah1and closer to setap2. The nymphs of all species lose dorsal gastronotal setae ofd-series and carry the exuvial scalps of previous instars directly on the glabrous gastronotum mainly due to lateral folds. The nymphs and adult ofP.punctulatushave three pairs of adanal setae and two pairs of anal setae, whereas those of other species have at least five pairs of each series. The adult ofEr.cordiformishas 11 pairs of notogastral setae, whereas other species investigated here have 10 pairs. The adults of all species have lamellar costulae on the prodorsum, but inP.punctulatusthey are more widely separated than in other species. At present the systematic position ofProteremaeusis controversial in the literature, but the morphology of juveniles and adult ofP.punctulatusinvestigated here confirms the membership of this genus in the Eremaeidae. A number of morphological characters support the separation ofEr.hepaticusandEr.cordiformisand we provisionally reject their synonymy, until the type or topotypic material is compared. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The juvenile stages of oribatid mites of the family Gymnodamaeidae are insufficiently known, and little information is available on the morphology of ontogenetic stages. Comparative characteristics of juvenile stages of species belonging to family Gymnodamaeidae are given based on our own data and available literature sources. Herein, the morphology of ontogenetic instars ofGymnodamaeus irregularisBayartogtokh & Schatz, 2009 is investigated. The larva and nymphs are generally similar in their habitus. Basic characteristics in juveniles are the less sclerotized and unpigmented body with granulate surface of gastronotum, larva with 11 pairs of gastronotal setae (h3absent) and nymphs with 10 pairs of gastronotal setae (setaela,lmandd-series absent, but setaelpandp-series present). Nymphs with ridge-like structure on prodorsum, and large excrescence on posterior end of gastronotum, bearing one pair of long (h1) and another pair of medium-long (p1) setae. All prodorsal, notogastral and adanal setae of larva and nymphs are densely barbed throughout. Conspicuous characters in the larval stage are the very long interlamellar setae, which are reduced in nymphs and adults to minute setae and the subequal lengths of gastronotal setae. All stages of nymphs carry gastronotic exuviae with reticulate granular sculpture of the previous instars. Adults are coated with thick cerotegument on the idiosoma, legs and most body setae. The sensillus is dilated in its distal part and covered with cerotegument. The notogaster has two pairs of irregular longitudinal ridge-like structures (procuticle); five pairs of notogastral setae; and a pair of strongly developed tuberclesSpon epimeral region III.Gymnodamaeus irregularisis a Western Palaearctic species, currently known from Central (East Tyrol, Austria) and Eastern Europe (Nizhny Novgorod region, Russia) and appears to be primarily an inhabitant of mosses and litter, and it prefers the xeric habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on two species of the trombidiform mite family Labidostommatidae from the Bükk Mountains, Hungary. One, Labidostomma (Cornutella) cornuta (G. Canestrini & Fanzago, 1877) is a new species for the fauna of Hungary, the other, L. (Nicoletiella) denticulata (Schrank, 1776) has recently been recorded by Ujvári & Kontschán (2010). A brief description of the family and the species are given, with data on morphology and known occurrences in Europe. The species are illustrated. A key to genera and subgenera of European labidostommatids is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to assess the relationship between the oppiid mite species (Acari, Oribatida) collected from Turkey, traditional and geometric morphometric methods were used. We have taken photographs of 128 specimens belonging to 11 species from six subfamilies of Oppiidae. These photographs were digitized and 17 interval measurements were taken for traditional morphometric analysis, and 20 landmarks were recognized on the ventral surface of each specimen for geometric morphometric analysis. The effectiveness to separate taxa was compared between the two morphometric analyses. In both dendrograms Oppia nitens formed a single cluster, Oxyoppia ilicaensis was singled out from the remaining nine species, which were clustered together. Two species, Lauroppia fallax and Rhinoppia obsoleta, clustered together implying a very close relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical composition of secretions from opisthonotal (oil) glands in four species of the oribatid mite genus Oribotritia (Mixonomata, Euphthiracaroidea, Oribotritiidae) was compared by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The secretions of all, O. banksi (from North America) and three Austrian oribotritiids ( O. berlesei, O. hermanni, O. storkani), are shown to be based on certain unusual compounds, the iridoid monoterpenes chrysomelidial and epi-chrysomelidial and the diterpene β-springene. These components probably represent general chemical characteristics of oribotriid oil glands. Their relative abundance in the secretions along with further components (mainly saturated and unsaturated C-, C-, C-hydrocarbons, and the tentatively identified octadecadienal) led to well-distinguishable, species-specific oil gland secretions profiles. In addition a reduced set of 'Astigmata compounds' (sensu Sakata and Norton in Int J Acarol 27:281-291, )-namely the two monoterpenes neral and geranial-could be detected in extracts of O. banksi nevertheless indicating the classification of euphthiracaroids within the (monophyletic) group of 'Astigmata compounds-bearing'-Oribatida. These compounds are considered to be apomorphically reduced in all Austrian species. Our findings emphasize the potential of chemosystematics using oil gland secretion profiles in the discrimination of morphologically very similar, syntopically living or even cryptic oribatid species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Mitochondria are well-characterized intracellular organelles usually concentrated in locations of high energy consumption. Light microscopic and transmission electron microscopic observations of the internal anatomy of the feather mites Diplaegidia columbae and Falculifer rostratus were conducted. In the anterior half of the bodies of the mites, we found several dozen of distinctive mitochondria-rich (MR) cells filled with abundant, large mitochondria. Mitochondria are placed individually or enclosed in small groups within an elaborated lamellar system forming a mitochondria–lamellae complex (MLC). The role of the MLC as well as the MR cells is not clear at present, but their involvement in heat generation is hypothesized and briefly discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The unique female holotype of Bharatoliaphilus punjabensis Prasad, 1975 (Acari: Pterygosomatidae), collected from feather of a freshly killed Eurasian Collared Dove, Streptopelia decaocto (Frivaldszky), in the state of Punjab, India, was recently re-examined and photographed. Information on the holotype is presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the holding and pulling forces generated by claws of the microarthropod Archegozetes longisetosus (Chelicerata, Acari, Oribatida) on three substrates with different roughness (Ra0.05 μm, 1 μm, 30 μm). Holding forces were measured perpendicular to the substrate using a strain gage force transducer; pulling forces were measured parallel to the substrate using an analytical scale. We found a significant positive correlation of surface roughness and the forces generated. Mites produced holding forces on horizontal rough surfaces (Ra=30 μm) of up to 1180 times their weight; on vertical rough surfaces (Ra30 μm) they can pull with 530 times their weight, effectively involving only two pairs of legs. The relative forces are five times higher than theoretically expected for organisms of this size (<1 mm, 100 peg) and higher than any relative forces reported for insect claws. Muscles involved in claw action produced stresses up to 1170 kN m-2, a value that is only excelled by decapod crustacean claw closer muscles. Ours is the first study of performance by chelicerate apoteles and claws and also the first to measure forces generated by any microarthropod. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cuticular structure of juveniles of several oribatids of different families with wrinkled cuticles were compared: Hermannia gibba, Tectocepheus velatus, Scutovertex minutus, Achipteria coleoptrata and Eupelops occultus. Both the surface and internal structures of the "plissée" were studied. Light microscopy revealed several patterns in mites studied with Masson's triple stain and these results were supported by TEM. Although the "plissée" looks similar at the body surface, the structure and ultrastructure differ among groups. Some types of wrinkling is supported by small muscles, probably for changing body shape. Differences in the structure of the cuticle of the prosoma and opisthosoma were observed. The differences in the wrinkling in the cuticle in diferent lines is associated with change in the body shape in response to different moisture conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plumicolous feather mites are ectosymbiotic organisms that live on bird feathers. Despite their abundance and prevalence among birds, the ecology of the interaction between these organisms and their hosts is poorly known. As feather mites feed on oil that birds spread from their uropygial gland, it has been hypothesized, but never tested, that the number of feather mites increases with the size of the uropygial gland of their hosts. In this study the number of feather mites is considered with respect to uropygial gland size in a breeding population of Great Tits Parus major in order to test this hypothesis. As predicted, the number of feather mites correlated positively with the uropygial gland size of their hosts, showing for the first time that uropygial gland size can explain the variance in feather mite load among conspecifics. Previous studies relating feather mite load to plumage colour have suggested that feather mites may be parasitic or neutral. To confirm this, the yellowness of breast feathers was also assessed. However, the results ran in the opposite direction to that expected, showing a positive correlation between mite load and plumage yellowness, which suggests that further work is needed to give clear evidence for a specific nature of feather mites. However, Great Tits with higher mite loads had lower hatching and breeding success, which may support the idea that feather mites are parasites, although this effect must be taken with caution because it was only found in males. Age or sex effects were not found on the number of feather mites, and it is proposed that hormonal levels may not be sufficient to explain the variation in feather mite loads. Interestingly, a positive correlation was detected between uropygial gland size and plumage brightness, which could be a novel factor to take into account in studies of plumage colour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]