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A new species, Ficotarsonemus bancroftisp. nov., is described from female and male mites from within the syconium of the sandpaper fig Ficus coronata Spin collected from southeast Queensland, Australia. We summarize records of fig mites (Tarsonemidae: Tarsonemellini) to date and provide a key to genera and species. Paper LSID: Species LSID: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diplogyniopsis fluctuosumsp. nov. associated with passalid beetles is described based on females from China on undermined passalid beetles, as well as on females and males from Thailand on Aceraius helferi (Coleoptera: Passalidae). The species represents the second known species of Diplogyniopsis Trägårdh, prompting us to redefine the genus diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides an updated description of the type species of Weiseronyssus Samšiňák, W. mirus Samšiňák, with redescription of the female and male based on paratype slides and newly-collected mites. Specimens of W. mirus were collected in China from laboratory-reared Allomyrina dichotoma (Coleoptera: Scarabaeids: Dynastinae) larvae. A key to both sexes of Weiseronyssus species is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of tarsonemid mite from the tribe Coreitarsonemini, Coreitarsonemus eratosp. nov., is described from female, male and larval specimens collected from the odoriferous glands of the Australian gum-tree bug Amorbus rhombifer (Westwood, 1842). We summarise the hosts and distributions of each species, provide updated keys, and speculate that species of Coreitarsonemini are largely restricted to the tropics and host species that persist as adults year-round. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Storchia pacifica (Summers, 1964) is redescribed from specimens intercepted by staff of the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry from Cambodia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Kiribati, Laos, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Nigeria, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Uganda, Vanuatu, and Vietnam. Most of the specimens were intercepted on products made from woven natural fibre such as mats and baskets. The specimens show variation in the form of their dorsal setae, which are slender and tapered to strongly clavate distally. Otherwise, dorsal and leg chaetotaxy is consistent, as is the characteristic pattern of body striation of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mites are masters at attaching to larger animals, often insects, in a temporary symbiosis called phoresy that allows these tiny animals to exploit patchy resources. In this article, we examine phoresy in the Acari, including those that feed on their carriers in transit, from a broad perspective. From a phylogenetic perspective, phoresy has evolved several times from free-living ancestors but also has been lost frequently. Rotting logs appear to be the first patchy resource exploited by phoretic mites, but the evolution of rapid life cycles later permitted exploitation of short-lived resources. As phoresy is a temporary symbiosis, most species have off-host interactions with their carrier. These relationships can be highly complex and context dependent but often are exploitative of the carrier's resources or progeny. Transitions from phoresy to parasitism seem widespread, but evidence for transitions from obligate phoretic parasitism to permanent parasitism is weak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The largely unique fauna of ticks in Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) has been studied for 250 years. Here, we briefly review the early stages of tick taxonomy in the region, then focus on the activities of five people who contributed much to our knowledge of ticks in Australasia during the second half of the 20th century: F.H.S Roberts, David H. Kemp, Douglas E. Moorhouse, Nixon Wilson and Harry Hoogstraal. We provide biographical notes on each and collated publication lists for Roberts, Kemp and Moorhouse. We recognize three eras of tick taxonomy in Australia. First, an era that we refer to as "colonial tick taxonomy", where ticks were sent from the European colonies to taxonomists in Europe. Second, a brief but significant era that we refer to as "endemic tick taxonomy" defined by the works of F.H.S. Roberts. Thirdly, a final phase of "colonial taxonomy" where ticks were described by workers in the USA. In PNG there has been no phase of endemic tick taxonomy and, while Australian workers are once again describing new tick species, in PNG the USA continues to make the most significant contributions. Through this work, we now see Australasia as one of the "theatres of evolution" of Bothriocroton and Archaeocroton, the Amblyomma-like ticks without eyes. We briefly discuss the current hypotheses for the theatre of evolution of the Ixodida, consider the 22 genus and subgenus-level entities of the Prostriata (Ixodinae) as provisional biological entities, and provide observations on tick phylogenetics and future research. Finally, we outline additional genetic evidence, from a recent whole-transcriptome study, for the two clades of the subfamily Ixodinae (Prostriata), the Australasian Ixodes and all other Ixodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined a dataset of body sizes comprising 3209 species of Mesostigmata to test two hypotheses regarding body size patterns: that species living in symbiotic relationships differ in size compared with those that are free-living, and that mite species show geographic body size gradients. We found that Mesostigmata in symbiotic relationships are considerably larger than those that are free-living, but the type of symbiosis (commensal versus parasitic) had little influence on body size. We also found that free-living mite species fit a Bergmann size cline (larger species in cool climates), but mite species in commensal relationships show a converse Bergmann size cline (larger species in warm climates) while no pattern was found for parasitic species. These results fit a resource-based explanation for both patterns. We hypothesize that animals that use more easily obtainable resources grow larger, through resource pulses in temperate zones for free-living mites and use of concentrated resources for commensal and parasitic species. Available microhabitats could also promote smaller sizes in free-living Mesostigmata: i.e. soil and plants offer more and smaller microhabitats to exploit and are hence occupied by smaller species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a new species ofParacarophenaxCross based on females found attached to the larvae of threeMycetophagussp. (Coleoptera: Mycetophagidae) collected from the fungusPleurotus ostreatus(Agaricales: Pleurotaceae) in Alberta, Canada. These mites exhibit a novel means of attachment: instead of grasping one of the host’s setae, adhesive pads are deposited on the host’s cuticle and gripped by the mite’s opposed tarsus I claw and uncinate setauʺ. We hypothesize that the glue-like material is exuded from the mite’s mouth. The mite’s association with the larval beetle represents pre-parasitic (these mites are parasitoids of beetle eggs) and pre-phoretic (mites disperse on adult beetles) attendance of the host and is a rare record of phoretic (as opposed to feeding) attachment to a pre-adult stage in the Heterostigmatina. This mite is also the first record of the Acarophenacidae from the Mycetophagidae. We provide updated keys to the genera of Acarophenacidae and to species ofParacarophenaxand moveParacarophenax dermestidarumtoAethiophenax, i.e.Aethiophenax dermestidarum(Rack 1959)comb. nov. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:507550D8-1E3C-48F2-B277-A9D471E21468 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Megisthanus leviathanicussp. nov. is described from the passalid beetleMastachilus australasicusfrom Australia. The adult male is the largest of all known Mesostigmata with one specimen measuring 5.05 mm in length. The sexes are dimorphic: female mites are smaller, have numerous elongate setae, and a lyriform dorsal shield, while the major males have minute dorsal setae and a subovate dorsal shield. Some minor males (n = 4/48) resemble the female in having numerous elongate dorsal setae. Usually only one major male was found on a beetle, but rarely a minor male also occurred, suggesting that a major male defends a beetle and that minor males share access to females. Both sexes had considerable variation in the secondary sclerotization around their dorsal shields. This variation requires some adjustments to the current taxonomy. HereinMegisthanus caudatusis considered a senior synonym ofM. brachyurussyn. nov.andM. testudosyn. nov., asM. brachyurusis based on a female without secondary sclerotization andM. testudoon the male ofM. caudatus. The Australian speciesMegisthanus thorelli, and the North American speciesMegisthanus floridanus, are diagnosed. The diagnostic character states for megisthanid species are explored, especially the female’s internal genitalia. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FB6B6509-64A6-4454-8B58-F412FA2833C1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of tarsonemid mite, Steneotarsonemus hippodromus sp. nov., is described from kikuyu grass Pennisetum clandestinum (Poaceae). The new species is the fifth species of the subgenus Steneotarsonemoides. Keys to the subgenera of Steneotarsonemus and species of Steneotarsonemoides are provided, as is a list of species in each subgenus of Steneotarsonemus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flat miteDolichotetranychus australianus(Womersley, 1943) – a significant pest ofCynodonturfgrasses in Australia and Africa – is redescribed on the basis of new Australian material collected fromC. dactylon(bermudagrass, green couchgrass) and its hybridC. dactylon×transvaalensis. All active life stages are described, leg chaetotaxy is provided, anomalous features are noted and the specimens compared with type material. The species is widespread in Queensland and is probably present anywhere thatC. dactylonis grown in Australia, as indicated from its presence in other states. Photographs of its colonies and damage to turfgrass are presented, and damage symptoms are compared with similar damage caused byAceria cynodoniensis(Trombidiformes: Eriophyidae).Dolichotetranychus summersPritchard and Baker, 1952 known fromC. dactylonin California, is redescribed from type material and confirmed as a species distinct fromD. australianus, with both sexes ofD. summersilacking genital setaeg2, coxal seta2band the subcapitular setam. MaleD. summersialso have two solenidia on tarsi I–II and have an aedeagus approximately one-third the length (65 μm) that ofD. australianus(ca. 200 μm). The speciesDolichotetranychus riyadhensisAlatawi and Kamran, 2015 is considered a junior synonym ofD. australianus, and ontogenetic leg chaetotaxy ofDolichotetranychus zoysiaeEhara, 2004 is provided and corrected. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A new species of Scissuralaelaps (Acari: Laelapidae: Iphiopsidinae), S. huberi sp. nov., is described from the millipede Acladocricus sp. (Spirobolida: Rhinocricidae) in the Philippines. The new species is close to S. bipartitus Ishikawa, which also has males with heavily sclerotised anterior and lateral margins of the peritrematal and metapodal shields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new species of Eutarsopolipus Berlese, 1913 (Acari: Podapolipidae) are described from adult females, larviform adult males and larval females collected from under the elytra of pterostichine carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in southeast Queensland: Eutarsopolipus earnshawi sp. nov. from Cratoferonia phylarchus (Sloane, 1900), Eutarsopolipus lambkinae sp. nov. from Notonomus angustibasis Sloane, 1902 and Eutarsopolipus rutherfordae sp. nov. from Trichosternus subvirens (Chaudoir, 1865) . All the new species belong to the ochoai species group and a key to species of this group is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research which examined the mites of the genus Fedrizzia from passalid beetles of the genus Mastachilus from Australia, published in 2013. A description of two new species, Fedrizzia classeni species nova and Fedrizzia humei species nova, is presented. The materials and methods used to conduct the study are also discussed.

A new tribe, Obuloidini tr. nov. Beard, Ueckermann & Seeman, is proposed to include the genera Krugeria Meyer, Obuloides Baker & Tuttle and two new genera, Bauchania gen. nov. Beard & Seeman and Krobuloides gen. nov. Ueckermann. The genus Krugeria is revised, with the redescription of the type species Kru. ramosa Meyer (based on type material) and the addition of four new species, Kru. neseri sp. nov. Beard & Seeman, Kru. tshipise sp. nov. Beard & Seeman, and Kru. esseleeae Ueckermann from South Africa, and Kru. ueckermanni Beard & Seeman from Australia (new generic record). A new genus from South Africa, Krobuloides gen. nov. Ueckermann, is described based on three new species, Kro. aydeni sp. nov. Ueckermann, Kro. eduani sp. nov. Ueckermann and Kro. waldoi sp. nov. Ueckermann. The genus Obuloides is revised with redescriptions of the following species, all based on type material: the type species O. rajamohani Baker & Tuttle from India; O. rimando Corpuz-Raros from The Philippines; and O. crinitus Maake & Ueckermann, O. flavae Ueckermann, Theron & Tiedt, O. inquilinus Ueckermann et al., O. namibiensis Ueckermann et al., O. occidentalis Ueckermann et al., and O. ruginosus Ueckermann et al. from South Africa. A new genus, Bauchania gen. nov. Beard & Seeman, is described from Australia, based on two new species, B. dampiera sp. nov. Beard & Seeman and B. goodenia sp. nov. Beard & Seeman. A discussion of the character states shared by these four genera is presented, with a key to separate them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterostigmatic mites (Heterostigmata) are highly diverse, have symbiotic associations with various insects and occur worldwide. Despite Australia's rich insect biodiversity, little is known about its heterostigmatic mites. In this study, we conducted a preliminary study on heterostigmatic mites associated with beetles in eastern Australia and found four species, of which three were new: Caraboacarus stammeri Krczal, 1959 (Caraboacaridae) and Eutarsopolipus orpheus Katlav & Seeman, sp. nov., (Podapolipidae) associated with Australian‐endemic Gnathaphanus melbournensis (Castelnau, 1867) (Carabidae); Hoplocheylus australiensis Katlav & Seeman, sp. nov., (Tarsocheylidae) phoretic on Australian‐endemic Mastachilus quaestionis (Kuwert, 1891) (Passalidae); and Pavania gazellatris Katlav & Seeman, sp. nov., (Dolichocybidae) phoretic on introduced Digitonthophagus gazella (Fabricius, 1787) (Scarabaeidae). The species of Caraboacaridae, Dolichocybidae and Tarsocheylidae are the first species records of these families in Australia. It is likely that two of the three new species are Australian endemics, while P. gazellatris may be a more recent arrival on introduced dung beetles, possibly arriving with imports of exotic adult dung beetles. Furthermore, we provide an overview of the heterostigmatic mite fauna of Australia that consists of less than 90 species belonging to 13 families, with representatives of all known seven superfamilies. These mites have so far been mostly reported on beetles but also on other insect orders (Blattodea, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Orthoptera, Thysanoptera). Our findings of three new species and one new record based on the analysis of a relatively small number of specimens and beetle species suggest that more comprehensive studies of host insect taxa will reveal a substantially larger Australian diversity of heterostigmatic mites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of the genus Tenuipalpus Donnadieu, 1875 (Acari: Trombidiformes: Tenuipalpidae), namely Tenuipalpus etemadiisp. nov. from Aerva sp. (Amaranthaceae) and Phragmites australis (Poaceae), is described from Iran (Kerman Province). This species belongs to the caudatus species group, bakeri subgroup. This subgroup is briefly reviewed, and a strong biogeographic pattern noted: those species that are also considered part of Tenuipalpus sensu stricto or are close to it, are almost entirely Nearctic (15/16 species), while the remaining 21 species are generally Palaearctic, with just one species from the Nearctic region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chrysomelobia matsuzawai sp. nov. and Chrysomelobia nipponica sp. nov. (Acari: Podapolipidae) are described from Gonioctena rubripennis Baly (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) collected in Japan. This is the first record of the genus Chrysomelobia Regenfuss, 1968 in Asia. Adult females of the type species for Chrysomelobia, Chrysomelobia mahunkai Regenfuss, 1968, were recollected from female specimens infesting a Gonioctena sp. in Germany. An updated key to all species of Chrysomelobia is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of flat mite (Acari: Tenuipalpidae),Ultratenuipalpus jubatusOtley, Beard and Seemansp. nov., is described from the green stems of forest oakAllocasuarina torulosa(Aiton) L.A.S. Johnson (Casuarinaceae) in Australia. We reinstateExtenuipalpusas a genus, withE. quadrisetosus(Lawrence, 1940) as the type species, and moveTenuipalpus niekerkaeMeyer, 1979 andTenuipalpus saggitusMeyer, 1993a toExtenuipalpus. We treatUrigersonusas a junior subjective synonym ofUltratenuipalpus, thus returningUrigersonus bunyai(Smiley and Gerson, 1995) toUltratenuipalpus. The generaUltratenuipalpusandExtenuipalpusare diagnosed and a key is provided for each genus.Ultratenuipalpusis shown to comprise two groups that generally conform to a biogeographic pattern: those species without setaf2show a Gondwanan distribution, post-separation from Africa, while those with setaf2are found in Africa, North America and East Asia. We also show that the pair of pseudanal setae that are modified into genital stylets in the male are setaeps3, notps1as previously thought, and therefore setaeps3are always present in flat mites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ixodes barkeri, a tick with a distinctive ventrolateral horn-like projection on palpal segment 1, was described in 2019 from two male ticks from the Wet Tropics of Far North Queensland, Australia. However, females lie at the core of the taxonomy and subgenus classification of Ixodes; hence, we sought specimens of female ticks, successfully recovering females, plus nymphs and larvae. Mitochondrial genomes are also desirable additions to the descriptions of species of ticks particularly regarding subgenus systematics. So, we sequenced the mt genomes of I. barkeri Barker, 2019, and the possible relatives of I. barkeri that were available to us (I. australiensis Neumann, 1904, I. fecialis Warburton & Nuttall, 1909, and I. woyliei Ash et al. 2017) with a view to discovering which if any of the subgenera of Ixodes would be most suitable for I. barkeri Barker, 2019. Results: The female, nymph, larva and mitochondrial genome of Ixodes barkeri Barker, 2019, are described for the first time and the male of I. barkeri is redescribed in greater detail than previously. So far, I. barkeri is known only from a monotreme, the short-beaked echidna, Tachyglossus aculeatus (Shaw, 1792), from the highland rainforests of the Wet Tropics of Far North Queensland, Australia. Conclusions: Our phylogeny from entire mitochondrial genomes indicated that I. barkeri and indeed I. woyliei Ash et al., 2017, another tick that was described recently, are best placed in the subgenus Endopalpiger Schulze, 1935. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new tetranychine spider mites are described from Astragalus in Iran: Tetranychus neosalsolaesp. nov. and Augeriflechtmannia astragalussp. nov. The possible close relationship between the new species prompted us to review the genus AugeriflechtmanniaKoçak & Kemal, 2008—formerly DiplonychusAuger & Flechtmann, 2003. We refine the genus diagnosis and move Tetranychus armeniacaBagdasarian, 1951 and Tetranychus iraniensis Mahdavi & Ueckermann, 2013 to Augeriflechtmannia and discuss the possible synonymy of these species. The genus now comprises five species from Armenia, Iran and Tunisia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of the neotenic flat mite genus Larvacarus Baker and Pritchard, 1952 (Acariformes: Tetranychoidea: Tenuipalpidae), Larvacarus iranicus sp. nov., is described from females collected from Astragalus sp. (Fabaceae) in Iran (Kerman Province). This is the second report of this genus in the world. The relationships of Larvacarus with other flat mite genera, including the other larviform species in the genera Raoiellana Baker and Tuttle, 1972 and Phytoptipalpus Trägårdh, 1904 are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new species of the genusFavognathusLuxton, 1973 are described from Iran, namelyFavognathus esfahaniensissp. nov., collected from soil under lichen at Najaf Abad, Esfahan Province;Favognathus alvandiisp. nov., from soil under plum, hawthorn and quince trees at Hamedan, Hamedan Province; andFavognathus guilanicussp. nov., from soil under an unknown plant at Rasht, Guilan Province. The female and male of the type speciesCryptognathus lagenaKramer, 1879 are re-described.Cryptognathus sternalisKrantz, 1958 is removed from synonymy withC. lagenaafter examination of the ornamentation and leg setation of type specimens, because trochanter I has 1 seta and tarsi I–IV 15(1ω)–12(1 ω)–9(1ω)–9(1ω) inC. lagenainstead of trochanter I nude and tarsi I–IV 15(2ω)–12(2 ω)–10(1 ω)–10(1ω) inC. sternalis. http://zoobank.org/urn:LSID:zoobank.org:pub:D801D0D7-2B02-4D0C-91E7-0ED50C8B89D8 [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The setae of mites are not regarded as secretory structures, yet in the flat mite genus Raoiella , each developmental stage presents droplets of fluid associated with the tips of their dorsal setae. To understand the origin of this fluid, the ultrastructure of the dorsal setae is investigated in females of Raoiella bauchani Beard & Ochoa and the invasive pest species Raoiella indica Hirst using scanning and transmission electron microscopy techniques. The dorsal setae are barbed along their entire length and have either a broadened plumose or a flat spatulate tip. Ultrastructurally, they present the typical features of mechanoreceptors, but have a "hollow" axis represented by a protoplasmatic core containing dendritic branches. This combination of ultrastructural characters indicates that the setae might be multimodal receptors: acting as both mechanoreceptors and contact chemoreceptors. The epidermal cells that underlie the setal sockets are columnar and have an ultrastructure that suggests they have a glandular function. Moreover, these cells present regular microvilli apically and form extracellular cuticular canals, containing epicuticular filaments, that are connected with the microvilli proximally and which open via pores onto the surface of the setal base distally. This arrangement indicates that the secretion from the microvilli passes into the canals and is then conducted to pores at the base of the seta, where it then accumulates and moves up the setal shaft, along the longitudinal grooves of the barbs. Based on similar arrangements in some insect taxa, the organization of the structures here observed in Raoiella suggests the passage of a non-polar, water insoluble, lipoid fluid through the cuticle, the function of which is still obscure. • Dorsal setae in the genus Raoiella could act as both mechanoreceptor and contact chemoreceptors. • Structure of epidermal cells underlying the dorsal setae suggests an active secretory role. • These secretory cells are connected to extracellular tubule cuticular structures. • Tubule structures open via pores on the side walls of the setal sockets. • Presence of epicuticular filaments suggests an involvement in the transport mechanisms of waterproofing lipoid materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]