Persian Journal of Acarology

Abstract The South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, India is very rich in the cultivation of agri-horticultural crops, but nowadays the crop production yield is declining due to the attack of phytophagous mites. A survey was undertaken in selected localities of the South 24 Parganas to understand the diversity of mite fauna associated with agri-horticultural crops. A network approach was applied to determine some of the mite-plant network parameters such as specialization and nestedness. The present paper deals with a total of 39 species of plant mites (18 phytophagous, 19 predatory, and two fungal feeding groups) belonging to 19 genera and 10 families. The majority of the plants on which these mites were recorded formed new host/habitat records. Brevipalpus rica, Tetranychus ludeni, and T. macfarlanei were found important injurious mites, while Amblyseius largoensis and Paraphytoseius bhadrakaliensis were found abundantly as predators and had biocontrol importance. The study also showed that the phytophagous mites had greater sample diversity compared to predatory mites. The network analysis of mite-plant association revealed that mites form a highly specialized and less nested network with host plants. It was also observed that in this network, Phaseolus vulgaris has a mite hub-like role having high centrality values. This study may form a baseline of acarological studies in South Bengal area, which might be helpful in designing pest management strategies.

Abstract We redescribed and illustrated Eutrombidium tehranicum Karimi Iravanlou, Kamali & Talebi, 2002 based on the examination of type material, and new materials collected from three provinces (Kurdestan, Kermanshah, and West Azarbaijan) on new hosts of grasshoppers (Tettigoniidae and Acrididae). Eutrombidium elborzensis Karimi Iravanlou, Kamali & Talebi, 2002 and E. fathipouri Karimi Iravanlou, Kamali & Talebi, 2002 are considered junior synonyms of E. tehranicum. This study provides an updated and corrected description, illustrations, and host records for E. tehranicum, along with a discussion of its taxonomic status and distribution.

Abstract Despite the role of ticks in many infectious diseases, studies on the diversity of bacteria in tick species are limited. There have not been any scientific articles available that explore the bacterial microbiota associated with Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus (Say) ticks in India. In this study, we attempted to gather elaborate data on the bacterial fauna associated with R. annulatus through conventional culturable and culture-independent (Next Generation Sequencing —NGS) methods. Two locations of zoonotic significance within the Western Ghats region were selected. Tick samples were obtained from grazing cows (Bos indicus) from June 2023 to September 2023. The conventional culturable method revealed three phyla and the NGS exposed 19 phyla. The culturable method reported Actinobacteria as the abundant phyla (57.14%), followed by Proteobacteria (28.57%) and Firmicutes (14.28%). According to the NGS data, phylum Firmicutes (35.81%) was the most abundant phylum with differences at 95% confidence intervals. The study obtained a total of eight bacterial genera of pathogenic potential. Given the medical importance of the identified bacterial strains in Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI), this study highlights the need for further research on tick-associated microbiomes.

Abstract The present study is based on oribatid mite material collected from the Cat Tien National Park, Southern Vietnam, in November–December 2024. A list of 54 species/subspecies, belonging to 40 genera and 21 families, is presented. One new species—Dolicheremaeus leonilae sp. nov. (Otocepheidae)– is described. The new species is characterized by a large number of the medial notogastral condyles (five to seven).

Abstract The Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman, 2000 (Mesostigmata: Varroidae) is one of the most detrimental pests for the physiology and productivity of Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in the international context. To study its reproductive behavior, different rearing protocols have been developed over the years under semi-natural or laboratory conditions. However, V. destructor has low survival capacity and does not reproduce successfully outside its natural environment and hosts. As a result, the availability of these mites for experimental purposes is limited. This research aimed to evaluate the reproductive viability of V. destructor mites under laboratory conditions, using gelatin capsules with single and double infestation by bee pupae (5^th instar). All data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models implemented in Proc GLIMMIX using the binary distribution function with the default logit link function. For both treatments (capsule with 1 and 2 mother mites), a significant effect was shown for the mean number of broods (p < 0.0001). The reproduction of mother mites in both treatments showed significant effects (p < 0.05). Males were observed more frequently in capsules infested with two V. destructor mother mites (p = 0.001). For the case of pupae mortality with two mites a significant value of p < 0.0007 was reported, as well as with the presence of one mite p < 0.0040, however, no significant differences between them were demonstrated. In conclusion, these results showed that in vitro V. destructor rearing using gelatin capsules is a useful tool for future research work. However, it is intended to continue modifying this protocol to find higher values of survival and reproductive success of mites, to analyze the biological parameters of V. destructor in studies involving a high number of adult mites, several generations, and reproductive cycles.

Abstract This article describes the nymphal instars of Pergalumna cienfuegosensis Ermilov, Kolesnikov, Kontschán & Klimov, 2023 (Oribatida, Galumnidae), based on material collected from leaf litter near a stream in a mixed forest in the Cienfuegos Province, Southern Cuba. The nymphs are characterized by a tripartite rostrum; transverse, concave medial prodorsal ridge; medium-sized rostral seta; long lamellar seta; short interlamellar and exobothridial setae; long, clavate, barbed bothridial seta; distinct gastronotic shield (macrosclerite); gastronotic setae of d-, l-, h-, and p-series represented by their alveoli (except short p₁–p₃ in protonymphal instar); transverse band on gastronotum and in aggenital region; two tubercles on subcapitular mentum; lamina between leg acetabula I and II; dorsal tooth on leg trochanter IV; and a delay in the development of some leg setae. Differences between the juvenile instars of P. cienfuegosensis and those of other known Pergalumna species are provided.

Abstract A new Anthocoptini mite, Tegolophus parietariae sp. nov. was discovered and described on Parietaria judaica L. (Urticaceae) in the Dor Badam village, Quchan County, Razavi Khorasan Province of Iran. No apparent symptoms were observed. This is the first eriophyoid mite reported from Parietaria plant species and the second species assigned to Tegolophus found on a plant of the family Urticaceae.

Abstract The present study is based on oribatid mite materials collected from benthic samples in four river locations on the Grande Terre Island, New Caledonia. A list of eight species, belonging to six genera and five families, is presented; among them are taxa that are new for the fauna of New Caledonia. One new species of the genus Trhypochthoniellus (Trhypochthoniidae)—T. grandensis sp. nov.— is described; it is mainly characterized by the nasiform rostrum having ridges; slightly polygonate ornamentation on the notogaster and in the anogenital region; the absence of the bothridial seta and bothridium; the relative length of prodorsal setae: in ˃ le ˃ ro; 14 pairs (p₃ absent) of the notogastral setae setiform (except f₁ as alveolus), nearly smooth; the relative length of the notogastral setae: c₃, e₂, h₁, h₂, p₂ ˃ cp, e₁, h₃, p₁ ˃ d₂ ˃ c₁, c₂, d₁, f₂; six pairs of genital setae.

Abstract Chiggers are the exclusive vector of scrub typhus, and Leptotrombidium yongshengense (Acari: Trombiculidae)is one of over 3,000 chigger species recorded. This paper reports the distribution and host selection of L. yongshengense in Southwest China for the first time. Leptotrombidium yongshengense was abundant in outdoor habitats in mountainous areas with middle and high altitudes. Most L. yongshengense were identified from adult hosts and showed an obvious host preference for Alexandromys oeconomus. Leptotrombidium yongshengense was found to have an aggregated distribution among different individuals of its hosts.