Alexander A. Khaustov

Effects of Cushion Plants on High-Altitude Soil Microarthropod Communities: Cushions Increase Abundance and Diversity of Mites (Acari), but not Springtails (Collembola)

ABSTRACT Cushion plants in alpine ecosystems act as nurse species, which modify and alleviate environmental conditions and positively influence the diversity and abundance of other organisms. Soil fauna in alpine environments should benefit from nurse plant facilitation, but this has not been investigated. We compared diversity, abundance, and community structure of soil microarthropods (Collembola, Oribatida, Mesostigmata, Prostigmata, Endeostigmata, and Astigmata) under cushion plants and in adjacent open microsites in high altitude patterned ground landscapes in New Zealand. We investigated how cushion plants influence environmental factors, and how environmental factors and species traits contribute to microarthropod community structure. The results show that cushion plants are a key in maintaining the biodiversity of soil microarthropods in the high alpine. Cushion plants maintain higher moisture and organic matter content in the soil, provide productive and structurally complex habitat, and mitigate disturbance. Abundance and species richness of Oribatida, Mesostigmata, and Prostigmata were higher under cushion plants. In contrast, abundance of Collembola was higher in open microsites, while their species richness similar in and out of cushions. Oribatida assemblages were dominated by small asexual species, indicating a disturbed environment. Oribatida community structure was significantly related to the microhabitat in two out of three mountain ranges. Collembola assemblages were similar in and out of cushions. Higher soil moisture and organic matter content under cushion plants were significant in explaining patterns in microarthropod assemblages, although high percentage of variability was not explained by environmental variables. There was no effect of cushions on soil temperatures. Species identity of the cushion plant did not influence abundance, species richness, or community assemblages of mites and springtails; however, some species were associated with either Dracophyllum or Raoulia cushions.

A new genus of the mite family Scutacaridae (Acari: Heterostigmata) associated with Trinervitermes trinervoides (Isoptera: Termitidae) from South Africa

A new monotypic genus of scutacarid mites, Gerdalbertia gen. nov. (Acari: Pygmephoroidea: Scutacaridae), with type species G. elongata sp. nov. is described from nests of and phoretic on termites, Trinervitermes trinervoides (Sjostedt, 1911) (Isoptera: Termitidae), from South Africa. The taxonomic position of the new genus is discussed.

New species and a record of myrmecophilous mites of the families Neopygmephoridae and Microdispidae (Acari: Heterostigmatina: Pygmephoroidea) associated with Lasius umbratus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Western Siberia, Russia

Two new myrmecophilous species of the family Neopygmephoridae (Acari: Pygmephoroidea), Petalomium brevicaudus sp. nov. and P. kurganiensis sp. nov. are described from the ant Lasius umbratus Nylander (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae) in Western Siberia, Russia. Another myrmecophilous species of the family Microdispidae (Acari: Pygmephoroidea), Caesarodispus brevipes Mahunka, 1981, was also collected from the ant L. umbratus in Western Siberia, Russia. It is recorded from Russia for the first time and is redescribed in the present paper.

Myrmecophilous pygmephoroid mites (Acari: Pygmephoroidea) associated with Lasius flavus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Russia.

Twenty four species of pygmephoroid mites (Acari: Pygmephoroidea: Neopygmephoridae, Scutacaridae, Microdispidae) are recorded from the ant Lasius flavus (Fabricius) or from its nests from Western Siberia and Crimea. Four of them of the genus Scutacarus Gros, 1845 (Acari: Scutacaridae), S. insolitus sp. nov., S. heterotrichus sp. nov., S. moseri sp. nov. and S. sibiriensis sp. nov. are described as new for science. Four species of scutacarid mites are recorded for the first time in Russia. The comparison of pygmephoroid mite communities associated with Lasius flavus from Crimean and West Siberian populations and notes on phoresy of pygmephoroid mites on ants are provided.

New taxa of the family Trochometridiidae (Acari: Heterostigmata) associated with insects from Iran

A new genus and two new species of mites of the family Trochometridiidae (Acari: Heterostigmata) are described from Iran: Neotrochometridium sensillum Hajiqanbar and Khaustov gen. nov., sp. nov. associated with two carabid beetles and Trochometridium iranicum Hajiqanbar and Khaustov sp. nov. associated with a halictid bee. We also present the first report of two previously described species. These findings provide the first record of the family Trochometridiidae from Iran. The chaetotaxy of tarsus I of the family is discussed and a key to world genera and species is provided.

New taxa and record of mite family Microdispidae (Acari: Heterostigmata) from alpine New Zealand

ABSTRACT A new monotypic genus Paraphyllodispus Khaustov and Minor gen. nov. (Acari: Pygmephoroidea: Microdispidae) with type species P. vulgaris sp. nov., and new species Phyllodispus undulatus Khaustov and Minor sp. nov. and Microdispus (Microdispus) montanus Khaustov and Minor sp. nov. are described from alpine zone (1600–1900 m a.s.l.) of the Central Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand. Dolichodispus angustus (Krczal, 1959) is also recorded from New Zealand for the first time.

Three new species of myrmecophilous scutacarid mites (Acari: Scutacaridae) from Western Siberia, Russia.

Three new species of myrmecophilous mites of the genus Scutacarus Gros, 1845 (Acariformes: Pygmephoroidea: Scutacaridae), S. lasiophilus sp. nov., S. myrmicinus sp. nov., and S. crinitus sp. nov. are described from ants and their nests in Tyumen Province, Western Siberia, Russia.

A New Species of Parapygmephorus Cross, 1965 (Acari; Heterostigmatina; Neopygmephoridae) Phoretic on Halictus quadricinctus (Fabricius, 1776) (Hym.; Halictidae) from Iran

A new species of the genus Parapygmephorus Cross, 1965 (Acari: Heterostigmatina, Neopygmephoridae) is described from Northeastern Iran. A phoretic adult female of Parapygmephorus khorasanicus Hajiqanbar and Khaustov sp. n. was discovered clasping on hairs on the ventral body surface of Halictus quadricinctus (Fabricius, 1776) (Hymenoptera; Halictidae). It is the fifth representative among the known species of the genus Parapygmephorus in the world. Differentiation of new species from other species of the genus is discussed, and a key to known world species is provided.

A new genus and three new species of Podapolipidae (Acari: Tarsonemina) parasitic on Nicrophorus and Silpha (Coleoptera: Silphidae) in Japan and Ukraine

Abstract Silphopolipus nicrophori, S. eidelbergi and S. obscurae n. gen., n. spp. (Acari: Podapolipidae) are described from Nicrophorus quadripunctatus Kraatz, Silpha carinata Herbst and S. obscura L. (Coleoptera: Silphidae) collected in Japan and Ukraine, and compared with related species. This is the first record of podapolipid mites from silphid beetles.

Two new genera of mite family Microdispidae (Acari: Heterostigmata) associated with Macrotermes subhyalinus (Isoptera: Termitidae) from Ethiopia

ABSTRACT Two new monotypic genera, Ethiodispus Khaustov gen. nov. with type species E. asensillus Khaustov sp. nov., and Afrodispus Khaustov gen. nov. with type species A. macroungulosus Khaustov sp. nov. (Acari: Pygmephoroidea: Microdispidae) are described from Macrotermes subhyalinus (Rambur) (Isoptera: Termitidae) from Ethiopia. The taxonomic position of the new genera is discussed. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:851FCB28-E7A2-4F25-B45E-BEEB3D4FD04A