Alexandr A. Khaustov

Two new species of mites of the genera Petalomium Cross and Caesarodispus Mahunka (Acari: Heterostigmata: Neopygmephoridae, Microdispidae) associated with Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the U.S.A.

Abstract Two new species of myrmecophilous pygmephoroid mites, Petalomium hofstetteri n. sp. (Neopygmephoridae) and Caesarodispus klepzigi n. sp. (Microdispidae), associated with the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are described from Louisiana, U.S.A.

Protoresinacarus brevipedis gen. n., sp. n. from Early Cretaceous Burmese amber: the first fossil record of mites of the Family Resinacaridae (Acari: Heterostigmata: Pyemotoidea)

A new genus and species of mites, Protoresinacarus brevipedis gen. n., sp. n. (Acari: Heterostigmata: Pyemotoidea), is described from Early Cretaceous Burmese amber. This represents the first fossil record of a member of the family Resinacaridae. It is represented by 21 phoretic females adjacent to an adult mantidfly (Neuroptera: Mantispidae). This is the first record of phoresy of pyemotid mites on members of the insect order Neuroptera. The fossil mites differ from extant members of the family in possessing distinctly shorter legs I, which do not reach beyond the apex of the gnathosoma, and by the long setae v 1, v 2 and c 2.

Mites of the superfamily Pygmephoroidea (Acari: Heterostigmata: Neopygmephoridae, Pygmephoridae) associated with Trox cadaverinus (Coleoptera: Trogidae) from the Far East of Russia, with description of a new genus and two new species

Three species of the superfamily Pygmephoroidea (Neopygmephoridae: Pygmephoridae), phoretic on Trox cadaverinus Illiger (Coleoptera: Trogidae) are recorded from the Far East of Russia. A new genus, Troxodania Khaustov and Trach gen. nov. (Neopygmephoridae), and 2 new species, Troxodania magnifica Khaustov and Trach sp. nov. and Pseudopygmephorellus troxi Khaustov and Trach sp. nov. (Pygmephoridae), are described. Bakerdania sinanii Sevastianov and Zahida Al Douri, 1989 (Neopygmephoridae) is considered as a junior synonym of Troxodania decumanus (Krczal, 1959) comb. nov. The key to genera of neopygmephorid females which have median genital sclerites is provided. The taxonomic significance of the median genital sclerite in females of the family Neopygmephoridae is discussed.

A new species and new records of mites of the genus Spatulaphorus Rack (Acari: Heterostigmata: Pygmephoridae) from Ukraine

A new species of mites of the genus Spatulaphorus Rack, 1993 is described from dung beetles Geotrupes mutator (Marsham, 1802) from northern Ukraine. Spatulaphorus gorganica Rahiminejad & Hajiqanbar, 2011 is recorded for the first time in Ukraine from Geotrupes stercorarius (Linnaeus, 1758) (new phoretic host). Spatulaphorus vladimiri Khaustov, 2005 is recorded for the first time in Crimea from G. stercorarius and from eastern Ukraine from Geotrupes spiniger (Marsham, 1802) (new phoretic host). Spatulaphorus geotruporum Khaustov, 2005 is recorded from Ceratophyus polyceros (Pallas, 1771) (new phoretic host) from southern Ukraine. Spatulaphorus copridis Khaustov, 2007 is recorded for the first time from southern Ukraine from Copris hispanus (Linnaeus, 1764) (new phoretic host). Keys to the genera of Pygmephoridae phoretic on dung beetles of the superfamily Scarabaeoidea and to world species of the genus Spatulaphorus are provided.

A new species of mites of the genus Pediculaster (Acari: Heterostigmatina: Pygmephoridae) from Ethiopia

A new species of mites Pediculaster ethiopicus sp. nov. (Acari: Pygmephoridae) is described from the forest litter from Ethiopia. The new species belongs to the “calcaratus” species group along with Pediculaster calcaratus (Mahunka, 1965), Pediculaster ensifer (Savulkina, 1978) and Pediculaster clavipes Mahunka, 1975. Although this species group could be placed in the subgenus Neopediculaster, that subgenus is not supported by apomorphic characters and requires further study. We define the calcaratus group based on apomorphic character states and provide a key to its species. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0C2343F1-BC06-4C93-896F-A6D5DE3D1B95

New species and record of the genus Petalomium (Acari: Heterostigmatina: Neopygmephoridae) associated with ants (Hymenoptera: Formicoidea) from Iran

The mite Petalomium camponoti Hajiqanbar & Khaustov sp. n. (Acari: Prostigmata: Neopygmephoridae) is described based on females recovered from ants Camponotus buddhae Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) which were collected from a nest located on heights near Shirvan city, northeastern Iran. We also found Petalomium gottrauxi Mahunka, 1977 associated with Camponotus aethiops Latreille from the same locality. These findings present the first record of the genus Petalomium Cross from Iran. A key to species of the genus Petalomium associated with ant genus Camponotus Mayr is presented and host range of the Petalomium is discussed.

Tarsonemus spathulaphorus, a new species of the Tarsonemid mite (Acari: Tarsonemidae) from Ukraine

Abstract A new species of the genus Tarsonemus Canestrini and Fanzago, 1876 of the group T. pyrrhidi is described and illustrated. The new species is distinguished from other group-members by the unique form of setae s on tarsus I, and u′ and pl″ on tarsus II which are lamellate rather than spinulate. The systematic position of the new species is briefly discussed.

Morphology of Juvenile Instars of Neoliodes terrestris (Wallwork, 1963) and N. Ionicus Sellnick, 1931 (Acari: Oribatida: Neoliodidae)

Abstract. The morphology of juvenile instars of the oribatid mites Neoliodes terrestris and N. ionicus (Neoliodidae) is described and illustrated. The juveniles of these two species are compared to those of other Neoliodes species. New diagnoses of the juvenile instars of Neoliodidae and Neoliodes are given. Identification keys to larvae and nymphs of Neoliodidae genera are presented.