Eddie A. Ueckermann

The stigmaeid mites of Iran (Acari: Stigmaeidae)

Abstract Seven stigmaeid species, including Parastigmaeus andreae n. sp., Eustigmaeus nasrinae n. sp., Cheylostigmaeus iranensis n. sp., Stigmaeus alvandis n. sp., Ledermulleriopsis medicae n. sp. and L. zahiri n. sp., are described from Iran. Ledermulleriopsis plumosa Willmann, Stigmaeus elongatus Berlese, Stigmaeus unicus Kuznetzov and Storchia robusta (Berlese) are recorded from Iran for the first time. Zetzellia mali (Ewing) and Agistemus macrommatus Gonzalez are redescribed and defined. A key to the species is given

Epifaunistic arthropod parasites of the four-striped mouse, Rhabdomys pumilio, in the Western Cape Province, South Africa.

Flea, lice, mite, and tick species associated with 510 Rhabdomys pumilio were collected at 9 localities in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. The aims of the study were first to quantify the species richness, prevalence, and relative mean intensity of infestation of epifaunistic arthropod species associated with R. pumilio, and second to determine temporal variations in the mean abundance of the parasitic arthropods. Each mouse was examined under a stereoscopic microscope and its parasites were removed, identified, and quantified. The epifaunal population was made up of more than 25,000 individuals and included 8 flea, 1 sucking louse, 11 mite, and 13 ixodid tick species. Female-biased sex ratios were noted for 9 (30%) of the ectoparasite species. Three undescribed mite and 1 undescribed tick species were recovered, and new locality records for 2 flea, the louse, and 2 mite species were documented. A phoretic host association between a nonparasitic mite species, Psylloglyphus uilenbergi kivuensis, and 3 flea species, Chiastopsylla rossi, Hypsophthalmus temporis, and Listropsylla agrippinae, was recorded. The mean abundance of the parasitic mite and insect species were higher during the cold wet season, whereas ticks were more numerous during the warm dry months. The large number of ectoparasite species on R. pumilio, a locally abundant and regionally widespread species, is of medical and veterinary importance particularly in relation to the transmission of pathogens such as Anaplasma marginale, Babesia caballi, and Babesia canis to domestic animals; Rickettsia conori; Yersinia pestis; and the viral disease Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever to humans.

Modelling the potential distribution of the invasive tomato red spider mite, Tetranychus evansi (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Predicting the potential geographical distribution of a species is particularly important for pests with strong invasive abilities. Tetranychus evansi Baker & Pritchard, possibly native to South America, is a spider mite pest of solanaceous crops. This mite is considered an invasive species in Africa and Europe. A CLIMEX model was developed to predict its global distribution. The model results fitted the known records of T. evansi except for some records in dry locations. Dryness as well as excess moisture stresses play important roles in limiting the spread of the mite in the tropics. In North America and Eurasia its potential distribution appears to be essentially limited by cold stress. Detailed potential distribution maps are provided for T. evansi in the Mediterranean Basin and in Japan. These two regions correspond to climatic borders for the species. Mite establishment in these areas can be explained by their relatively mild winters. The Mediterranean region is also the main area where tomato is grown in open fields in Europe and where the pest represents a threat. According to the model, the whole Mediterranean region has the potential to be extensively colonized by the mite. Wide expansion of the mite to new areas in Africa is also predicted. Agricultural issues highlighted by the modelled distribution of the pest are discussed.

Ectoparasite diversity in the eastern rock sengis (Elephantulus myurus) : the effect of seasonality and host sex

Globally small mammals are important hosts of ectoparasite vectors of pathogens of medical, veterinary and economic importance. Insectivores are currently understudied as hosts of pathogen vectors. However, data are needed on the diversity of such vectors before we can investigate the underlying factors affecting ectoparasite distribution. Abiotic (e.g. temperature and rainfall) and biotic (e.g. host sex) factors have been identified as the main determinants of host—parasite interactions. The present study describes the ectoparasite community of insectivorous eastern rock sengis (Elephantulus myurus) in a nature reserve in the Gauteng province, South Africa, and how it varies with season and host sex. A total of 81 sengis were examined for the presence of ticks, mites, fleas and lice between April 2010 and April 2011. The ectoparasite assemblage comprised 11 groups of tick species, a single mite family, one louse and two flea species, with ticks and mites being the most numerous ectoparasites recovered. The prevalence and/or abundance of two commonly collected ticks (Ixodes spp. and Rhipicephalus warburtoni/arnoldi) and chigger varied with season. In addition, female-biased tick burdens were apparent for one ectoparasite species possibly due to reproductive investment. The mechanisms causing the observed patterns should be addressed in future studies.

Phytoseiid mites of the genus Neoseiulus Hughes (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract Thirty phytoseiid mite species of the genus Neoseiulus Hughes are reported from sub-Saharan Africa. Ten of these species are described for the first time and 14 nominal species are redescribed. Most of the species were collected from cassava groves in tropical Africa and from other habitats in South Africa. A key is included to distinguish these species and six other species known to occur in the region but not evaluated in this study.

A new genus and eight new species of Tydeoidea (Acari: Trombidiformes) from Protea species in South Africa.

Seven new tydeoid species (Brachytydeus rutrus, Brachytydeus varitas, Brachytydeus pseudovaritas, Paratydaeolus athaliahea, Pausia colonus, Therontydeus proteacapensis and Tydeus pseudofustis) are described from the infructescences of various South African Protea species. An unusual member of the family Edbakerellidae (=Triophtydeidae) was assigned to the monotypic new genus Therontydeus. To the best of our knowledge, the genera Microtydeus, Paratydaeolus and Pausia are here recorded from Africa for the first time. The collection of the South African Microtydeus emphasized a need for the revision of the genus. An identification key for all known tydeoid mites present in the infructescence of African Protea species is provided.

A new larval species of Erythraeus (Zaracarus) (Acari: Erythraeidae) from west Iran

Abstract A new larval species of Erythraeus from western Iran, viz. E. (Zaracarus) kurdistaniensis n. sp is illustrated and described. A key to the species of Erythraeus (Zaracarus) of the world is given.

A survey of Rhagidiidae (Acari: Prostigmata) in fruit orchards in Iran, with description of a new species of Robustocheles

Nine species of Rhagidiidae, that is, Foveacheles brevichelae Zacharda, 1980; Foveacheles sp.; Brevipalpia minima Zacharda, 1980; Coccorhagidia clavifrons Canestrini, 1886; Coccorhagidia pittardi Strandtmann, 1971; Rhagidia sp.; Rhagidia cf. breviseta Zacharda, 1995; Robustocheles mucronata (Willmann, 1936); Robustocheles hamedanensis sp. nov., were identified in litter and soil in the sprayed commercial fruit orchards in the Iranian Hamedan and Ardabil provinces. All these species, except R. hamedanensis sp. nov. that is presently known only from Iran, have Holarctic or even worldwide distribution. A new species R. hamedanensis sp. nov. is described. This new taxon is authored by M. Zacharda only.

Birds Mediate a Fungus-Mite Mutualism

Mutualisms between ophiostomatoid fungi and arthropods have been well documented. These fungi commonly aid arthropod nutrition and, in turn, are transported to new niches by these arthropods. The inflorescences of Protea trees provide a niche for a unique assemblage of ophiostomatoid fungi. Here, mites feed on Sporothrix fungi and vector the spores to new niches. Protea-pollinating beetles transport the spore-carrying mites between Protea trees. However, many Protea species are primarily pollinated by birds that potentially play a central role in the Protea-Sporothrix-mite system. To investigate the role of birds in the movement of mites and/or fungal spores, mites were collected from Protea inflorescences and cape sugarbirds, screened for Sporothrix fungal spores and tested for their ability to feed and reproduce on the fungal associates. Two mite species where abundant in both Protea inflorescences and on cape sugarbirds and regularly carried Sporothrix fungal spores. One of these mite species readily fed and reproduced on its transported fungal partner. For dispersal, this mite (a Glycyphagus sp.) attached to a larger mite species (Proctolaelaps vandenbergi) which, in turn, were carried by the birds to new inflorescences. The results of this study provide compelling evidence for a new mite-fungus mutualism, new mite-mite commensalisms and the first evidence of birds transporting mites with Sporothrix fungal spores to colonise new Protea trees.

Distribution of mite species (Acari) on persimmon trees in Turkey (Ordu), with one newly recorded mite species and one re-described species

ABSTRACT Persimmon is a deciduous and perennial tree of the Ebenaceae family. Diospyros kaki Thunb. and Diospyros lotus L. are the most common persimmon species in Turkey and cultivated especially in the northeastern parts of the country. This study was carried out to determine the mite species on D. kaki and D. lotus in the Ordu province (Black Sea region, Turkey) during 2012 and 2013. The survey was conducted weekly between April and October of each year. Leaf samples were collected from nine different districts (Altınordu, Çaybaşı, Fatsa, Gülyalı, İkizce, Kabadüz, Perşembe, Ulubey, and Ünye) of the Ordu province. Thirty-five mite species representing three orders were found in the surveys. Tydeus goetzi Schruft, 1972 (Prostigmata: Tydeidae) is newly discovered from Turkey and here described and illustrated. Brachytydeus paraobliqua (Panou & Emmanouel, 1996) (Prostigmata: Tydeidae) is re-described and its trito- and deutonymph are described for the first time. The results also showed that predatory mites formed the larger component of the mite fauna on persimmon.