Hans Klompen

The Genus Rhipicephalus (Acari, Ixodidae). A Guide to the Brown Ticks of the World,

Acknowledgements Introduction Relationships of the ticks (Ixodida) and definition of the genus Rhipicephalus Format for accounts of different species Glossary Rhipicephalus species names of the world Species occurring in the Afrotropical region Species occurring outside the Afrotropical region Species groups based on the immature stages The transmission of tick-borne diseases by Rhipicephalus species Index.

First Mesozoic Record of a Parasitiform Mite: a Larval Argasid Tick in Cretaceous Amber (Acari: Ixodida: Argasidae)

Abstract A larval argasid tick (Acari: Ixodida: Argasidae) is described from a single specimen preserved in amber from New Jersey. The amber is dated as Turonian, 90–94 mya, and thereby doubles the age of the oldest fossil in the mite order Parasitiformes. The specimen shows general characteristics of the genus Carios, but is unique because of its pattern of dorsal setae, featuring a double row of posterior marginal setae. Earlier hypotheses that Carios arose after the isolation of South America are challenged but not rejected by the discovery of this fossil. Salvaging these hypotheses seems most compatible with dispersal on birds, an idea consistent with the presence of a small feather in the same outcrop in which the tick fossil was found.

Cryptic host specificity of an avian skin mite (Epidermoptidae) vectored by louseflies (Hippoboscidae) associated with two endemic Galapagos bird species

Host specificity of vectors is an important but understudied force shaping parasite evolution and the relationship between hosts and parasites. Low vector specificity may allow a vectored parasite to invade new host species, whereas high specificity of vectors may reduce the host range of the parasite and favor specialization. The ‘generalist’ and widely distributed avian skin mite Myialges caulotoon Speiser (Acari: Epidermoptidae) is unusual because females require an insect vector to complete their life cycle. Myialges caulotoon was previously reported from 2 lousefly (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) species, Olfersia sordida and Icosta nigra, parasitizing flightless cormorants (Phalacrocorax harrisi) and Galápagos hawks (Buteo galapagoensis), respectively, within the Galápagos Islands. This is a surprising distribution, given that the 2 lousefly species involved are relatively host-specific. Mitochondrial DNA sequences revealed 2 reciprocally monophyletic Myialges clades that sorted out perfectly with respect to their vector species, regardless of whether they were in allopatry or sympatry. One clade was restricted to flies of hawks and the other to flies of cormorants. Females of the 2 Myialges groups were also separated consistently by the shape of the sternal surface sclerotization. Mites of hawk flies were more abundant than those of cormorant flies. Within the Myialges clade associated with hawks, genetic differentiation between 2 island populations mirrored its hosts patterns of differentiation.

A Preliminary Assessment of the Utility of Elongation Factor-1α in Elucidating Relationships Among Basal Mesostigmata

Phylogenetic relationships in the Mesostigmata are assessed using DNA sequence data for a segment of the elongation factor-1α gene. This is the first application of this nuclear protein coding gene to problems of higher relationships in Parasitiformes. Initial testing revealed extensive variability in nucleotide and corresponding amino acid sequences, both among and within mesostigmatid infraorders. However, accuracy, as assessed by the ability of these data to recover well-supported taxa, was inconsistent for all analyses using unweighted data. None of these analyses consistently recovered Mesostigmata, although less inclusive taxa, such as Uropodina and Trigynaspida, were often recovered. Accuracy was highest for an analysis using applied weighting on the nucleotide sequence data. The overall results provide support for monophyly of Uropodina, Trigynaspida, and a grouping of Zerconina, Parasitina, and Dermanyssina, and suggest close relationships between Heterozerconina and Sejina.

A new genus and species of Nematalycidae (Acari: Endeostigmata)

Osperalycus tenerphagus, a new genus and species of Nematalycidae (Acari: Endeostigmata), is described from Ohio, USA, using light microscopy and low-temperature scanning electron microscopy. Specimens were extracted from two different loam soils. This genus can be readily distinguished from the other genera of Nematalycidae by the simple setae that line the opisthosoma. The mouthparts are especially distinct in possessing three-segmented palps, an unusual vessel-shaped structure, and rutella that overlap at the midline. The discovery of rutella in this genus and in two other genera indicates that the Nematalycidae can be more confidently assigned to the Endeostigmata (Sarcoptiformes). http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A64A6612-B66C-4814-80A9-3856DEBE8C46

A New North American heterozerconid, Narceoheterozercon ohioensis n. g., n. sp., with first description of immatures of heterozerconidae (Acari: Mesostigmata)

Abstract Narceoheterozercon ohioensis n. g., n. sp., an associate of the millipede Narceus annularis (Rafinesque), is described for all instars. This represents the first description of immatures in the infraorder Heterozerconina. In contrast to the heavily sclerotized adults, which have short setae, are hypertrichous, and possess characteristic ventral opisthosomal suckers, the immatures are soft bodied, have long idiosomal setae in a holotrichous pattern, and lack ventral suckers.

Redefinition of Cosmolaelaps Berlese (Acari: Laelapidae) and description of five new species from Brazil

Cosmolaelaps Berlese, 1903 was originally described as a subgenus of Laelaps Koch. More recently, this group has been treated at the generic level or as a subgenus of Hypoaspis Canestrini, 1885. One of the objectives of the present paper is to provide a detailed characterisation of Cosmolaelaps, here considered at the generic level, a group that was poorly characterised in its original description as well as in subsequent publications. It is most closely related to Stratiolaelaps Berlese, from which it can usually be distinguished by the presence of extra paired and unpaired setae on the opisthonotal region of the dorsal shield, as well as by not having hypertrophied chelicerae or corniculi. A total of 108 species belong to Cosmolaelaps, including the new species described here. Five other species may also belong to this genus, but the available published information does not allow their conclusive placement. The Brazilian fauna of Hypoaspidinae is poorly known, but Cosmolaelaps seems to be well represented in Brazil. Thus, the second objective of this paper is to describe five new species of Cosmolaelaps from that country, namely C. barbatus sp. nov., C. busolii sp. nov., C. confinisetarum sp. nov., C. jaboticabalensis sp. nov. and C. oliveirai sp. nov.

Molecular phylogeny of telenomine egg parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae s.l.: Telenominae): evolution of host shifts and implications for classification

Parasitoid wasps of the subfamily Telenominae (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea, Platygastridae) develop as immatures within the eggs of other insects (Lepidoptera, Hemiptera, Diptera and Neuroptera). Rearing records indicate that individual species are restricted to attack hosts within only one of these four main groups. We conducted a phylogenetic analysis of the group using sequence data from multiple genes (18S, 28S, COI, EF‐1α) to assess the pattern of shifts among host groups and to test the monophyly of and relationships among genera and species‐groups. Telenominae sensu Masner—that is, including only the nominate tribe Telenomini—is not monophyletic. Representatives of the Psix group of genera (Psix Kozlov & Lê and Paratelenomus Dodd) form a monophyletic group that is sister to Gryon Haliday (Scelioninae: Gryonini) and are excluded from the subfamily. The remaining telenomines are monophyletic. The genus Phanuromyia Dodd and the crassiclava group of Telenomus Haliday, both recorded as parasitoids of planthopper eggs (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha, Fulgoroidea), form a monophyletic group that is sister to all other telenomines exclusive of the Psix group. Twenty‐nine species of the crassiclava and aradi groups of Telenomus are transferred to Phanuromyia as new combinations. Basal elements of the remaining species are all in groups reared from the eggs of true bugs (Heteroptera), primarily the stink bugs (Pentatomoidea) and seed bugs (Lygaeoidea). A shift to parasitism of lepidopteran eggs evolved within a single clade, occurring either one or two times. From this clade a small group of species, the Telenomus tabanivorus group, subsequently shifted to parasitism of egg masses of true flies (Tabanidae and Stratiomyiidae). Aholcus Kieffer and Platytelenomus Dodd both belong to the clade of lepidopteran parasitoids and are considered as junior synonyms of Telenomus (new synonymy for Aholcus). The monophyletic status of the two core genera, Telenomus and Trissolcus could not be resolved using these data. The phylogenetic pattern of host shifts suggests comparisons among taxa that may be fruitful in elucidating mechanisms by which parasitoids locate their hosts, the proximate factors that determine the host range, and the changes in these factors that influence host changes.

Phylogenetic and biogeographic analysis of the genus Caribeacarus (Acari : Opilioacarida), with description of a new South American species

Abstract. The mite order Opilioacarida is widely distributed in the tropical and sub-tropical zones of the world, where it is rare and poorly known. On the American continent only two genera, 14 species and one subspecies are known. This work aimed to describe a new species of Caribeacarus from the state of Pará, in the eastern part of the Brazilian Amazon. A phylogenetic analysis of the species in this genus is also presented, and interpreted along with the historical biogeography of this genus in Central and South America. A key to the species of Caribeacarus is provided.

Ectoparasites of Propithecus diadema (Primates: Indriidae) With Notes on Unusual Attachment Site Selection by Haemaphysalis lemuris (Parasitiformes: Ixodidae).

ABSTRACT An examination of ectoparasite loads in two populations of wild diademed sifakas, Propithecus diadema Bennett, yielded seven species—four mite species, a louse, a hippoboscid fly, and a leech. Prevalence of the tick Haemaphysalis lemuris Hoogstraal, the mites Liponyssella madagascariensis (Hirst) and Lemuralges propithecus Bochkov et al., and the louse Trichophilopterus babakotophilus Stobbe was quite high, at least 20%. H. lemuris was the most common ectoparasite in one population, while completely absent in a second one. When present, the most common attachment site for H. lemuris males was in the nares of their hosts.