Jerzy Błoszyk

Community structure and dispersal of mites (Acari, Mesostigmata) in nests of the white stork (Ciconia ciconia)

The fauna of Mesostigmata in nests of the white stork Ciconia ciconia was studied in the vicinity of Poznań (Poland). A total of 37 mite species was recovered from 11 of the 12 nests examined. The mite fauna was dominated by the family Macrochelidae. Macrocheles merdarius was the most abundant species, comprising 56% of all mites recovered. Most of the abundant mite species were associated with dung and coprophilous insects. It is likely that they were introduced into the nests by adult storks with dung as part of the nest material shortly before and after the hatching of the chicks.

Mite communities (Acari, Mesostigmata) associated with Ips typographus (Coleoptera, Scolytidae) in managed and natural Norway spruce stands in Central Europe

Previous studies have suggested that forest management practices can influence bark beetle populations as well as those of some associated insects. However, the impact on bark beetle-associated mites, which occur in bark beetle galleries in large numbers, have not yet been studied. The objective of this study was to compare mesostigmatid mite communities associated with the Norway spruce pest Ips typographus in managed and natural forest stands separated by spruce-free belt. The study sites were located in Białowieża National Park (NE Poland) as well as in the Izery Mountains (Szklarska Poręba Forest District — SW Poland), which were destroyed in 1981–1987 by an ecological disaster. In total, 30 Borregard pipe traps containing the commercial attractant Ipsodor W (Chemipan, Poland) were set up at each study site and collected in August 2010. In total, 7214 bark beetles and 1804 mites were collected which were classified into 16 species. We observed differences in the total abundance of mites as well as the total number of recorded mite species. The communities were quite similar, and were generally dominated by populations of Trichouropoda polytricha, Dendrolaelaps quadrisetus and Uroobovella ipidis. The Shannon and Evenness indexes as well as the mean number of mites per sample were not significantly different between forests.

New records of mites (Arachnida: Acari) from Sable Island, Nova Scotia, Canada

The first investigations of the mite fauna of Sable Island, Nova Scotia, Canada, are reported. Fourteen species have been found. Uropoda orbicularis. (Muller) (Uropodidae) and Scarabaspis inexpectatus. (Oudemans) (Eviphididae) are newly recorded for North America, Macrocheles nemerdarius. Krantz and Whitaker (Macrochelidae) is newly recorded for Canada, and Trichoribates striatus. Hammer (Ceratozetidae) is recorded for the first time south of the subarctic zone. Colonization, dispersal, and the zoogeographic origins of the fauna are discussed in the context of the biological, geological, and human history of the island.

Effects of diflubenzuron and mancozeb on soil microarthropods: a long-term study

Effects of diflubenzuron and mancozeb on soil microarthropods: a long-term study Soil microarthropods exposed to the pesticides mancozeb (240 mg per 1 m2) or diflubenzuron (7.2 mg of diflubenzuron per 1 m2) were studied for 6 months after a single application. The observed taxa included Collembola, Insecta, Myriapoda, and 4 groups of mites: Actinedida (=Prostigmata), Gamasina, Uropodina, and Oribatida. Their abundance in soil was subject to seasonal fluctuations, but for a majority of taxa no significant differences were noticed between the control and exposed plots. The total number of microarthropods was insignificantly lower in exposed groups. Myriapods were the only taxon that was close to extinction after a single exposure to diflubenzuron. These data prove that soil has some buffering capacity, and this fact should always be taken into consideration when estimating the risk for the environment. However, the situation may change if the application of pesticides is repeated.

Phoresy of Trichouropoda shcherbakae Hirschmann, 1972 (Acari: Mesostigmata) on beetles of the genus Tetropium Kirby, 1837 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in Białowieża Forest, Poland

The aim of this study was to assess the phoretic relationship between two beetle species of the genus Tetropium and mites from order Mesostigmata. The study was conducted in the Białowieża Forest, which is recognized as one of Europe’s last natural forest areas. Insects were caught over a period of 8 weeks in 72 attractant traps (type Intercept IPM). In total 1250 specimens of genus Tetropium were collected. We analyzed 524 beetles, including 295 specimens of T. castaneum and 229 specimens of T. fuscum. On 49 beetles (9.4%) there were 785 individuals of Trichouropoda shcherbakae (Trematuridae). Mites were more common on T. fuscum, which carried 82% of all collected deutonymphs. Most of the mites found on beetles were attached to their legs. This study reports on changes in the intensity of phoresy in time and location of mite deutonymphs on their host species.

Acroseius womersleyi gen. nov., sp. nov., a new genus and species of Uropodina from Australia (Acari: Trachytidae)

Abstract A new endemic Australian genus Acroseius gen. nov. (Acari: Trachytidae) is described, with type species Polyaspinus tuberculatus Womersley, 1961. Acroseius womersleyi sp. nov. is described, and differential diagnoses for the new genus and the two species of Acroseius are presented.

Influence of habitat type and natural disturbances on uropodine mite communities (Acari: Mesostigmata: Uropodina) in oak-hornbeam forests in Central Europe

The study presented in the current article was carried out in two selected natural forest reserves in Poland, i.e. Jakubowo and Las Grądowy near Mogilnica in western Wielkopolska (Poland). The material for the analysis contains quantitative soil samples collected in the period 1978–1983 and more recent material from 2005, 2006 and 2011–2013. The major aim of the study was to establish the changes in species composition, frequency and abundance of Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata) mite communities in six plots in Jakubowo and Las Grądowy over a long-term period. The results of the analysis clearly show that the core of the examined mite communities consists of the same eurytopic species, whereas the occurrence of rare species with narrower ecological tolerances was probably to a large extent determined by the different microhabitat conditions in each of the examined areas. The most disturbing phenomenon observed during the research period, which lasted for over 36 years, is a considerable decrease in the abundance of Uropodina in ground litter and soil of the two reserves. The changes that have already occurred in the examined mite communities were associated with natural succession in the flora and anthropogenic disturbances in the environment.

Nests of the black stork Ciconia nigra as a habitat for mesostigmatid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata)

We surveyed the Mesostigmatid mite fauna of nests of the black stork Ciconia nigra, to determine the role of these mites in the biology of their hosts. We present preliminary results obtained on the basis of material collected from 31 nests. A total of 1,615 mite specimens was recorded, belonging to 39 species. The most abundant species were Dendrolaelaps strenzkei, Apionoseius infirmus, Macrocheles merdarius and Macrocheles ancyleus, which constituted more than 65% of all the specimens recorded. The presence of large numbers of predatory mites could be beneficial to the birds, if they feed on the eggs and larvae of the bird’s parasites. It is likely that many of the mite species found in these nests were carried there by phoresy on insects, mainly Coleoptera.

Cyllibula (Wagenaaria) Jakubi n. subgen., n.sp. from Caribbean Islands (Anactinotrichida: Uropodina)

Abstract The main morphological features of the neotropical genus Cyllibula (Berlese 1916) are briefly redefined and compared with that of the new subgenus Wagenaaria. The latter is mainly distinguished from the type-genus by female endogynium, male genital aperture and shape of the hypostomal seta h4. The new species Cyllibula (Wagenaaria) jakubi is mainly characterized by sternal and ventral polytrichy.

Phoretic relationships between uropodid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) and centipedes (Chilopoda) in urban agglomeration areas

The current study concerns phoresy in uropodid mites on centipedes. Research was conducted for eight months (April–November 2006) in three habitat types, each exposed to different degrees of anthropogenic impact. The centipedes were collected monthly from all accessible microhabitats across the areas studied. We collected a total of 733 lithobiomorph centipedes representing three species. We found 43.8% of these individuals transported a total of 3376 specimens representing one Uropodina superfamily, i.e. phoretic deutonymphs of Oodinychus ovalis (CL Koch, 1839) (18%) and Uroobovella pulchella (Berlese, 1904) (82%). Mites were found on nearly all (99%) studied individuals of Lithobius forficatus (Linnaeus, 1758). The number of deutonymphs on one centipede varied from 1 to 273 specimens. The dynamics of phoresy was different for both uropodid species and each of the studied areas. The two most important factors affecting phoresy of mites on centipedes were the type of a tree stand (presence of particular tree species and probably also afforestation density), and deadwood availability. The degree of anthropogenic impact seems to influence the intensity of carrier infestation. We observed that most of the phoretic deutonymphs were attached to the anterior and middle segments of the carrier’s body.