John B. Kethley

Cytogenetics of Holokinetic Chromosomes and Inverted Meiosis: Keys to the Evolutionary Success of Mites, with Generalizations on Eukaryotes

The evolution of sexual reproduction has seen a recent and major resurgence as a topic of interest. Many authors (e.g. Ghiselin 1974, Williams 1975, Maynard Smith 1978, Bell 1982, Shields 1982, Bull 1983, Michod and Levin 1988) have refined the now-familiar arguments that generally cast sexual reproduction as the alternative to the asexual production of genetic clones. As theorists have moved further from the usual cytogenetic models (i.e. humans, mice, fruitflies and maize), we have learned that the many strange genetic systems and breeding biologies of plants, animals and protists blur the distinction between “sexual” and “asexual”.

A Terrestrial Alicorhagiid Mite (Acari: Acariformes) from the Devonian of New York

Archaeacarus dubinini n. gen., n. sp., is described and illustrated based on a specimen recovered from the terrestrial fossiliferous mudstone deposits of Devonian age at Gilboa, New York. Observable character-states are consistent with its inclusion in the extant family Alicorhagiidae, one of the early-derivative taxa of the mite order Acariformes. This family record is consistent with the presence of related extant mite families in the Devonian-age Rhynie Chert of Scotland, and lends support to the validity of the latter material.

Ecdysial cleavage lines of acariform mites (Arachnida, Acari)

Among mites the ancestral ecdysial cleavage line, or line of dehiscence (a), is inferred by outgroup comparison to be prodehiscent: U‐shaped, passing around the front of the mite just above the insertions of the appendages, such that the mite ecloses anteriorly. From preserved and living individuals and exuviae, we found prodehiscence (or its slight variations) to be widespread in Acariformes. It appears to be pervasive in endeostigmatic mites, eupodine Prostigmata, and basal taxa in the Oribatida (Enarthronota, Palaeosomata); it is dominant in cleutherengone Prostigmata and is present in at least one anystine family (Caeculidae).

A review of the higher categories of Trigynaspida (Acari: Parasitiformes)

Abstract A cladistic analysis of the leg chaetotaxy of 85 species of Trigynaspida was conducted. The higher categories of Trigynaspida were reassessed as a result of the cladistic analysis and a reconsideration of traditional characters of the external morphology. Two new superfamilies and seven new families are proposed. Antennophoroidea is restricted to Antenno-phoridae. Fedrizzioidea is broadened to include Paramegistidae. Cercome-gistina is redifined. A key to the families based on females is included.

Narceolaelaps N.G., (acari: laelapidae) with four new species parasitizing spiroboloid millipeds

Abstract Narceolaelaps, a new genus of Laelapidae, is described to accommodate four new species, each parasitizing a different species of spiroboloid millipede in the U. S. , three of the genus Narceus Rafinesque: Narceolaelaps annularis n. sp. , ex. Narceus annularis (Rafinesque), Narceolaelaps americanus n. sp. , ex. Narceus americanus (Palisot de Beauvois), Narceolaelaps gordanus n. sp. , ex. Narceus gordanus (Chamberlin), and one of the genus Tylobolus Cook: Narceolaelaps burdicki n. sp., ex Tylobolus sp.

Observations on quill wall mites from american birds (Acaridei: Laminosioptidae: Fainocoptinae)

Abstract Three new species of quill wall mites are described and figured. Laminosioptes hymenopterus Jones and Gaud, 1962 from Corvus-brachyrhynchos brachyrhynchos is transferred to Calamicoptes Lukoschus and Lombert, 1979 and redescribed. The new species are Fainocoptes zenaidurae ex Zenaidura macroura, Calamicoptes fringillae ex Pooecetes gramineus and Podicipedicoptes americanus ex Podilymbus podiceps.

Proteonematalycidae (Acari: Acariformes), a new mite family from fore-dune sand of Lake Michigan

Abstract A new acariform mite, Proteonematalycus wagneri n. gen., n. sp., is described from the fore-dune sands of the southern shores of Lake Michigan, and a new family, the Proteonematalycidae is proposed. The Proteonematalycidae is tentatively grouped with the families Nematalycidae and Micropsammidae in the Nematalycoidea.

Morphology of the gnathosoma of Acarapis woodi (Acari: Acarapidae)

Abstract The cheliceral stylets oiAcarapis woodi (Rennie) were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Capable of independent motion, the styliform cheliceral digits are grooved medially along their entire length and can be brought tightly together forming a tube-like structure. In addition, an unpaired structure was observed fitted along the stylet groove in a manner similar to that described previously for Pyemotes tritici (Bruce et al. 1993). It is not apparent that this structure is retractable and it may or may not function in the feeding process. The unpaired structure is homologized with the labrum and, while the morphological similarities of the mouthparts of P. tritici and A woodi are obvious, it is unclear as to whether or not it functions in precisely the same way in both species.