Qing-Hai Fan

Redescription of Dolichotetranychus ancistrus Baker & Pritchard (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) from New Zealand

Abstract Dolichotetranychus ancistrus Baker & Pritchard (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) is re-described, based on the larva, protonymph, deutonymph and on adult specimens from New Zealand. The ontogenetic development of chaetotaxy in Dolichotetranychus is discussed.

Descriptions of two new species and a newly recorded species of Eustigmaeus from Turkey (Acari: Stigmaeidae)

Abstract Eustigmaeus is one of the largest genera of the Stigmaeidae and contains more than eighty species. Two new species, Eustigmaeus erciyesiensis, ex moss, from Erciyes Mountain (2230m) and Eustigmaeus sculptus, ex soil and litter under different plants, are described from Erzurum, Elazig, Bingöl, Kirikkale and Gümüshane, Turkey. Another species, E. ioanninensis Kapaxidi & Papadoulis, originally found in Greece, is recorded for the Turkish fauna and re-described. A key to the species known from Turkey is provided.

Development and Validation of a Real-Time PCR Assay for Rapid Detection of Two-Spotted Spider Mite, Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae).

Spider mites of the genus Tetranychus are difficult to identify due to their limited diagnostic characters. Many of them are morphologically similar and males are needed for species-level identification. Tetranychus urticae is a common interception and non-regulated pest at New Zealand’s borders, however, most of the intercepted specimens are females and the identification was left at Tetranychus sp. Consequently, the shipments need to be fumigated. DNA sequencing and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) protocols could be used to facilitate the accurate identification. However, in the context of border security practiced in New Zealand, insect identifications are required to be provided within four hours of receiving the samples; thus, those molecular methods are not sufficient to meet this requirement. Therefore, a real-time PCR TaqMan assay was developed for identification of T. urticae by amplification of a 142 bp Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) 1 sequence. The developed assay is rapid, detects all life stages of T. urticae within three hours, and does not react with closely related species. Plasmid DNA containing ITS1 sequence of T. uritcae was serially diluted and used as standards in the real-time PCR assay. The quantification cycle (Cq) value of the assay depicted a strong linear relationship with T. urticae DNA content, with a regression coefficient of 0.99 and efficiency of 98%. The detection limit was estimated to be ten copies of the T. urticae target region. The assay was validated against a range of T. urticae specimens from various countries and hosts in a blind panel test. Therefore the application of the assay at New Zealand will reduce the unnecessary fumigation and be beneficial to both the importers and exporters. It is expected that the implementation of this real-time PCR assay would have wide applications in diagnostic and research agencies worldwide.

A new genus of Neothrombiidae (Acari: Trombidioidea) from New Zealand

Abstract Opiliotrombium akatarawa gen. & sp. nov. is described from larvae parasitic on male Megalopsalis inconstans (Opiliones) from New Zealand. This is the first record of the family Neothrombiidae in New Zealand.

Description of a new species of Terminalichus (Acari: Trombidiformes: Tenuipalpidae) from China

A new species Terminalichus sanya Xu & Fan sp. nov. (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) on Terminalia catappa L. (Combretaceae) from China is described and illustrated. The ontogenetic changes in ventral and leg chaetotaxy on the female, deutonymph, protonymph and larva are presented. The generic definition of Terminalichus is updated and a key to the world species is provided.

Annotated catalogue of Stigmaeidae (Acari: Prostigmata), with a pictorial key to genera

Stigmaeidae is one of the most studied mite families in Acarology, with the number of described species increasing by 44 percent in the last twenty years. To summarize the taxonomic and biological research in this family we compiled a catalogue with annotated information to nomenclature, synonymies, type localities, type depositories, host/habitat, feeding habits (if applicable) and distribution of 577 species in 34 genera (up to 31 July 2016). We also provide an overview of the main revisions and reviews. To facilitate future taxonomic research we present a pictorial key to genera. The following nomenclature changes are made: Raphignathus siculus var. lapponica Trägårdh, 1910 and Wooderia philippica Rimando & Corpuz-Raros, 1997 transferred to Eustigmaeus Berlese, Mullederia makilingae Rimando & Corpuz-Raros, 1996 transferred to Indostigmaeus Gupta & Ghosh.

New Zealand Pneumolaelaps (Acari: Laelapidae): description of a new species, key to species and notes on biology

Abstract Mites of the genus Pneumolaelaps Berlese are often found in association with bumble bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Approximately sixty species of the genus have been described worldwide but only two of them have been recorded in New Zealand, viz. Pneumolaelaps bombicolens (Canestrini, 1885) and P. breviseta (Evans & Till, 1966). A new species, Pneumolaelaps niutirani, collected from hives of honeybee Apis mellifera (Apidae) and nests of the German wasp Vespula germanica (Vespidae) brings the number of species in New Zealand to three. We herein review P. bombicolens and P. breviseta, describe the new species, Pneumolaelaps niutirani, with notes on its biology, and provide a key to the species known in New Zealand. This is the first report of Pneumolaelaps in association with a vespid wasp.

Revision of some species of Tyrophagus (Acari: Acaridae) in the Oudemans Collection

Abstract Mite species of genus Tyrophagus in the Oudemans Collection are revised. Povelsenia neotropicus Oudemans, 1917 is synonymized with T. putrescentiae (Schrank, 1781) and consequently Povelsenia Oudemans, 1924 with Tyrophagus Oudemans, 1924. Two species, T. palmarum and T. muris are redescribed. A key to species of Tyrophagus in the Oudemans Collection is provided.

Mites and ticks (Acari) in Shanxi Province, China: an annotated checklist.

This paper reviews the research on mites and ticks in Shanxi Province before 1 January 2015. We provided a checklist of 189 species belonging to 4 orders-Ixodida: 24 species in 2 families and 9 genera; Mesostigmata: 74 species in 12 families and 34 genera; Sarcoptiformes: 17 species in 10 families and 14 genera and Trombidiformes: 74 species in 15 families and 47 genera. Information on the host/habitat and distribution is given for each species. Historical mistakes in records are corrected and the classification of the known species is updated.

Description of a new species of the genus Eryngiopus Summers (Acari: Stigmaeidae) from Turkey

Abstract A new species of the genus Eryngiopus Summers, Eryngiopus anatolicus sp. nov. collected from litter under Astragalus sp. from Turkey is described and illustrated.