Phytoseiid mites (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) are an extensively studied group of predatory mites due to their promising role as biological control agents of several species. Accurate identification of these mites is essential for the success of biological control efforts targeting pest species. In this study, we reported, for the first time, the presence of Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) athiasae Porath & Swirski in California, where it was found on winegrapes and walnuts. This finding was unexpected since previously, the distribution of this species was restricted to the western Palearctic region, particularly in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries. We also provided the complementary descriptions of 3 additional species; Galendromus (Galendromus) occidentalis (Nesbitt), Metaseiulus (Metaseiulus) citri (Garman & McGregor), and Amblyseius similoides Buchelos. Several important morphological features, including a complete set of dorsal solenostomes and leg chaetotaxy currently used to discriminate phytoseiid species, were missing in the original descriptions and re-descriptions of these species. In addition, the important diagnostic characters of these species are reviewed to facilitate species delimitation. We report the absence of a posterodorsal seta (pd), a seta usually present in other members of the subfamily Typhlodrominae, on trochanter I in G. (G.) occidentalis and M. (M.) citri. Therefore, we believe that the placement of the tribe Metaseiulini within the subfamily Typhlodrominae warrants reconsideration and highlights the need for integrative studies to reassess the current placement of this tribe within the family Phytoseiidae.
In 1995 small-scale excavations undertaken at Cramond, Edinburgh revealed a number of pit and post hole features related to temporary or intermittent Mesolithic occupation. These features and associated deposits produced sizeable assemblages of charred plant remains and lithic material. Cramond appears to be the first of an increasing number of securely dated narrow-blade microlithic sites excavated in recent times along the Forth Littoral. Together with substantial house sites such as Echline Fields, East Barns and Howick, Cramond produced a narrow-blade microlithic industry associated with occupation during the mid-9th millennium BC. As such it remains the earliest narrow-blade type assemblage yet discovered in Britain and provides a jumping off point for the discussion of Mesolithic responses to a rapidly changing environment in terms of population movement and technological change.
Data for the paper: The Impact of Angular Momentum Loss on the Outcomes of Binary Mass Transfer (https://arxiv.org/abs/2308.06666). Associated data processing scripts can be found on github, at the fixed version linked here: arXiv.2308.06666_scripts Each dataset corresponds to a variation in angular momentum loss value or mass transfer efficiency (often both), or in the mass transfer stability prescription. These all include the following COMPAS hdf5 groups: 'BSE_System_Parameters', 'BSE_RLOF', and 'BSE_Supernovae'. They are designed to be used in conjunction with the data processing scripts above, though you are free to try to write your own independent post-processing scripts to test the validity of the presented results. For any questions, please contact the corresponding author.
We seek to compile a uniform set of basic capabilities and needs to maximize the yield of Solar System science with future Astrophysics assets while allowing those assets to achieve their Astrophysics priorities. Within considerations of cost and complexity, inclusion of capabilities that make a particular platform useable to planetary science provide a critical advantage over platforms lacking such capabilities.
