In Mexico, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries - commonly known as berries - rank second in fresh fruit production and export after avocado. However, phytophagous mites and other pests can cause significant economic losses and restrict trade. Proper identification of these pests is critical for implementing effective control measures, preventing pesticide resistance, and complying with quarantine and international trade standards. Despite their importance, there is still limited information regarding the mite species associated with each berry crop and their ecological roles within production systems. To address this gap, a study was conducted on the richness and biological diversity of mites in 20 municipalities distributed in seven major berry-producing states in M & eacute;xico (Baja California, Colima, Estado de Mexico, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Michoacan, and Puebla). Species were identified based on morphological characteristics, and selected specimens were confirmed through sequencing of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. We identified six mite species on blueberries, six on raspberries, four on strawberries, and eight on blackberries. Species abundance varied among the estates sampled, with Baja California showing the highest abundance and Puebla the lowest. Ecological diversity indices revealed that blackberries harboured the highest number of phytophagous, predatory, and saprophytic mites. The dominant phytophagous species Tetranychus urticae Koch and Diptacus rubuscolum Trinidad and Navia, along with the predatory mite Neoseiulus californicus McGregor. Additional species from the families Tarsonemidae, Tenuipalpidae, and Tydeidae were also identified.
The mitochondrial (mt) genome is a widely used molecular marker for resolving phylogenetic relationships in mites. We used Illumina NovaSeq next-generation sequencing technology to sequence the mt genome of Gamasholaspis eothenomydis, followed by an analysis of gene structure characteristics and base composition. We constructed the phylogenetic trees of G. eothenomydis within the Gamasina using Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood analyses of 13 protein-coding genes and two rRNA genes sequences. In this paper, we present the complete mt genome of G. eothenomydis (Acari: Parholaspididae), which is the first complete mt genome in Parholaspididae. The mt genome of G. eothenomydis (14,383 bp, GenBank: PP187411) contains the typical 37 genes and exhibits a high AT-content (75.16%). Compared with Limulus polyphemus, rearrangements and changes in the orientation of two genes (trnE and trnF) were observed in G. eothenomydis. Most tRNA genes display a typical cloverleaf structure, except for trnC and trnS(1) which lack the DHU arm. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that G. eothenomydis forms a separate clade and has a closer relationship with Macrochelidae.
Picobiine mites (Acariformes: Syringophilidae: Picobiinae) represent a morphologically specialized lineage of permanent parasites whose host associations and evolutionary history remain incompletely understood. In this study, we report the first record of picobiine mites from the family Galbulidae and describe a new species, Phipicobia galbuliphaga Skoracki & Haarder sp. nov. collected from the Three-toed Jacamar Jacamaralcyon tridactyla (Piciformes). By synthesizing all available data on picobiine mites associated with Piciformes, we assess diversity patterns and host associations across this avian order. Six genera belonging to two phylogenetically distinct generic groups were recorded from eight piciform families, revealing a structured distribution of lineages that mirrors major host clades. Comparative analyses suggest that the current distribution of picobiine lineages on piciform birds reflects a combination of long-term coevolution and historical competitive exclusion among mites sharing the same microhabitat. Our findings provide new insights into the origin, diversification, and host specificity of Picobiinae and contribute to a broader understanding of quill mite evolution in Neoaves.https://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:BCDD3315-83E7-47C9-A657-7D13AA0A0BDB
Two new arboreal oribatid mite species (Oribatida) are described, based on adults collected from the tree branches in southern Vietnam. Micreremus dipterocarpicus sp. nov. (Micreremidae) is characterized by the location of the adanal seta ad2 (lateral to anal plate, distanced from ad1). Phylloribatula polyalthiaica sp. nov. (Scheloribatidae) is characterized by the absence of anterior margin of the notogaster.https://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8B49B6A9-E0BE-4365-A3E8-4397A2F7950E
Six new species of eriophyoid mites from Fujian Province, China, are described and illustrated. They are Dichopelmus concinnae sp. nov. on Cryptocarya concinna (Lauraceae), Aculus wisteriopsus sp. nov. on Wisteriopsis reticulata (Fabaceae), Tetra tomentosiana sp. nov. on Bridelia tomentosa (Phyllanthaceae), Epitrimerus aphanantheae sp. nov. on Aphananthe aspera (Cannabaceae), Kuangella mangdangicus sp. nov. on Derris fordii (Fabaceae), and Cecidophyes mandangica sp. nov. on Castanopsis fissa (Fagaceae). All six species described herein are vagrants on the lower leaf surface. We further provided the mitochondrial cox1 gene sequences for four new species (i.e. D. concinnae sp. nov., T. tomentosiana sp. nov., E. aphanantheae sp. nov. and A. wisteriopsus sp. nov.) here.http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:685BD7EA-DA59-4BD0-96F7-9094233C8DE5
A new species, Camerotrombidium ak & imath;nleventi sp. nov. is described based on both active postlarval forms and larvae. This is the third species of Camerotrombidium for which larval stage has been observed under laboratory conditions. Additionally, based on published records and original data, a checklist of trombidioid mites from T & uuml;rkiye is compiled.https://zoobank.org/References/0448531d-dc2a-4c36-a974-41ac76de44f7
Tea (Camellia sinensis) is a widely cultivated cash crop. Tuckerella japonica (Trombidiformes: Tuckerellidae) is a mite species strongly associated with tea plants. This study aimed to investigate the impact of T. japonica feeding on the physicochemical properties of fresh tea leaves and to assess cellular - level damage to the stems. The research was conducted on the Hayrat, Tu & gbreve;lal & imath;-10 clones, and Sayamakaori cultivar at different initial mite densities: 0 (Control), 1, 5, 10, and 15 adult females per plant. Furthermore, naturally infested, nine-year-old plants of unknown clone/variety grown in open-field conditions were included in the studies on cellular damage detection. The water extract, caffeine, dry matter, total polyphenols, crude cellulose, and total ash content of fresh tea leaves were analyzed as physicochemical properties in the fresh tea leaves. As a result, a decrease in total leaf polyphenols, water extract, caffeine, and total ash content in leaves was observed after a 45-day feeding period. In contrast, an increase in dry matter and crude cellulose content was noted. Additionally, following T. japonica feeding, various damages were observed in the tea stem tissue, ranging from lignin and suberin accumulation around the cell walls to cellular degradation and abnormalities in cell division, indicating cellular damage.
The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, is a highly destructive pest that causes significant economic losses to crops worldwide. This study evaluated the host suitability of five bean cultivars (IPSA Seem 1, IPSA Seem 2, BARI Seem 1, Noldog, and Goalgadda) by comparing population growth and life table parameters of T. urticae. Experiments were performed under controlled conditions (25 +/- 2 degrees C, 60 +/- 10% RH, and a 16:8 L: D photoperiod) following the age-stage, two-sex life table theory. Significant differences were observed among cultivars. Female developmental time was shortest on IPSA Seem 2 (10.43 days) and longest on BARI Seem 1 (11.98 days). IPSA Seem 2 was the most suitable host, supporting the highest fecundity (90.97 eggs female-1), net reproductive rate (R0 = 61.30), intrinsic rate of increase (rm = 0.2714 day-1), and finite rate of increase (lambda = 1.3118 day-1). Conversely, the local cultivar Goalgadda was the least suitable, supported the lowest fecundity (51.04 eggs female-1), R0 (35.73), rm (0.2294 day-1), and lambda (1.2578 day-1). These demographic parameters indicated that Goalgadda exhibits resistance to T. urticae. The findings provide critical information for selecting less suitable bean cultivars, thereby strengthening integrated pest management strategies for this pervasive mite.
Ticks have developed resistance to many commonly used acaricides, several of which target acetylcholinesterase (AChE), a key enzyme in tick nervous system function. This study monitored AChE activity during Hyalomma dromedarii embryogenesis, revealing peak activity at the larval stage. A simple, reproducible two-step chromatographic protocol was developed to purify larval AChE (TLAChE). The purified enzyme exhibited a specific activity of 5430.6 U mg(-)& sup1;, achieving 7.7-fold purification with a 49.8% yield. Gel filtration estimated a native molecular mass of 168 kDa, while SDS-PAGE revealed 42 kDa subunits, indicating a homotetrameric structure. TLAChE showed optimal activity at pH 9.0 and a strong preference for acetylthiocholine iodide (Km = 0.95 mM). Enzyme activity was enhanced by Fe & sup2;(+) and Zn & sup2;(+), but inhibited by Cu & sup2;(+), Mn & sup2;(+), and Ni & sup2;(+). TLAChE was strongly inhibited by eserine, 1,5-Bis(4 allyldimethylammoniumphenyl) pentan-3-one dibromide (BW 284C51), and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride. Molecular docking confirmed stable binding of eserine to the active site of H. dromedarii TLAChE with a binding energy of -7.0 kcal/mol. Immunization with purified TLAChE induced high IgG titers in rabbits, demonstrating strong immunogenicity. These findings identify TLAChE as a promising target for sustainable tick control strategies.
Three water mites species of Torrenticolidae are reported from Bawangling National Nature Reserve, i.e. Monatractides longiplateleti Gu & Guo, sp. nov. Torrenticola pseudocurta Gu & Guo, and sp. nov. Torrenticola postfusina Gu and Guo 2019. To date, the number of known torrenticolid species on Hainan Island has reached 10. A key to the torrenticolid species known from Hainan Island is provided.
Eriophyoid mites are significant agricultural pests with minute size and cryptic behaviour. Monitoring their populations requires efficient extraction methods to accurately quantify infestation levels. We compared the efficiency of two extraction methods: a sieve-based washing technique and a passive collection method using a plastic sheet. We counted the number of mites extracted from each method and the time required to complete the process. The sieve method involved steering infested tissue in a water - soap - bleach solution for 5 minutes, then filtered through three sieves and rinsed. In the plastic sheet method, infested tissue was placed on a black plastic sheet with double-sided tape along the edges to confine and trap mites, which were counted after three days. We evaluated three eriophyoids: the gall-making species, Aceria litchii and Acalitus simplex, and the free-living species Aculops lycopersici. Overall, more gall-making species were collected using the plastic sheet method (630.88 mean +/- 2.96 SE) than the sieve method (61.85 +/- 1.06). In contrast, both methods were equally effective for the free-living A. lycopersici. The sample processing time was not significantly different between the two methods. Mite biology and method trade-offs drive extraction efficiency.
Acrocinus longimanus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), commonly known as the harlequin beetle, is a large and visually striking Neotropical species, widely recognized for its ecological relevance in forest ecosystems. Despite its conspicuousness, phoretic associations with mites have been scarcely documented, with only a few records dating back to 1916 and 1930, and most studies focusing exclusively on pseudoscorpions. This study aimed to morphologically characterize and identify the phoretic mite fauna associated with A. longimanus and to assess potential patterns of acarine preference in relation to host sex and attachment sites on the beetle's body. We examined 23 specimens of A. longimanus (12 females and 11 males) from an entomological collection. A total of 10,306 mites were recorded, representing 12 distinct morphotypes. The internal surface of the elytra was identified as the main attachment site. Among the recorded taxa, deutonymphs of Trematuridae gen. sp. 2 were the most abundant and widespread across host specimens. The high occurrence of this taxon, including protonymphs, may reflect overlooked or previously unreported strategies within Uropodina mite-beetle associations.
On 27 April and 21 July 2025, ixodid ticks were collected using the flagging method on the Notsuke Peninsula, Betsukai Town, Nemuro District, Hokkaido, Japan. Two species, Haemaphysalis concinna and H. longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae), were collected. Haemaphysalis concinna was dominant in the Peninsula and collected mainly as adults in April, whereas most were nymphs in July. The Notsuke Peninsula is currently the only confirmed locality in Hokkaido where H. concinna is abundant.
A new genus and three new species of eriophyoid mites (Acari: Eriophyoidea) are described and illustrated from West Bengal, India. These are Procoxinullus annanglica gen. nov. and sp. nov., a vagrant found on Houttuynia cordata Thunb. (Saururaceae), Aculus mohanis sp. nov., a vagrant collected from Cocculus hirsutus (L.) W.Theob. (Menispermaceae), and Gammaphytoptus gangarampurensis sp. nov., a vagrant discovered on Syzygium samarangense (Blume) Merr. et L.M.Perry (Myrtaceae).http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8F102787-1BB0-4F56-A46C-7CD6B79FC671
A new species, Teratothyas (s. str.) hainanensis Zhan, Li & Guo sp. nov. collected from a shallow spring stream in Hainan, represents the newly recorded family Teratothyadidae K. Viets, 1929, in China. The new species exhibits a combination of morphological characters, including (1) genital field approximately square, (2) Ac-2/-3 close, Ac-1/-2 relatively larger than Ac-3, (3) p-4 long, dorsal distal without a distinctly specialized peg seta, and (4) cheliceral claw with a long, narrow groove on lateral side, a row of teeth on medial side. It was recorded with the combination of standard microscopy, photomicroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy.https://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4FD381D6-A3DF-4124-BBEA-B0D228123117
