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

Mites are known to attach to and parasitize sand flies, potentially affecting host survival, development and reproductive capacity. In this study, we aimed to identify and report two mite species found on the field collected sandflies during a comprehensive seasonal activity study carried out in two provinces of T & uuml;rkiye. A total of 4 3 mite specimens were recovered from 25 individual sand flies. Two mite species Eustigmaeus johnstoni Zhang & Gerson (Stigmaeidae) and Biskratrombium aff. coineaui Fain & Izri (Microtrombidiidae) were identified . This represents the first record on the presence of ectoparasitic B. aff. coineaui on adult females of Phlebotomus alexandri and P. sergenti, and the first to report of this mite species from T & uuml;rkiye. Although the effects of parasitic mites on sand fly populations remain unclear, it is likely that they utilize the host's limited resources, thereby potentially compromising the host's reproductive potential. Further experimental investigation into these specific host-parasite dynamics is essential to fully elucidate the ecological interactions and their potential implications for vector management.

Cytogenetic studies on mites (and ticks) remain scarce and have received limited attention in the literature. In this study, for the first time, chromosome numbers of two species belonging to Trombidioidea are presented. The diploid chromosome number was determined to be 2n=12 in Trombidium latum C.L. Koch, 1837 (Trombidiidae) and 2n=14 in Eutrombidium trigonum (Hermann, 1804) (Microtrombidiidae). Additionally, a comprehensive list of mite species with known chromosome numbers to date has been compiled. To support species identification, we generated the COI gene sequence of T. latum from Türkiye and compared it with available sequences in GenBank. The integration of cytogenetic and molecular data aims to improve species identification and provide a foundation for future phylogenetic and genetic diversity studies in trombidioid mites.

The larval instar of Allothrombium incarnatum Oudemans, 1905 was detected for the first time by experimental rearing from field-collected females. Based on its morphological characters, Allothrombium monosolenidion Kamran and Alatawi, 2020 syn. nov., known only from larval instar, is considered a junior synonym of A. incarnatum. Data on the habitat and host of this species are also presented.

Abrolophus boleticolus sp. nov. and Marantelophus kastamonuensis sp. nov. are described and illustrated from larvae collected from the wild, edible mushrooms, Boletus aereus (Boletaceae) and Marasmius oreades (Marasmiaceae), respectively, in Türkiye. Both of these erythraeid genera, which belong to the subfamily Abrolophinae, have comb-like seta on the palptarsus. In addition, Marantelophus viticolus, which was earlier synonymized with M. rudaensis, was determined to be a valid species.

The genus Rhinothrombium (Tanaupodidae) is represented in the world by three species: R. nemoricola (Berlese, 1886), R. inopinum Hull, 1918 and R. wuxiensis Zhang, 1993. In this study, morphological characters, micrographs of various organs and distribution of postlarval forms of R. nemoricola are given. This is the first record of the genus Rhinothrombium from Türkiye.

A new genus and species of the Microtrombidiidae, Troglotrombidium dolichopodum n. gen. et n. sp. is described based on ectoparasitic larvae collected from two Dolichopoda lycia (Galvagni 2006) (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae) specimens from a cave in Western Taurus Mountains, Turkey. The new genus can be distinguished from other genera by the absence of eyes, highly modified claws of tarsi III, sensillary setae structure of the anterior dorsal scutum, and the number of adoral setae. The new species is a typical troglobite, and this interspecific interaction is a well-documented case for the little-known host-parasite relationships from subterranean ecosystems.

Sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) are biological vectors for Leishmania species, which are health problems for humans and animals, bacteria such as Bartonella baciliformis, and various viruses belonging to the arboviruses such as Phlebovirus, the families Flaviviridae and Reoviridae. They are also known to be in contact with entomoparasites, such as various nematodes, mites and fungi. For a faunistic study, sand flies were collected by CDC light traps set up in various localities within the scope of two separate field studies carried out in Muğla and Adana provinces, Türkiye. During this study, two ectoparasitic mite species, Eustigmaeus johnstoni Zhang and Gerson on Phlebotomus tobbi Adler, Theodor and Lourie in Muğla province and Biskratrombium persicum Majidi, Hahiqanbar and Saboori (Microtrombidiidae) on Phlebotomus alexandri (Sinton, 1928) in Adana province, were observed from Türkiye. More detailed studies are needed since there are not enough studies about parasitic mites belonging to different families that can infest sand flies, their hosts, and the damage caused by these mites.

Larvae of Charletonia krendowskyi (Feider, 1954) are reported both for the first time as ectoparasitic on adults of bush cricket Platycleis intermedia (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae), and from Turkey. The previously given metric data for this species has been compared. In addition, some structural abnormalities seen in this species are given. This is the third record of Charletonia associated with orthopterans of the family Tettigoniidae.

Laboratory rearing of two mite species, Erythraeus (Zaracarus) budapestensis Fain & Ripka, 1998 collected in Turkey and E. (Z.) rupestris (Linnaeus, 1758) sampled in Germany, allowed establishing the correspondence of their larval and postlarval instars. Erythraeus (Z.) iranicus Saboori & Akrami, 2001 syn. nov. is considered a new subjective junior synonym of E. (Z.) budapestensis. Erythraeus (Z.) eleonorae Haitlinger, 1987 syn. nov. and E. (Z.) didonae Haitlinger, 2000 syn. nov. are synonymized with E. (Z.) rupestris. Data on the life history, parasitic associations and habitats are provided, and the status of currently recognized subgenera of Erythraeus is discussed.

Sphairothrombium gabrysi sp. nov. is described based on the adult and larva. Larvae were obtained by laboratory rearing from a field-collected female. The larval stage of the genus is described for the first time. Sphairothrombium gabrysi sp. nov. is the first species to be included in this genus since 1999, bringing the overall number of species assigned to this genus to 14.

Hirstithrombium noemiae Feider, 1955, representing one of the eight genera currently assigned to Johnstonianinae, is redescribed based on field-collected adults, deutonymphs and larvae, and also larvae obtained at the laboratory from field-born females. The species is associated with hygric habitats located at higher altitudes. A successful rearing allowed the first matching of heteromorphic instars within the genus known hitherto exclusively from active postlarval forms. A comparison of genera of Johnstonianinae, including species known from larvae and/or active postlarval forms is provided, species presently assigned to subfamily are listed and the key characters used in species diagnosing are discussed. A female of Hirstithrombium noemiae Feider, 1955 collected in Turkey is designated as neotype.

Diplothrombium tunceliensis sp. nov. and D. sansaensis sp. nov. collected from wet moss by Berlese funnel (off host) in Erzincan and Tunceli Provinces, Turkey, are described and illustrated. In addition, D. longipalpe (Berlese, 1887), D. rackae Wohltmann et al. 2004 and D. zbigniewi Haitlinger, 2001 are reported for the first time from Turkey. Also, species of Diplothrombium known from their larvae are compared.

The larvae of Leptus ( L. ) esmailii Saboori and Ostovan given as ectoparasitic on sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps Puton (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae) from Iran were collected from the same species host in Turkey. The larvae were briefly described and compared with the specimens which are previously given from Iran, also light microscope images of important parts of the specimens were presented here. This study is the second record of the genus Leptus from Turkey.

Trombidium rimosum C. L. Koch, 1837, which shows distribution in Europe, has been known only to postlarval forms to date. In this study, for the first time, larvae of Trombidium rimosum are described and illustrated from Turkey. All larvae were obtained by experimental rearing from field-collected females. Also, an abnormality was noted for larvae of this species.

Larvae of Valgothrombium confusum (Berlese), V. major (Halbert) and V. valgum (George) were obtained by experimental rearing from field-collected females. Unknown larvae of V. confusum and V. major are described for the first time in this study. Additionally, morphological similarity among species of Valgothrombium are discussed. These three species are new records for the Turkish fauna.

Trombidium demirsoyi sp. nov. Sevsay and Buga is described and illustrated from larvae collected as ectoparasites on Zodarion thoni Nosek, 1905 and off-host from the soil in Canakkale Province, Turkey. This is the first record of a species of the spider family Zodariidae as a host for an ectoparasitic larva of a Trombidium Fabricius species.

Konak üzerinde parazit olan trombidioid larvası, yeteri kadar beslendikten sonra konaktan ayrılır ve protonimf (hareketsiz) safhasına, sonrasında larva derisini atarak deutonimf safhasına geçer. Bu çalışmada, konak üzerinden toplanan parazit larvalar ile konak üzerindeki diğer larvalardan elde edilen deutonimflerin aynı tür olduğu tespit edildi. Bu tespit, larvalar ile deutonimfe geçerken atılan larva derilerinin (exuviae) karşılaştırılmasıyla sağlandı. Bu yöntemle, bir otbiçen (Opilionida) ve iki sinek (Diptera) türü (Rhagio sp., Musca domestica) üzerinden toplanan parazit akarlardan, Allothrombium sp., Trichotrombidium muscarum (Riley, 1878) ve Trombidium holosericeum (Linnaeus, 1758) olmak üzere üç akar türü teşhis edildi. Aynı zamanda daha önceki çalışmalarda gözlenen ancak bugüne kadar üzerinde durulmayan larva derilerinin, larvalar ile aynı karakteristik özellikleri gösterdiği ve morfolojik teşhiste kullanılabileceği belirlendi

Trombidiid akarlar, larva döneminde çeşitli canlılar üzerinde parazit olarak yaşarlar. Trombidium holosericeum’un larvaları ilk kez Rhagionidae familyasına ait Rhagio sp.’dan, Trombidium brevimanum’un larvaları da ilk defa Neobisiidae familyasına ait Neobisium crassifemoratum (Beier 1928)’dan parazit olarak kaydedildi. Her iki türün bugüne kadar verilen konakçıları tartışıldı