[Investigation and morphological observation of Suidasia breeding in flourmills in Huaibei].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the Suidasia breeding in the flourmill and further observe its morphological characteristics. METHODS: The samples were collected from different habitats of a flourmill and then separated, and the chipping was kept. The mites were selected and counted from the chipping under an optical microscope. The mites were made slide samples and identified. RESULTS: The mites were identified as Suidasia (including Suidasia nesbitti and Suidasia medanensis). A total of 20 samples were collected in this study, of which 13 were positively detected, with the detection rate of 65%. There were 2 876 mites of Suidasia that were detected from 200 g sample. The average breeding density was 14.38/g. CONCLUSIONS: It is common that Suidasia breeding in flour, which might cause human acariasis and allergic asthma. Therefore, the effective prevention measures should be taken.

[Optimization and comparison of extraction methods of mitochondrial DNA of Oncomelania hupensis].

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the extraction methods of mitochondrial genome DNA (mtDNA) of Oncomelania hupen- sis. METHODS: The pyrolysis, protein K variable-temperature digestion and high-concentration potassium acetate purification were applied to optimize the high-concentration-salt precipitation method, and then the optimized method was compared with two common extraction methods, the sucrose density gradient centrifugation method and traditional high-concentration-salt precipitation method. The mtDNA samples were identified by using spectrophotometry, agarose gel electrophoresis and the amplification products of COX1. The nuclear DNA contamination was tested by the amplification products of ITS. RESULTS: The concentration and yield of the improved method was significantly higher than those of the traditional method (F = 3 032.65, 10 185.00, both P < 0.01). The mtDNA samples extracted were essentially free of nuclear DNA and protein, meeting PCR, sequence analysis and other molecular biology research requirements. CONCLUSIONS: The improved high-concentration-salt precipitation method for isolating mtDNA is simple, and it has high yield and low cost. The extracted mtDNA can meet relevant analysis requirements.

[Investigation on mites and insects breeding status of bed mats in college dormitories in Wuhu City].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the breeding situations of mites and insects from bed mats in dormitories in a college in Wuhu City, so as to provide evidences for improving the prevention and control of mites. METHODS: From March to May, 2015, the dust samples from bed mats in student dormitories were collected and detected for mites and insects by microscopy. In addition, the intervention measures including soaking the mats in the warm water, exposing the mats to the sunlight for a long time and cleaning up the indoor environment were carried out, and the breeding situations of mites and insects before and after the intervention were compared. RESULTS: A total of 428 dust samples from bed mats were collected, and the total infestation rate of mites and insects was 71.03%. There were 11 species of mites and insects identified, among which, the infestation rate of Dermatophagoides farinae (60.05%) was the highest, following by that of Liposcelis bostrychophilus (40.89%) . The infestation rates of Cheyletus malaccensis, Blattisocius sp. and Pyemotes sp. were 9.81%, 3.74% and 1.64%, respectively, and the above mites might cause dermatits. The infestation rates of mites and insects in dust samples from bed mats stored in indoor corner, wardrobe, bed bottom, and the balcony corner were 74.75%, 71.26%, 61.17%, and 77.78%, respectively, and the differences among them were not statistically significant (χ2 = 7.030, P > 0.05) . The detectable rates of mites and insects in dust samples from bed mats with no cover, wrapped with cloth bags, and wrapped with plastic bags were 85.58%, 78.13%, and 14.29%, respectively, and the differences among them were statistically significant (χ2 = 164.303, P < 0.05) . After the intervention, both the infestation rates of mites and insects as well as the average density of mites were decreased, and the differences were statistically significant (χ2 = 45.615, t = 3.203, both P < 0.05) . CONCLUSIONS: The infestation rates of mites and insects in bed mats of the dormitories in the college of Wuhu City are high, and among all the species of mites infested, D. farina are preponderant. The intervention measures, such as prepacking bed mats by adequate sealing, soaking bed mats in the warm water, exposing the bed mats to the sunlight and cleaning indoor environment, have an inhibiting effect to the infestation of mites and insects.

[Preliminary investigation of Suidasia nesbitti breeding status in ground dust flour in Qiqihaer City].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the Suidasia nesbitti breeding status in the ground dust flour collected in Qiqihaer City. METHODS: Totally, 16 aliquots of ground dust flour were respectively collected from a college canteen and 15 households in Qiqihaer City. Then 10 g dust flour was taken from individual sample for isolation of the mites that were made of slide specimen, and the mites were identified and classified under a microscope. RESULTS: Acaroid mites were found in 15 of the 16 aliquots of samples (detection rate being 93.8％), and 7 species, belonging to 6 genera under 3 families, were identified. A total of 561 heads of mites were isolated from 160 g samples, with an average breeding density of 3.51 heads/g. The most breeding mite was associated with S. nesbitti. CONCLUSIONS: Various species of mites are breeding in the ground dust flour in Qiqihaer City, and S. nesbitti occurs the most. These findings indicate that effective measures should be taken to prevent and control the harm associated with acaroid mite contamination.

[Investigation on species and community ecology of Acaroid mites breeding in stored traditional Chinese animal medicinal materials].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the species of Acaroid mites breeding in the stored traditional Chinese animal medicinal materials and the relationship between its community and habitats. METHODS: A total of 30 samples of traditional Chinese animal medicinal herbs were collected from Wuhu City, Anhui Province, China. The mites were isolated by the directly microscopic and floatation microscopic examinations, and then identified and counted under a light microscope. RESULTS: Acaroid mites was represented in 28 of the 30 samples, and the breeding rate accounted for as high as 93.3% (28/30). Totally, 13 species of Acaroid mites were identified, which belonged to 4 families and 9 genera. The densities of Acaroid mites were top in 6 Chinese herbal medicines, such as corium erinacei, aspongopus, hirudo, pheretima aspergillum, Apostichopus and huechys. The diversity parameters of these six traditional Chinese animal medicinal herbs were calculated. The highest richness indexes were in aspongopus and hirudo, the highest diversity index was in hirudo, and the highest evenness index was in Apostichopus. CONCLUSIONS: There are Acaroid mites breeding in parts of the traditional Chinese animal medicinal herbs stored in Wuhu. In the storage and processing of Chinese herbal medicines, we should pay attention to the prevention and control of mites.

[Tyrophagus palmarum and its hypopus found in feed of Tenebrio molitor].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the Tyrophagus palmarum and its hypopus in feed of Tenebrio molitor. METHODS: Feed samples were collected from T. molitor farms, and T. palmarum and its hypopus were separated from the samples by the vibration sieve method and floating method. The glass specimens were prepared and T. palmarum and its hypopus were observed under an optical microscope. RESULTS: Under the light microscope, the skin of T. palmarum was smooth and bright, the color of legs and chelicerae was relatively dark, the length of dorsal seta d2 was 3-4 times longer than d1 and la; The ω1 in tarsus of leg Ⅰ, Ⅱ was short rod, and its top was not tapered; the sucker plate in tarsus of leg Ⅳ located in the middle of the section. The hypopus was oblate, and there were two pairs of legs in front which extended to body. The rear end of hypopus became pointless and round, wrapping around a transparent and ossification skin. CONCLUSIONS: Light microscopy shows the morphological characteristics of T. palmarum and its dormant body, providing the basis for identifying the hypopus.

[Investigation on Aspidogastrea infection in freshwater mussels in Anhui Province].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of trematode Aspidogastrea in freshwater mussels in Anhui Province, China. METHODS: The freshwater mussels living in different water areas within Anhui territory were harvested and dissected from April to May, 2015. Then the flukes were collected from the pericardial cavities of the clams into a petri dish containing small amount of saline. After rinsing, the flukes were transferred into a bottle containing 70% ethanol for following identification by staining of the specimens prepared as previous protocol. RESULTS: A total of 3 007 calms in 12 species, including Unio douglasiae (603), Acuticosta chinensis (90), Lamprotula caveat (150), Lamprotula leai (250), Lanceolaria grayana (47), Anodonta pacifica (60), Anodonta woodiana (350), Cuneopsis heudei (100), Solenaia oleivora (150), Cristaria plicata (567), Hyriopsis cumingii (550) and Arconaia lanceolata (90) were dissected, in which 1 467 mussels were infected with the trematode Aspidogastrea, with an infection rate of 48.79% (1 467/3 007). Totally, 7 306 flukes belonging to 3 genera under the subclass of Aspidogastrea were isolated. These trematodes were genera of Aspidogaster, Lophotaspis and Cotylaspis. The infection density was from 1 to 128 capita for individual positive clam, with a mean infectiosity of 4.98 (7306/1467) for each mussel. CONCLUSIONS: The freshwater bivalves living in different water areas in Anhui Province are infected with the trematode Aspidogastrea. These flukes were identified as Aspidogaster sp. Lophotaspis sp. and Cotylaspis sp. belonging to subclass Aspidogastridae of family Aspidogastrea.

[Population dynamics and spatial distribution pattern of Aleuroglyphus ovatus].

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the population dynamics and spatial distribution of Aleuroglyphus ovatus in the flour warehouse, so as to provide the basic evidence for improving the sampling guidelines that are essential for effective pest monitoring and management. METHODS: The samples from flour warehouses of four localities were collected, examined and counted for A. ovatus in every month in Wuhu City. The dispersion pattern target, Iwao m*/x̅ regression analysis and Taylor power method were used for analyzing the spatial distribution pattern of A. ovatus in the flour warehouses. RESULTS: The peaks of population dynamics of A. ovatus were discovered in July and September, respectively. The indexes of dispersion were as follows：I > 0, CA > 0, m*/x̅ > 1. At the same time, the parameters in the equation of Iwao：m*=5.471+1.022 x̅ (r = 0.999) and Taylor： lgS2 = 0.697+1.111 lg x̅ (r = 0.987) showed that the spatial distribution pattern of A. ovatus was assembled. CONCLUSIONS: The peaks of population dynamics of A. ovatus in the flour warehouse are bimodal pattern, and the spatial distribution pattern of A. ovatus is assembled.

[Investigation on Cheyletoidea mites breeding in culture environment of Eupolyphaga sinensis and morphologic observation of Eucheyletia reticulate Cunliffe].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the species of Cheyletoidea mites breeding in the culture environment of Eupolyphaga sinensis and to observe the morphology of Eucheyletia reticulata Cunliffe. METHODS: The soil samples from an E. sinensis farm in northern Anhui were collected. The mites in the soil samples were separated directly under a microscope and the glass specimens were made to observe the morphological feature of the mites under a light microscope, then the mites species were identified and classified based on the morphological characteristics. RESULTS: In the culture soil of E. sinensis, totally 7 kinds of Cheyletoidea mites were isolated, namely Eucheyletia reticulata Cunliffe, Cheyletus eruditus Schrank, Cheyletus malaccensis Oudemans, Cheyletus troussarti Oudemans, Cheyletus aveisor Rohdendorz, Acaropsis sollers Rohdendorz and Cheletomorpha lepidopterorum Shaw. They belonged to genera Eucheyletia, Cheletomorpha, Acaropsis and Cheyletus of Cheyletidae Leach family. The Eucheyletia reticulata Cunliffe was firstly found in the culture environment of E. sinensis, and its gnathosoma was large, the pedipalpal femurs were expanding and there were two strips of comb hair and two smooth bristles on the pedipalpal tarsus, and the back of the body was covered with two pieces of tergum, which were decorated with reticular pattern. The body and foot setae were fan-shape. CONCLUSIONS: There are various of Cheyletoidea mites found in the breeding environment of E. sinensis. These mites are important species for pest control in the culture environments of E. sinensis. Related measures should be taken to prevent the excessive growth of Cheyletoidea mites, so as to avoid the adverse effects on the quality and quantity of E. sinensis.