A rotatory funnel-shaped collector for trapping airborne mites in a glycerin-based adhesive surface.

Many mite species disperse via the air. However, most methods described for the study of aerial dispersal have some limitations in the collection and/or recovery of mites that could be improved. The aim of this study was to describe a rotatory funnel-shaped collector that directs the wind to adhesive surfaces covered with a glycerin-based solution. Tests were conducted on a soccer field at UESC, Ilhéus, Brazil, in four 8-day periods. In total, 330 mites of 52 species of Eriophyidae, Tarsonemidae, Diptilomiopidae, Iolinidae, Triophtydeidae, Astigmata, Tydeidae, Phytoseiidae, Scutacaridae, Oribatida, Ascidae, Dolichocybidae, Eupodidae, Pygmephoridae and Tenuipalpidae were collected. Of the mites captured in the first three periods, 67% were Aceria sp. (Eriophyidae), and in the fourth period 46% were Coccotydaeolus aff. bakeri and Paurotyndareus sp. (Iolinidae). Comparisons between the funnel-shaped collector with the tube-shaped rotatable model of Duffner et al. (J Pest Sci 74:1-6, 2001, adapted from Schliesske 1977) showed that the former captured >3× the number of mites and 2× the number of species. In conclusion, it is expected that the method described here could help in future pest management, and help solve ecological and behavioral problems involving airborne mite dispersal, offering a tool for monitoring, counting and identifying mites, or even other small arthropods, pollen and fungal spores, in experimental and applied studies.

Population dynamics of Aceria guerreronis (Acari: Eriophyidae) and other mites associated with coconut fruits in Una, state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil.

Aceria guerreronis Keifer is a major coconut pest in the Americas, Africa and some Asian countries, and occurs in high population levels in northeastern Brazil. The determination of the climatic conditions that favorably affect its population growth and the prevalence and abundance of predatory mites can promote more efficient control practices. Our objective was to evaluate the pattern of occurrence and population dynamics of A. guerreronis, their associated predators and other mites during a 2 year period in a hybrid coconut plantation in the municipality of Una, state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil. Monthly samples of fruits were taken from June 2008 to May 2010 for qualitative and quantitative evaluation of mites. Aceria guerreronis represented 99.9 % of the mites. An average density of 1,117 mites per fruit and a maximum of 23,596 mites per fruit indicated that the level of infestation can be high in Bahia. Bdella ueckermanni Hernandes, Daud and Feres was the most abundant and frequent predator. Population increase of A. guerreronis was directly related to the temperature rise and inversely related to both the increase of air relative humidity and rainfall. The highest population densities occurred from November to March. The largest A. guerreronis populations occurred in fruits with 32 and 48 % of damaged surface. The relationship between prevailing wind direction and incidence of A. guerreronis could not be corroborated or refuted.

The Neotropical mite genus Neopilizetes (Oribatida: Galumnidae): redescription of N. neotropicus, rediagnosis of the genus, and descriptions of four new species.

Neopilizetes is a genus of the oribatid mite family Galumnidae that was first characterized by having well-developed setae, a dorsosejugal suture, and raised striae on the prodorsum and notogaster. It was proposed to accommodate Pilizetes neotropicus Balogh Mahunka 1978 from Brazil-the only supposed Pilizetes species known outside the Ethiopian Region-and it has remained monotypic. We found adults of N. neotropicus and four related species in soil-litter interface samples of a single cacao plantation in Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil. Herein we: redescribe N. neotropicus; describe Neopilizetes thoracicus n. sp., Neopilizetes tigris n. sp., Neopilizetes triumnasus n. sp. and Neopilizetes unumnasus n. sp., and use this information to develop a new concept and expanded diagnosis of Neopilizetes. A key to the five species is provided, and we offer reasons for rejecting the classification of Neopilizetes as a subgenus of Pilizetes.

Two new eriophyoid mite species (Trombidiformes: Eriophyoidea) from the cocoa tree, and a note on Shevtchenkella biseta (Nalepa).

Two new eriophyoid mite species are described from the cocoa tree, Theobroma cacao L. (Malvaceae) - the Diptilomiopidae Davisella trevisani n. sp. Rodrigues, Navia & Oliveira, from Brazil; and the Eriophyidae Tetra theobromae n. sp. Rodrigues, Navia & Oliveira, from Costa Rica. The new Davisella species presents an enlarged subcylindrical tubercle bearing pedipalp genual seta d, a novel structure for eriophyoid mites; its functional morphology was discussed. The new Tetra species is the third in this genus described from plants of the Malvaceae. A closer look at Shevtchenkella biseta (Nalepa), described from the Malvaceae Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L., showed its taxonomic assignment to the Phytoptidae, Sierraphytoptinae and raised a hypothesis on its synonymy.

A checklist of the oribatid mite species (Acari: Oribatida) of Brazil.

A checklist of the oribatid mite species reported in Brazil is presented, including all published records up to 2015. A total of 576 described species in 206 genera and 83 families is presented. Information includes the names by which each species was reported in the Brazilian literature, its general known distribution and by Brazilian States, references, and remarks, when needed. As with most countries, there was a slow early accumulation of knowledge but in recent decades the pace of description has been relatively high. A graphical overview of the number of described oribatid mite species from Brazil in different decades is given. The proportion contributed by each of the major oribatid groups is generally similar to that of the overall world fauna, with a composition that reflects the South American fauna and all of the Neotropics in general. There is a relatively low percentage of primitive mites (Palaeosomata, Enarthronota) other than Lohmanniidae and Mesoplophoridae, which are quite diverse. The Brachypylina comprises about 68% of the oribatid mite fauna. In the checklist, 41% of the species are known only from Brazil, 37% from the Neotropical region, 13.5% have a wider distribution in the global tropical and subtropical regions, and 8.5% are considered cosmopolitan or semicosmopolitan species. The number of descriptions of new species since 2000 from Brazil (73 spp.) and South America (230) is high, but the oribatid mite fauna of these countries remains poorly known. Only continued studies can determine if the high number of species known only from Brazil is an indication of high endemism.

Eriomacrotergum flechtmanni n. gen. n. sp. (Trombidiformes: Eriophyidae), a new eriophyoid mite from the cupuaçu tree, Theobroma grandiflorum, from northern Brazil.

A new eriophyid genus and species, tentatively placed in the Tegonotini, namely Eriomacrotergum flechtmanni n. gen. n. sp., is described from the Amazonian fruit tree cupuaçu Theobroma grandiflorum (Willd. Ex Spreng.) K. Schum. (Malvaceae), collected in northern Brazil. The new taxon presents a peculiar morphology in having a large opisthosomal plate and a very reduced prodorsal shield, with ocellar-like structures and scapular setae displaced laterally. Discussion on the most remarkable taxonomic traits is presented as well as similarities of the new genus with other Eriophyidae genera.

Toxicological evaluation of genetically modified cotton (Bollgard) and Dipel WP on the non-target soil mite Scheloribates praeincisus (Acari: Oribatida).

Insecticides derived from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and plants genetically modified (GM) to express B. thuringiensis toxins are important alternatives for insect pest control worldwide. Risk assessment of B. thuringiensis toxins to non-target organisms has been extensively studied but few toxicological tests have considered soil invertebrates. Oribatid mites are one of the most diverse and abundant arthropod groups in the upper layers of soil and litter in natural and agricultural systems. These mites are exposed to the toxic compounds of GM crops or pesticides mainly when they feed on vegetal products incorporated in the soil. Although some effects of B. thuringiensis products on Acari have been reported, effects on oribatid mites are still unknown. This study investigated the effects of the ingestion of Bt cotton Bollgard and of the B. thuringiensis commercial product Dipel WP on the pantropical species Scheloribates praeincisus (Scheloribatidae). Ingestion of Bollgard and Dipel did not affect adult and immature survivorship and food consumption (estimated by number of fecal pellets produced daily) or developmental time of immature stages of S. praeincisus. These results indicate the safety of Bollgard and Dipel to S. praeincisus under field conditions where exposition is lower and other food sources besides leaves of Bt plants are available. The method for toxicological tests described here can be adapted to other species of Oribatida, consisting on a new option to risk assessment studies.

Consumption rate of phytonematodes by Pergalumna sp. (Acari: Oribatida: Galumnidae) under laboratory conditions determined by a new method.

Although several generalist species of Pergalumna are known to be nematode predators, the potential of oribatid mites as natural enemies of phytonematodes has been underestimated. The objective of this work was to estimate the consumption rate of a Pergalumna sp. when feeding on two major pest nematodes, Meloidogyne javanica and Pratylenchus coffeae, under laboratory conditions. A new method was used, in which live nematodes are offered to mites and subsequently consumption is quantified based on the sclerotized, well preserved structures in the mite's fecal pellets. The assay was evaluated during 5 days, at 25 degrees C and 96% relative humidity, with three replicates for each nematode species. Every replicate consisted of a group of four mites isolated in an arena, to which 400 nematodes were transferred daily. The daily produced fecal pellets were mounted in Hoyer's medium for examination under a microscope. The nematode buccal stylets and cephalic frameworks were counted to estimate the number of nematodes consumed. It was estimated that a single mite daily ingested 18.3 +/- 0.8 (mean +/- SE) M. javanica (J(2) juveniles) or 41.6 +/- 7.2 P. coffeae (juveniles + adults), the maximal daily consumption being 34 M. javanica and 73 P. coffeae. The method showed to be practical, precise and suitable for laboratory studies in which nematophagous mites classified as engulfers are included.