A systematic revision of the genus Neopterygosoma Fajfer, 2019 (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae) with the description of a new species.

A systematic revision of the scale mites of the genus Neopterygosoma Fajfer, 2019 (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae) formerly placed in the genus Pterygosoma Peters, 1849, is presented. Two new natural species groups are established: the chilensis group for species found on Chilean liolaemid lizards (Sauria: Liolaemidae) and the patagonica group for N. patagonica (Dittmar de la Cruz, Morando & Avila, 2004) found on several Liolaemus spp. from Argentina. A neotype of N. patagonica is designated. A leg chaetotaxy model for tarsi-coxae I-IV is proposed for the genus. A key to all species of Neopterygosoma is provided and a full list of Neopterygosoma spp. with their updated host associations and distribution data is compiled. Additionally, a new species, N. schroederi n. sp. found on Liolaemus schroederi Müller & Hellmich, is described, including for the first time, description and illustrations of the immature stages of a species of Neopterygosoma.

Description of four new species of Haemaphysalis Koch, 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae) from the H. (Rhipistoma) spinulosa subgroup, parasites of carnivores and rodents in Africa.

Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) bochkovi n. sp., H. (R.) burkinae n. sp., H. (R.) horaki n. sp. and H. (R.) walkerae n. sp. (Acari: Ixodidae), are described based on males and females. Adults of H. bochkovi n. sp. were collected from the marsh mongoose, Atilax paludinosus (Cuvier) (Carnivora: Herpestidae) and the spotted-necked otter, Hydrictis maculicollis (Lichtenstein) (Carnivora: Mustelidae) in Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia; adults of H. burkinae n. sp. were collected from the rusty-spotted genet, Genetta maculata (Gray), the Haussa genet, Genetta thierryi Matschie (Carnivora: Viverridae) and the Cape hare, Lepus capensis Linnaeus (Lagomorpha: Leporidae) in Burkina Faso; adults of H. horaki n. sp. were collected from the Cape dune mole-rat, Bathyergus suillus (Schreber) (Rodentia: Bathyergidae) in South Africa; adults of H. walkerae n. sp. were collected from the striped polecat, Ictonyx striatus (Perry) (Carnivora: Mustelidae), the bat-eared fox, Otocyon megalotis (Desmarest) (Carnivora: Canidae), the aardwolf, Proteles cristata (Sparrman) (Carnivora: Hyaenidae) and the East African spring hare, Pedetes surdaster (Thomas) (Rodentia: Pedetidae) in Kenya. Males and females of these new species can be differentiated from each other and other H. spinulosa-like ticks by their size, pattern of punctations on conscutum/scutum, length of setae, shape and size of genital structures, spiracular plates, basis capituli, dorsal cornua, posterosdorsal and posteroventral spurs of palpal segment II and spur on coxae.

Redescription of Myianoetus muscarum (Acari: Histiostomatidae) Associated with Human Remains in Texas, USA, with Designation of a Neotype from Western Europe.

Mites are receiving renewed interest in forensic entomology, but the identification of many species associated with carrion and human remains is problematic. We review the taxonomy of the mite species currently known as Myianoetus muscarum (L., 1758) and designate a neotype from the collection of Jean Cooreman in Brussels, Belgium. The species is redescribed based on Cooreman's specimens, specimens previously reported from California and Ontario, Canada, and a large series of new specimens collected from a human corpse in Texas. The species is compared with and distinguished from other species of Myianoetus.

Two New Species of Demodex (Acari: Demodecidae) with a Redescription of Demodex musculi and Data on Parasitism in Mus musculus (Rodentia: Muridae).

This article describes two new skin mite species found on the house mouse Mus musculus L., 1758. Demodex marculus sp. nov. is a very small demodecid mite (adult stages, on average, 99 µm in length) found in mouse skin in the abdomen, back, limbs, and anal area. It is characterized by relatively large bossing hammer-shaped supracoxal spines, embedded in the trapezoidal gnathosoma. Demodex fusiformis sp. nov., in turn, is a little larger (adult stages on average 111 µm in length), with a small oval gnathosoma equipped with fine, knob-like supracoxal spines. It was found in the skin of abdomen, back, and limbs. Moreover, Demodex musculi (Oudemans, 1897) was redescribed, which is small demodecid mite (adult stages on average 142 µm in length) and characterized by relatively large morphological variation and considerable sexual dimorphism. The characteristic feature of this species is the strongly elongated and rectangular gnathosoma equipped with very large wedge-shaped supracoxal spines. D. musculi was found in the skin of various, haired regions of the mice body (head, neck, abdomen, back, limbs, genital-anal region, and tail). Moreover, one more demodecid mite was found in the skin of the examined mice, it was Demodex flagellurus Bukva, 1985, which was found only in the genital area. Overall infection of Mus musculus L. by all species of Demodex was with the prevalence of 100%, mean intensity of 24.0, and range of intensity of 1-109. Despite high infection levels, no symptoms of parasitosis were observed in the hosts.

Confocal microscopy reveals uniform male reproductive anatomy in eriophyoid mites (Acariformes, Eriophyoidea) including spermatophore pump and paired vasa deferentia.

Male internal genitalia of eriophyoid mites comprise cuticle lined (anterior genital apodeme, genital chamber and ductus ejculatorius) and soft (paired vasa deferentia and single testis) organs. Three-dimensional reconstructions based on autofluorescence show that a thin-walled genital chamber is usually situated in a transverse plane and precisely copies the shape of the spermatophore. A thin vertical longitudinal plate (homologous to female longitudinal bridge) joins the genital chamber and ventral genital cuticle. The anterior genital apodeme is a separate vertical plate situated ahead of the genital chamber and provides a rigid support for it. The brightly autofluorescent ductus ejaculatorius starts from the posterior extremity of the genital chamber and goes backward. Proximally, the ductus ejaculatorius is tube-like, whereas distally, it is expanded into a sac. Confocal laser scanning microscopy observations on males, stained with phalloidin, indicate that the proximal ductus ejaculatorius is devoid of muscles whereas the distal ductus ejaculatorius possesses well-developed musculature (the "spermatophore pump"), appearing in 3D reconstructions as a hollow sphere with three apertures: one anterior and two posterior. Two thin-walled sausage-like vasa deferentia join the distal ductus ejaculatorius with a large single testis, each junction is encircled by a strong, ring-shaped muscle (musculus sphincter testiculodeferentis). Thin muscular fibers of the wall of the testis form a net-like pattern consisting of distinct polygonal cells. The topography of the male internal genitalia and musculature suggests that, contrary to previous observations, the spermatophore head might be extruded first and then the spermatophore stalk appears. The possible role of visceral and skeletal musculature, in the process of the expulsion of a spermatophore, is discussed.

Traditional and geometric morphometrics supporting the differentiation of two new Retracrus (Phytoptidae) species associated with heliconias.

Cryptic diversity has been confirmed for several phytophagous mites in the Eriophyoidea superfamily previously considered as presenting low host specificity. Among generalist eriophyoids is the phytoptid Retracrus johnstoni Keifer, which has been reported in 19 palm species belonging to 11 genera, causing severe damage on some of them. Surprisingly this species was recently reported on another monocot family, Heliconiaceae, infesting Heliconia plants in Costa Rica and Brazil, being the only in the tribe Mackiellini to not be associated with palm trees. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of cryptic species in R. johnstoni and to clarify the taxonomic status of populations associated with heliconias in the Americas. With this purpose traditional and geometric morphometric analyses were conducted as well as a detailed morphological study. Measurable trait data were analysed via univariate and multivariate analyses. Shapes of specimens from different populations were compared via geometric morphometric landmark methods. Morphometric analysis supported occurrence of at least two cryptic species previously identified as R. johsntoni and suggested occurrence of cryptic species among populations associated with different palm trees. Taxonomic descriptions of two new taxa associated with heliconias, namely Retracrus costaricensis n. sp. Ferreira and Navia and Retracrus heliconiae n. sp. Ferreira and Navia are presented. Morphometric traits that can be useful in the taxonomic identification are noted and their value is discussed. Results of the traditional morphometry and geometric methods were compared and the advantages of their joint use for Eriophyoidea systematics are discussed.

A review of larval Chyzeria Canestrini, 1897 (Acari: Parasitengonina: Chyzeriidae).

Type-material for all larvae of species of Chyzeria Canestrini, 1897 (Prostigmata: Chyzerioidea: Chyzeriidae) was examined, diagnoses are presented and a key to species provided. The genus Chyzeria is divided in two species groups, onychia and hirsti, according to morphological and host preference differences. In addition, two new species of Chyzeria are described from specimens parasitising paropsine beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae): Chyzeria southcotti n. sp. from five species of Paropsini in northern New South Wales, and Chyzeria grandis n. sp. from Paropsisterna agricola (Chapuis) in Victoria and Trachymela sp. in Tasmania. The larvae of Chyzeria derricki Southcott, 1982 are reported from Anostostoma australasiae (Gray) (Orthoptera: Stenopelmatidae) in southeast Queensland, and larvae of Chyzeria flindersi Southcott, 1982 are reported from P. agricola from Tasmania.

A new species of the genus Demodex Owen, 1843 (Acari: Demodecidae) from the ear canals of the house mouse Mus musculus L. (Rodentia: Muridae).

A new species Demodex conicus n. sp. is described based on adult and juvenile stages from the ear canals of the house mouse Mus musculus L. in Poland. The new species is most similar to D. auricularis Izdebska, Rolbiecki & Fryderyk, 2014 from the ear canals of the wood mouse Apodemus sylvaticus (L.), but differs in the following features: the gnathosoma is triangular, the supracoxal spines (setae elc.p) are conical, the spines on the terminal segment of palp are four, the striation on opisthosoma is fine but dense, the vulva is located at a distance of c.17 µm from posterior level of legs IV, and the male genital opening is located at the level of legs I. The differences also relate to body size and proportions, female D. conicus n. sp. being, on average slightly larger, and male significantly larger than D. auricularis. Males of the new species also have longer and more massive opisthosoma than males of D. auricularis. Demodex conicus n. sp. was found in 17.5% of the mice studied from different locations in Poland.

Taxonomy of European Damaeidae VIII. Contribution to classification of genus Damaeus C. L. Koch, 1835, with a review of Adamaeus Norton, 1978 and Paradamaeus Bulanova-Zachvatkina, 1957 and redescription of three species.

Adamaeus Norton, 1978 and Paradamaeus Bulanova-Zachvatkina, 1957, two subgenera of genus Damaeus C. L. Koch, 1835, are reviewed on the basis of the redescription of their type species. Subgenus Eudamaeus Pérez-Iñigo, 1987 and genus Tectodamaeus Aoki, 1984 are reviewed and their relation to Damaeus is discussed. Damaeus firmus Kunst, 1957 is redescribed and placed into the nominate subgenus. Damaeus helveticus (Schweizer, 1956) n.comb. is redescribed and placed into the nominate subgenus, its synonymy with Damaeus (Adamaeus) onustus C.L.Koch, 1844 is rejected. Damaeus alpinus (Schweizer, 1956) n.comb. is redescribed and placed into the nominate subgenus. Lectotypes and paralectotypes of Damaeus firmus Kunst, 1957; Damaeus helveticus (Schweizer, 1956) and Damaeus alpinus (Schweizer, 1956) are indicated. Based on published reviews and redescriptions, new diagnoses for Tectodamaeus Aoki, 1984, Damaeus C. L. Koch, 1835 and its subgenera are proposed, and a list of all known European species of Damaeus C. L. Koch, 1835 is provided. Tectodamaeus longus Xie & Yang, 2009 is newly combined to Damaeus as D. longus (Xie & Yang, 2009) n.comb.

[NEW FINDINGS OF BAT ECTOPARASITES (CHIROPTERA: VESPERTILIONIDAE) IN SOUTHERN SIBERIA].

The data on new findings of ectoparasites (mites and insects) of bats (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in the Western Sayan and Tuva are represented. The bat fly Basilia mongolensis mongolensis Theodor, 1966 was discovered in the territory of Russia for the first time. Gamasid mite Spinturnix bregetovae Stanyukovich, 1995 is new for the region. New hosts were described for some ectoparasites.

Homoplastic evolution and host association of Eriophyoidea (Acari, Prostigmata) conflict with the morphological-based taxonomic system.

The superfamily Eriophyoidea is exceptionally diverse and its members are highly host-specific. Currently, the taxonomy of this group is based on morphology only. However, phylogenetic relationships in this group could be incorrect if the diagnostic morphological characters are homoplastic. Therefore, the phylogeny of 112 representative taxa of Eriophyoidea from China was determined using 18S, 28S D2-5 and D9-10 rRNA. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred through Bayesian, maximum likelihood and maximum parsimony methods, and then a number of clades or major clades were defined according to robust phylogenetic topologies combined with morphological comparison. Tests of monophyly showed that two of three families of Eriophyoidea as well as one subfamily and four tribes were not monophyletic. Ancestral character state reconstruction (ACSR) showed that five diagnostic morphological characters evolved several times, confounding the current taxonomy. Additionally, reconstruction of the history of host plant colonization suggested host switching occurred in a limited range of host plants. The host association data made it possible to determine taxonomic relationships more accurately. These results show that by integrating morphological and molecular information and host plant choice, it is possible to obtain a more accurate taxonomy and a deeper phylogenetic understanding of Eriophyoidea.

An ant-associated mesostigmatid mite in Baltic amber.

Fossil mesostigmatid mites (Acari: Parasitiformes: Mesostigmata) are extremely rare, and specimens from only nine families, including four named species, have been described so far. A new record of Myrmozercon sp. described here from Eocene (ca 44-49 Myr) Baltic amber represents the first-and so far only-fossil example of the derived, extant family Laelapidae. Significantly, modern species of this genus are habitually myrmecophilous and the fossil mite described here is preserved attached to the head of the dolichoderine ant Ctenobethylus goepperti (Mayr, 1868). It thus offers the oldest unequivocal evidence for an ecological association between mesostigmatid mites and social insects in the order Hymenoptera.

New species of the feather mite family Proctophyllodidae (Acariformes: Astigmata) from two species of mockingbirds (Passeriformes: Mimidae) in eastern North America.

Four new species of the feather mite family Proctophyllodidae are described from two species of the family Mimidae (Passeriformes): Proctophyllodes apanaskevichi sp. n. (Proctophyllodinae) and Amerodectes dumetellae sp. n. (Pterodectinae) from the Gray Catbird, Dumetella carolinensis (L., 1766), and Proctophyllodes gallowayi sp. n. (Proctophyllodinae) and Metapterodectes toxostomae sp. n. (Pterodectinae) from the Brown Thrasher, Toxostoma rufum (L., 1758). A. dumetellae and M. toxostomae represent the first records of mites of the subfamily Pterodectinae on mockingbirds.

Multivariate discrimination among cryptic mites of the genus Androlaelaps (Acari: Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) parasitic of sympatric akodontine rodents (Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae) in northeastern Argentina: possible evidence of host switch followed by speciation, with the description of two new species.

Laelapids are among the most common ectoparasites of rodents. Currently, it is under discussion whether there is a single polixenous species that parasites a variety of hosts, or whether there are cryptic species highly host specific. Herein, multivariate morphometric analyses of cryptic sympatric laelapids of the genus Androlaelaps allowed us to identify different species. These species are specific of their akodontine hosts, Akodon montensis and Thaptomys nigrita, in localities situated in northeastern Argentina. In addition, we analyzed similar laelapids associated with the akodontines Deltamys kempi and Akodon cursor. Using principle component analyses we differentiated four laelapid species, each one host specific, independent of sympatry of the hosts, and without geographical variation. From these four species, we described two new species (Androlaelaps navonae n. sp. and Androlaelaps wingei n. sp.). We determined the four species based on a range of variations in several characters, mainly size. These four laelapid species belong to the Androlaelaps rotundus species group, specific to akodontines. These species are very similar among them but differ from the remainder species of the group by their small size, distance between j6 setae similar to the distance between the z5 setae, strong ventral setae, opisthogaster with 13 pairs of strong setae (one close to the distal margin of epigynal shield), and anal shield wider than long. Further studies will elucidate whether they constitute a new laelapid genus. Phylogenetic and ecological factors influencing host-specificity are discussed, and we propose that host colonization could have taken place by host switching of a single laelapid species among rodent species, followed by speciation.

New species of Atropacarus (Hoplophorella), (Acari, Oribatida, Phthiracaridae) from the Afrotropical region.

Four new species of the subgenus Hoplophorella are desccribed and identified from the Afrotropical region: Atropacarus (Hoplophorella) curtisetosus sp. nov. from Uluguru Mountains of Tanzania, Atropacarus (Hoplophorella) distinctus sp. nov. from Ambohitantely Special Reserve of Madagascar, Atropacarus (Hoplophorella) othneios sp. nov. from Ranomafana National Park of Masagascar, and Atropacarus (Hoplophorella) stenos sp. nov.  from Nguru and Uluguru Mountains of Tanzania. A comparison with the most closely related species of the subgenus Hoplophorella is also presented. 

Redefinition of Cosmolaelaps Berlese (Acari: Laelapidae) and description of five new species from Brazil.

Cosmolaelaps Berlese, 1903 was originally described as a subgenus of Laelaps Koch. More recently, this group has been treated at the generic level or as a subgenus of Hypoaspis Canestrini, 1885. One of the objectives of the present paper is to provide a detailed characterisation of Cosmolaelaps, here considered at the generic level, a group that was poorly characterised in its original description as well as in subsequent publications. It is most closely related to Stratiolaelaps Berlese, from which it can usually be distinguished by the presence of extra paired and unpaired setae on the opisthonotal region of the dorsal shield, as well as by not having hypertrophied chelicerae or corniculi. A total of 108 species belong to Cosmolaelaps, including the new species described here. Five other species may also belong to this genus, but the available published information does not allow their conclusive placement. The Brazilian fauna of Hypoaspidinae is poorly known, but Cosmolaelaps seems to be well represented in Brazil. Thus, the second objective of this paper is to describe five new species of Cosmolaelaps from that country, namely C. barbatus sp. nov., C. busolii sp. nov., C. confinisetarum sp. nov., C. jaboticabalensis sp. nov. and C. oliveirai sp. nov.

Neophyllobius lorestanicus sp. nov. and N. ostovani sp.nov. (Acari: Camerobiidae) from Iran.

Two new species of the genus Neophyllobius Berlese, 1886 are described: Neophyllobius lorestanicus sp. nov. collected from soil under Prunus domestica L. (Rosaceae) in Markazi province and Neophyllobius ostovani sp. nov. from soil and rotten leaves of oak trees in Fars province, Iran. A key to all known Iranian and Turkish species of Neophyllobius is provided.

Two new feather mite species of the family Pteronyssidae (Acarina: Analgoidea) from Meghalaya (Northeast India).

Two new species of the feather mite family Pteronyssidae (Acariformes: Analgoidea) from passerines of the families Leiothrichidae and Pycnonotidae in India (Meghalaya, East Jaintia Hills District) are described: Timalinyssus actinodurae Constantinescu sp. nov. from Actinodura cyanouroptera (Hodgson) (Leiothrichidae) and Pteroherpus meghalayensis Constantinescu sp. nov. from Hemixos flavala Blyth (Pycnonotidae). Timalinyssus actinodurae differs from all of the other species of the genus due to a particular shape of the opisthosomal lobes in both sexes and having a strong sclerotised band in postero-median area of the hysteronotal shield in male. The male of Pteroherpus meghalayensis differs due to a very long genital apparatus and unusual length of the tips of epiandrum that extend the level of the genital apparatus.

Two new species of Digamasellidae from Taiwan (Acari: Mesostigmata).

This paper reports the occurrence of two new species of Digamasellidae from Taiwan, Dendroseius vulgaris n. sp. and Dendrolaelaps (Foveodendrolaelaps) linjianzheni n. sp. Dendroseius vulgaris is described based on the morphology of adult females, adult males and deutonymph, and D. linjianzheni is based on the morphology of adult females and males. This is the first report on the mite species of Digamasellidae from Taiwan. 

A new genus and two new species of Opilioacaridae (Acari: Parasitiformes) from Amazonia, Brazil with a key to world genera.

Collections of Opilioacaridae made close to 50 years ago in Manaus in the Amazonian Region have allowed the description of a new genus and two new species from Brazil, Amazonacarus setosus n.gen, n.sp. and A. paraensis n.gen, n.sp. These species show a unique combination of characters in the Opilioacaridae: a high number of foliate setae (10) on the palp tarsus with each seta bearing many lobes (6-7), a group of large, serrate setae (26-31) on the palp tibia (this group of setae is much smaller in other species), and 5-7 dorsal setae on idiosomal segment XVIII. Indiacarus and some Opilioacarus show 3-5 setae on segment XVIII, but these genera (and Caribeacarus) have fewer foliate setae on the palp (3-4). Females of Amazonacarus have an ovipositor of the "complex" type, with spiny projections and 2-4 genital setae, while males have two pairs of rounded, large glands.