Impact of a tarsonemid prey mite and its fungal diet on the reproductive performance of a predatory mite.

Phytoseiid predatory mites are the most important group of biocontrol agents currently used in protected cultivations worldwide. The possibility to produce these predators at high densities on factitious prey mites is a crucial factor for their success. Commonly used factitious prey mites comprise mainly species belonging to the cohort of Astigmatina. In the present study, we investigated the potential of tarsonemid prey mites as a food source for the spider mite predator Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Acari: Phytoseiidae). The oviposition of N. californicus on mixed stages of Tarsonemus fusarii Cooreman (Acari: Tarsonemidae) was similar to that on its natural prey, the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae). As most tarsonemids are specialized fungus-feeders, we tested the effect of different fungal species on the growth of T. fusarii. Subsequently, we analysed the impact on the fungal growing medium on the oviposition of N. californicus. The fungal growing medium of T. fusarii had a significant negative effect on the reproductive output of the predatory mite. When T. fusarii was separated from the rearing medium, these detrimental effects were not observed. The present study shows the potential of using tarsonemid prey mites in the production of phytoseiid predatory mites.

The genus Zambedania Mahunka 1972 (Acari: Heterostigmatina: Pygmephoridae)-redescription of the type species Z. africana and descriptions of two new species from Africa and South America.

The type species of the genus Zambedania Mahunka, 1972 (Z. africana Mahunka, 1972) is redescribed based on the holotype collected from soil in Zimbabwe. Two new species are described and illustrated herewith: Z. madagascariana from Madagascar and Z. argentiniana from Argentina. The generic diagnosis of Zambedania is amended, and the key to its species is supplied. Morphology, taxonomy and biology of included species are briefly discussed. The first record of the genus being phoretic on a South American nemesiid spider is presented.

New Definition of Neoprotereunetes Fain et Camerik, Its Distribution and Description of the New Genus in Eupodidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata: Eupodoidea).

The genus Neoprotereunetes Fain et Camerik, 1994 is revised and its definition is extended in order to incorporate some species of the invalid genus Protereunetes Berlese, 1923. The former type species Neoprotereunetes-Ereunetes lapidarius Oudemans, 1906 is redescribed and transferred to Filieupodes Jesionowska, 2010 (Cocceupodidae); Proterunetes boerneri is redescribed and designated the new type species. Two species groups are proposed to embrace Arctic and Antarctic species, respectively. Protereunetes paulinae Gless, 1972 is redescribed, whereas Protereunetes maudae Strandtmann, 1967 is redescribed and designated the type species of the new genus Antarcteupodes gen. nov. A key to the species of Neopretereunetes is provided.

Correction: Laniecki, R.; Magowski, W.L. New Definition of Neoprotereunetes Fain et Camerik, Its Distribution and Description of the New Genus in Eupodidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata: Eupodoidea). Animals 2023, 13, 2213.

Authors' address correction: [...].

Ptyctimous Mites (Acari, Oribatida) of Peru with the Description of an Extraordinary New Phthiracaroid Mite from the Peruvian Andes.

Protophthiracarus afthonos sp. nov. is described and illustrated using line drawings, transmitted light and SEM imaging. It is characterized by an extraordinary richness of notogastral setae (ca. 166 pairs) that has been previously unseen among phthiracaroid mites. The species originates from the material collected from the litter of primary forest in the Peruvian Andes. The genus Protophthiracarus is well represented in the Neotropical Region. Many species of ptyctimous mites have been found in Peru, representing both widespread and endemic biogeographic elements. Among a total of 37 species, 20 from Peru have been described for the first time. Currently, the ptyctimous fauna consists of 12 endemite, 11 neotropical, 4 semicosmopolitan and 9 pantropical biogeographic elements.

Review of Tarsonemus heterosetiger Mahunka, 1974 (Acari: Heterostigmatina: Tarsonemidae)-an unusual species from Central Africa warranting supraspecific recognition.

Tarsonemus heterosetiger Mahunka, 1974 is redescribed and illustrated. The type and non-type material are annotated; its morphology is discussed. The collection data of the type series is also corrected. In order to accommodate its systematic distinctiveness, a new supraspecific taxon is proposed.

The genus Tarsonemus Canestrini and Fanzago, 1876 (Acari: Heterostigmatina: Tarsonemidae) in East Azerbaijan, Iran, with a description of T. lenticulatus sp. nov. and re-description of T. annotatus Livshits, Mitrofanov and Sharonov, 1979.

The tarsonemid mites from soil and plants were explored in a faunistic study of East Azerbaijan province, Northwestern Iran. Our investigation revealed 22 species of the genus Tarsonemus Canestrini and Fanzago, 1876, and its nominative subgenus, including Tarsonemus lenticulatus sp. nov., which is described and illustrated herewith. New records for the fauna of Asia are: Tarsonemus bognari Nemestothy and Mahunka, 1981, T. oncodes Kaliszewski, 1993, T. ravus Kaliszewski, 1993, T. saccatus Livshitz, Mitrofanov and Sharonov, 1979, T. scharschmidti Mahunka, 1970, T. varsoviensis Kaliszewski, 1993 and T. violae Schaarschmidt, 1960. New records for the mite fauna of Western Asia are: Tarsonemus bifurcatus Schaarschmidt, 1959, T. floricolus Canestrini and Fanzago, 1876, T. lacustris Schaarschmidt, 1959, and T. virgineus Suski, 1969; and T. stammeri Schaarschmidt, 1959 is newly recorded from Iran. Re-description and illustrations of Tarsonemus annotatus Livshits, Mitrofanov and Sharonov, 1979 are provided. The incidence of all species found across the examined area and substrates is briefly discussed. A key to females of the genus Tarsonemus in East Azerbaijan is provided.

A New Species of Zambedania (Acari: Heterostigmatina: Pygmephoridae) from the Two Rivers Platinum Mine in South Africa and Notes on the Life-cycle of the Genus.

Anne M. Camerik, Wojciech L. Magowski, Peter G. Hawkes, Edward A. Ueckermann, Ronald Ochoa, and Gary R. Bauchan (2016) A new species of relatively poorly known genus Zambedania Mahunka, 1972 was found on the baboon spider, Harpactirella overdijki Gallon, 2010 (Araneae: Theraphosidae) in South Africa. Besides the abundantly available phoretic females, several males and one larva of this species in the spiders' nests were also collected. Zambedania sekhukhunensis n. sp. is described and illustrated based on the phoretic females, males and larva. Improved diagnosis of the genus and a new key to species are also supplied. The descriptions and illustrations of the male and larva of this species represent the first ones of these stages in the genus Zambedania. Due to their discovery the generic diagnosis has been significantly improved.

A new species and new records of the genus Neotarsonemoides Kaliszewski, 1984 (Acari: Tarsonemidae) from East Azerbaijan province, Northwestern Iran.

Mites of the genus Neotarsonemoides Kaliszewski, 1984 (Acariformes: Tarsonemoidea: Tarsonemidae) were collected in the East Azerbaijan province, Northwestern Iran. Neotarsonemoides (N.) marandicus sp. nov. is described and illustrated. Other species collected include: Neotarsonemoides (N.) evae Magowski, 2002 , N. (N.) multiplex (Kaliszewski, 1983) and N. (N.) occultus (Kaliszewski, 1983) which represent the first records of these species outside of their type locality. Neotarsonemoides (N.) polonicus (Willmann, 1949) and N. (Ototarsonemus) alatus (Livshits, Mitrofanov and Sharonov,1979) are new records for the fauna of Asia, as well as the first record of the subgenus Ototarsonemus in Western Asia. A re-description and illustrations of N. (O.) alatus are provided. An identification key to females of the genus Neotarsonemoides in Iran is provided.