Persian Journal of Acarology
Volume:14 Issue: 1, Winter 2025

Previous studies from Iran showed that canine hepatozoonosis is prevalent in dogs. Still, there is limited information about the tick vectors of Hepatozoon canis (Apicomplexa: Hepatozoidae) although Ripicephalus sanguineus sensu lato complex ticks (Acari: Ixodida) are known to be competent vectors. In Iran, He. canis was detected in R. sanguineus and R. turanicus in the west of the country. This study aimed to investigate the molecular prevalence of He. canis in ticks collected from stray dogs in a southeastern city of Iran. From 2019 to 2020, 50 tick-infested free-ranging dogs (24 female, 26 male) in Kerman city were randomly chosen. From each dog, five ticks were collected in individually labeled tubes and transferred to the laboratory. Ticks of each dog were identified morphologically, crushed, and pooled for genomic DNA extraction. Conventional PCR targeting an 891 bp fragment of the 18S ribosomal RNA gene of He. canis was performed on 50 tick pools, and products were gel-electrophoresed. All of the collected ticks were diagnosed as R. sanguineus sensu lato. DNA of He. canis was detected in 14 tick pools (28%). Dogs from which positive ticks were collected were of both sexes and aged between 5 months and 6 years old. This study shows for the first time a considerable prevalence of He. canis in ticks feeding from stray dogs of Kerman implying a potential health risk for domestic and wild canine hosts in the region. It also shows that molecular examination of ticks for Hepatozoon DNA could be a proper alternative to blood collection in epidemiological studies. Effective ectoparasite control strategies, regular examination of dogs, and successful chemoprophylaxis are advocated.

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), is a significant pest that impacts greenhouse, vegetable, and ornamental crops globally. Historically, pesticides have been utilized to control this pest, however there are apprehensions regarding their frequent use. Consequently, plant essential oils have emerged as a potential pesticide substitute, generating considerable attention in pest management. The essential oils were obtained via water distillation using a Clevenger apparatus. Their efficacy against different developmental stages of T. urticae was assessed using a vapor-phase mortality method that did not require direct contact. The repellent and fumigant toxicity of the essential oils were also examined on adult mites. Based on GC-MS analysis the main components of Perovskia abrotanoides, Rosmarinus officinalis, Salvia sahendica, Satureja hortensis, and Thymus daenensis essential oils were menthol, verbenone, α-pinene, carvacrol, and thymol, respectively. The acaricidal activity of the vital oils followed a dose-dependent manner. Essential oil from T. daenensis was more toxic against adults of T. urticae (LC50 =1.21µl/L air and essential oil from S. hortensis was more toxic against larvae (LC50 = 2.48µl/L air) and eggs (LC50 = 6.48 µl/L air) of T. urticae, respectively. Results of the repellency assay showed that essential oils of S. hortensis had the highest repellency against adults of T. urticae.

In this study, life table analysis was performed to evaluate the nutritional value of proso millet and saffron pollen grains as a dietary supplement for rearing and conservation of Neoseiulus cucumeris Oudemans and Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae). According to our results, developmental time did not differ between the two pollen diets for either predatory mite. Amblyseius swirskii completed immature development significantly faster than N. cucumeris on both pollen diets. Fecundity of both predator females, offered saffron pollen, was significantly higher than that of females given proso millet pollen, however, N. cucumeris females had higher fecundity than A. swirskii females. Comparisons between two predators indicated that N. cucumeris females had a higher R0, GRR, r, and λ than A. swirskii on saffron and proso millet pollen. There were no significant differences in intrinsic rate of increase (r) and finite rate of increase (λ) of N. cucumeris between the two pollen diets, although significantly higher values of r and λ were observed in A. swirskii reared on saffron pollen than those fed on proso millet pollen. This suggests that saffron and proso millet pollen could be a viable alternative food source for these predators, particularly during times when prey in the field is scarce or absent. Additionally, our results indicate that saffron pollen can be effectively used for mass rearing and/or conservation of these predatory mites in biological programs.

Chigger mite genus Hyracarus Lawrence, 1949, endemic to Tropical Africa, was revised based on the examination of type series, new materials, unpublished archive sources, and the literature. Five new species were described: Hyracarus bethuliensis sp. nov., H. ethiopicus sp. nov., H. sabiensis sp. nov., H. aryanicki sp. nov., and H. limpopoensis sp. nov. Three new subjective synonyms were established: Hyracarus [= Mastalacarus Goff & Lukoschus, 1983, syn. nov.; = Tateracarus Goff, 1983, syn. nov.] and Hyracarus thallomyia (Radford, 1947) [= Acomatacarus lawrencei Radford, 1948, syn. nov.]. Six new combinations were proposed: Hyracarus foliosetosus (Stekolnikov & Matthee, 2022) comb. nov., H. kimberleyensis (Stekolnikov & Matthee, 2022) comb. nov., H. quadrisetosus (Goff, 1983) comb. nov. (originally in the genus Tateracarus), H. namibiensis (Goff & Lukoschus, 1983) comb. nov. (originally in the genus Mastalacarus), H. thallomyia (Radford, 1947) comb. nov., and H. mutabilis (Vercammen-Grandjean & Brennan, 1957) comb. nov. (originally in the genus Acomatacarus Ewing, 1942). Currently, the genus includes 16 valid species known from South Africa (10 species), Namibia (2), Angola (1), Democratic Republic of the Congo (1), Uganda (1), and Ethiopia (1). Its species parasitize murid rodents (7 records), hyraxes (3), elephant shrews (2), dormice (1), shrews (1), bats (1), and skinks (1).

Ptilonyssus holmhanseni n. sp. is described and illustrated from a traffic-killed great tit (Parus major) in Eastern Denmark (Lejre) in April 2023. In addition, Rhinoecius brikinboricus Butenko, 1976, collected from a long-eared owl (Asio otus), is reported for the first time in Denmark and Western Europe.

Eriophyoid mites offer a significant ecosystem service by weed control. They induce malformations (leaf rolling, erinea, galls, stunting growth, blistering), rusting, bronzing, damages of seeds, and transmit viruses to their host plants. During a survey in Egypt, two eriophyoid species were recorded for the first time in the country on Cyperus rotundus L. (Cyperaceae) which has a worldwide relevance as weed: Eriophyes rotundae Mohanasundaram (Eriophyidae) and Oziella gigantica (Mohanasundaram) (Phytoptidae). Both species are vagrants underneath the inner surface of the leaf sheath around the stem, even though they can cause leaf rusting which leads to drying and death of the plants. A complementary description of the two species was presented, based on adult females. In addition, male and immature stages of O. gigantica and E. rotundae were described in detail for the first time. Furthermore, the checklist and morphological key for eriophyoid mite species associated with Cyperus plants worldwide were updated.

The supplementary description of Liacarus neonominatus Subías, 2004 (Oribatida, Liacaridae) is presented, based on the material collected from soil and sand in a shrub-lichen tundra, Yamal Peninsula, Western Siberia, Russia. The main morphological traits of this species are summarized. The taxonomic status of some liacarid genera related with Liacarus is discussed, resulting in the following taxonomic proposals: Liacarus Michael, 1898 (= Dorycranosus Woolley, 1969 syn. nov., = Procorynetes Woolley, 1969 syn. nov., = Rhaphidosus Woolley, 1969 syn. nov.).

A new species of the subgenus Leptus (Amaroptus), L. (A.) saboorii Haddadi & Noei sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on an ectoparasitic larva collected from an unidentified grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in Chah Nimeh reservoir, Zahak County, Sistan and Baluchestan Province (Southeastern Iran). It represents the first record for the occurrence of the subgenus Leptus (Amaroptus) Haitlinger, 2000 in Iran. An updated key to the world species of subgenus Leptus (Amaroptus) is also presented.

The present study is based on oribatid mite material collected from forest leaf litter in the Pinar del Río Province, western Cuba. A list of 23 species, belonging to 19 genera and 13 families is presented; six species are recorded for the first time in Cuba. One new species belonging to the subgenus Galumna (Neogalumna)—G. (N.) paraharrysmiti sp. nov.—is described. An identification key to the known species of Galumna (Neogalumna) is provided. The taxonomic status of the subgenus Dimidiogalumna (Apodimidiogalumna) is discussed, resulting in the following taxonomic proposal: Galumna (Neogalumna) Hammer, 1973 (= Dimidiogalumna (Apodimidiogalumna) Subías, 2022 syn. nov.).

The idiosoma of orthoadenic Gamasina (Mesostigmata) bears a maximum complement of 47 pairs of discernible cuticular organs that are distinct from setae. Superficially, 15 pairs appear secretory (gland pores) (four podonotal, four opisthonotal, one peritrematal, and six ventral) and 32 pairs (five podonotal, 13 opisthonotal, three on the peritrematal shield, 12 ventral) non-secretory (poroids); five pairs of gland openings and 18 pairs of poroids appearing at the larval instar, eight pairs of glands and 10 pairs of poroids are added at the protonymph, and two pairs of glands and two more pairs of poroids appear at the deutonymphal instar. The neoadenic condition observed in monogynaspid Gamasines (Zerconidae, Epicriidae, Heatherellidae, and other families of Dermanyssina mites), some Uropodina and Trigynaspina mites is due to the duplication or multiplication of several dorsal, peritrematal, and ventral glands forming glandular areas or groups, as well as the apparition of new glands, which complement the existing orthoadenic provision. The neoadeny begins in the protonymphal instar through the duplication of certain larval glands and continues with other duplications of larval and postlarval glands along with the appearance of new ones in the deutonymph. The addition of several newly identified pore-like structures to the complement given by Athias-Henriot (1969, 1975) is given and several changes in notation for idiosomal organs following Athias-Henriot are proposed. The homologies of cuticular organs are based on the topographic position of each on the idiosomal surface and on their ontogenies. Ontogeny appears to be useful in identifying glands, poroids and setae, although some organs can accelerate or delay their ontogeny.

Biological control is widely regarded as a sustainable and eco-friendly approach to pest management. However, the use of acaricides may occasionally be required as a supplementary measure. This study investigated the effect of two acaricides, chlorfenapyr and acequinocyl on the olfactory response of the predatory mites, Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) and Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae). In olfactory assays, mites were exposed to acaricide-treated or control discs and then introduced into a Y-tube olfactometer to evaluate their response to odor sources (healthy vs. spider mite-infested leaves). G-test was employed for data analysis. The results showed that predatory mites treated with sublethal concentrations of acaricides moved randomly between Y-tube arms, while control mites and those in the acequinocyl field concentration treatment showed a significant preference for the arm containing spider mite odor, indicating that no disruption in odor tracking occurred. With increasing acaricide concentration, the number of mites that hesitated to choose between the two arms of the Y-tube increased. Furthermore, the average time taken for mites to select, and reach the odor source increased in treatments with higher concentrations, indicating that higher pesticide levels impair the mites' ability to detect and respond to prey odors. These findings highlight the disruptive effects of pesticides on predatory mites' olfactory pathways, which could compromise their role in biological control. To preserve their effectiveness, careful selection and use of pesticides are essential. Moreover, incorporating olfactory response studies into pesticide selectivity evaluations can further support integrated pest management programs.

Accurate pest detection is the most fundamental requirement in the management of damage-causing factors. Traditional methods of identifying and counting pests in plants require continuous monitoring, which is very costly and time-consuming in large farms, and involves uncontrollable human errors. It is necessary to help farmers identifying key pests automatically and at the beginning phase of the infestation with the help of new technologies. Therefore, deep- learning techniques and a convolutional neural network with VGG Net-16 architecture were used in this study for the automatic detection of the symptoms of two key tomato pests in Iran: Tuta absoluta (Myrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) and Aculops lycopersici (Tryon) (Acari: Eriophyidae). A Sony DSC-WX200 camera with an effective sensor resolution of 18 megapixels was used to collect images of the symptoms caused by these pests. To evaluate the performance of the convolutional neural network with VGG Net-16 architecture, the parameters of average precision, precision, and recall were used. To evaluate counting performance, a linear regression curve and the coefficient of determination were used. The detection parameters for the symptoms of T. absoluta and A. lycopersici, including average precision (99.51% and 99.89%, respectively), accuracy (100 for both pests), and recall (100 for both pests), demonstrated the high performance of the convolutional neural network in detecting these two pests. Additionally, the coefficients of determination (0.99 for both pests) indicated the high accuracy of the network in detecting the symptoms of these pests. The results showed that our proposed system can provide a practical solution for the accurate detection of these pests in tomato crops using captured images.

Forty-three species of oribatid mites (Oribatida), belonging to 31 genera and 18 families, were collected from leaf litter in a mixed forest from the vicinity of El Limón waterfall, Samaná Province, northern Dominican Republic; of these, 15 species, 13 genera and five families are recorded in this country for the first time. A new species of the genus Suctobelbella—S. (Flagrosuctobelba) limonensis sp. nov.—is described.