Effect of air humidity on the egg viability of predatory mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae, Stigmaeidae) common on rubber trees in Brazil

Rubber pest mites, Calacarus heveae and Tenuipalpus heveae, reach economic damage levels at the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the dry season in Brazil. Therefore, low humidity adaptation might be an important characteristic for predatory mites to successfully control pest organisms. This study determined the effect of the relative humidity (RH) levels of 30-100% on the hatching of larvae of Amblyseius acalyphus, Euseius citrifolius, Iphiseiodes zuluagai, Metaseiulus camelliae, Agistemus floridanus and Zetzellia malvinae at 25 ± 0.5°C. These predatory mites are common on rubber trees in the state of São Paulo and might be used for introduction in the major rubber tree production regions in the state of Mato Grosso. At 70% RH or higher, viability was 70% or higher for all species, indicating that their performance might be higher during the rainy season than during the dry season. Eggs of E. citrifolius and M. camelliae presented higher viability at the lower relative humidity levels than those of other species, indicating that these species might have higher chance to persist in the dry season. It is suggested that M. camelliae should be further evaluated for introduction in the state of Mato Grosso, considering that this mite is not yet present in that area. © Springer 2006.

Three new species of Tenuipalpus Donnadieu (Acari, Tenuipalpidae) from the State of São Paulo, Brazil

Three new species of Tenuipalpus, T. carlosflechtmanni n. sp., T. moraesi n. sp. and T. ariauae n. sp., collected on wild plants in Brazil, are described and illustrated. Copyright © 2006 Magnolia Press.

Tetrabdella neotropica (Acari: Bdellidae), a new genus and species from Brazil

Tetrabdella neotropica Hernandes & Feres n. gen., n. sp. is the first representative of the family Bdellidae from South America. It can be distinguished from other bdellid mites by the presence of two trichobothriae on tarsi III and IV. The subfamily Spinibdellinae is herein redefined to accomodate the new genus. A key to world genera of Bdellidae is presented. Copyright © 2006 Magnolia Press.

A new species of Typhlodromus Scheuten (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from Brazil

A new species of phytoseiid mites is described from Brazil, Typhlodromus moraesi sp. nov., collected on Tabebuia alba (Cham.) Sandwith and Chamaesyce hirta (L.) Millsp. in the State of São Paulo. This is the second species of the T. arizonicus group. Copyright © 2006 Magnolia Press.

Two new species of the feather mite subfamily Pterodectinae (Acari: Astigmata: Proctophyllodidae) from Brazil

We describe two new pterodectine feather mites (Analgoidea: Proctophyllodidae) from Brazilian passerines (Passeriformes): Pterodectes amaurochalinus sp. n., from Turdus amaurochalinus Cabanis (Turdidae), and Dolichodectes neotropicus sp. n., collected from Elaenia chiriquensis Lawrence (Tyrannidae). A key to species of the genus Dolichodectes is presented. Copyright © 2006 Magnolia Press.

Seletividade de alguns agrotóxicos em uso na citricultura ao ácaro predador Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

This work was carried out to determine the residual toxicity of the main pesticides used in citrus, on Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) under laboratory conditions. For this, it was used the residual contact bioassay. Citrus leaves of the variety Pêra were sprayed in a Potter tower. The residual action was evaluated at 2 hours and 1; 3; 5; 7; 10; 14 e 21 days after treatment. Ten adult females of N. californicus were transferred to each ring, together with an enough amount of Tetranychus urticae nymphs and adults to feed the predator. Mortality evaluations were performed at 72 hours after treatment. Bioassays indicate that the pesticides: acrinathrin, deltamethrin, dinocap, sulphur, fenpropathrin, fenbutatin oxide and propargite were innocuous to N. californicus. On the other hand, abamectin, azocyclotin e cyhexatin caused mortalities of 29.8; 32.0 e 34.1%, respectively, two hours after transference. Dicofol, pyridaben and chlorfenapyr were extremely toxic to the predator mite, causing 100% of mortality two hours after the application. This way, to this population of N. californicus, the releases can be performed safely 3 days after the application, except for cyhexatin (5 days), dicofol and pyridaben (14 days) and chlorfenapyr (21 days), without risk of significant adult mortality rates due to the application of pesticides.

A new genus and species of tarsonemid mite (Acari: Tarsonemidae) from Brazil

Biscutulumnemus neotropicus gen. nov., sp. nov. (Tarsonemidae: Tarsoneminae: Tarsonemini) is described from adult female and male mites, collected on Croton floribundus Spreng., from São José do Rio Preto, State of São Paulo, Brazil. This new genus resembles members of Dendmptus and Tarsonemus, but male mites have two triangular shields anterolaterally to the prodorsal shield and the sejugal apodeme is absent. In addition, Biscutulumnemus differs from Dendroptus by the presence of femoral seta l″ and tibial solenidion φ1 and the presence of a vestigial apodeme I on female mites. Unlike Tarsonemus, Biscutulumnemus has a beaklike gnathosomal capsule, a round flange on leg IV of male mites, and stigmata very close to v1 on the prodorsal shield of female mites. Copyright © 2006 Magnolia Press.

Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini, 1887) (Acari: Ixodidae): Acid phosphatase and ATPase activities localization in salivary glands of females during the feeding period

This study investigates the presence and the localization of acid phosphatase and ATPase in the salivary glands of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus female ticks during feeding. Semi-engorged females showed a larger amount of acid phosphatase compared to those at beginning of feeding, localized mainly in the apical portion of the secretory cells, and in the basal labyrinth of the interstitial cells. Ultrastructural observations also demonstrated its presence in secretion granules and inside some nuclei of secretory cells at beginning of feeding. Acid phosphatase in a free form probably has a hemolymph and/or ribosomal origin and participates in salivary gland secretion control. ATPase was detected in basal membrane of all types of acini and/or in the cytoplasm of the secretory cells at both feeding stages. The enzyme activities found strongly suggests that cell death by apoptosis occurs during the degenerative process. © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships between neotropical species of ticks from genus Amblyomma (Acari: Ixodidae) inferred from second internal transcribed spacer sequences of rDNA

The accurate specific identification of ticks is essential for the study, control and prevention of tick-borne diseases. Herein, we determined ribosomal nucleotide sequences of the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) of 15 Neotropical hard tick species of the genus Amblyomma Koch found in Brazil. Most of the studied ticks accidentally parasite humans and potentially act as vectors of zoonoses. Lengths of the ITS2 sequences ranged from 956 to 1,207 bp, whereas GC content varied from 62.4 to 66.9%. A matrix of ITS2 divergence was calculated with the ITS2 sequence data obtained showing divergence levels varying from 1.5 to 28.8%. The analysis indicated that this molecular marker can be useful for Amblyomma-specific identification. Phylogenetic inferences based on the ITS2 sequences were used to assess some issues in subgenus taxonomy. © 2007 Entomological Society of America.

A new species of Hexabdella (Acari: Bdellidae) from Brazil

A new species of the genus Hexabdella Van der Schyff, Theron & Ueckermann, Hexabdella cinquaginta sp.n. is herein described, representing the second species of the family Bdellidae from the neotropical region. It can be distinguished from H. singula by its lobed striae on lateral margins of hysterosoma and by the leg chaetotaxy. A key to species of the genus is presented. Copyright © 2007 Magnolia Press.

Four new species of Xenotarsonemus (Acari: Tarsonemidae) from Brazil

Four new species of Xenotarsonemus Beer (Acari, Tarsonemidae), X. brachytegula, X. pirassunungaensis, X. cerrado and X. spiniphorus, are described based on specimens collected from plants of the Cerrado vegetation in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Copyright © 2007 Magnolia Press.

Biological aspects of Amblyomma brasiliense (Acari: Ixodidae) under laboratory conditions

Although Amblyomma brasiliense Aragão 1908 has been reported as one of the most aggressive ticks to humans in Brazil, information about the biology of this tick species is virtually inexistent. This work reports data on the life cycle of A. brasiliense fed on rabbits and pigs and maintained in an incubator at 20°C, 90% RH and 12 h of light for off-host development. Tick yield of adult females fed on pigs and rabbits was 81.2% and 58.3%, respectively. Females fed on pigs had mean engorgement weight of 862.3 mg and egg mass of 208 mg, while females fed on rabbits had mean engorgement weight of 606.1 mg and egg mass of 160 mg; these values did not differ statistically between host species. Feeding period of female ticks fed on pigs (10 days) was significantly shorter than that on rabbits (17 days). Mean preoviposition period was slightly longer (35.9 days) for ticks fed on pigs than on rabbits (30 days). The minimum incubation period of eggs of ticks from both host species was similar and over 100 days. Egg production efficiency was low for females fed on both hosts (less than 30% and 20% for ticks from pigs and rabbits, respectively). More than 55% of larvae and 79% of nymphs fed on rabbits, set free inside the feeding chambers, engorged successfully. These ticks attained an engorgement weight of 1.3 and 18.2 mg, respectively, and fed for approximately 5 days. The minimum pre-molt period was 30 days for engorged larvae and over 44 days for nymphs. Molting success was low, less than 50% in the case of larvae and less than 20% for nymphs. Further studies are required to better determine the off-host requirements of this tick species. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

A new cunaxid genus with descriptions of two new species from Brazil (Acari: Prostigmata: Bdelloidea: Cunaxidae)

The genus Pseudobonzia Smiley 1975 is revised and divided into two genera. The genus Pseudobonzia Smiley, 1975, with its type species and five other related species, is retained. The remainder of the group is now known as Coleobonzia gen. nov. of which the main characteristics are provided. Coleobonzia argillae (Den Heyer, 1977) is designated as type species for the new genus. Two species from Brazil, viz. Coleobonzia clava sp. nov. and C. moraesi sp. nov. are described and figured. A key to the two genera as well as a key to the Brazilian and South African species of the new genus are provided. Copyright © 2008 Magnolia Press.

A systematic review of feather mites of the pterodectes generic complex (acari: Proctophyllodidae: Pterodectinae) with redescriptions of species described by vladimír cerný

Five species of feather mites originally described in the genus Pterodectes by Vladimir černý (1974) are redescribed: Pterodectes havliki, P. maculatus , P. reticulatus, P. storkani, P. thraupicola and P. troglodytis. The formerly unknown males of P. thraupicola and P. reticulatus and the female of P. maculatus are described for the first time. A synopsis of known species of the Pterodectes generic complex is presented, and species content of the genus Pterodectes is revised. Fifteen species previously included in this genus are transferred to the new genus Amerodectes gen. n.: Amerodectes atyeoi (OConnor et al., 2005) comb. n., A. bilineatus (Berla, 1958) comb. n., A. geothlypis (Berla, 1973) comb. n., A. gracilis (Trouessart, 1885) comb. n., A. maculatus comb. n., A. molothrus (Mironov, 2008) comb. n., A. nordestensis (Berla, 1958) comb. n., A. paroariae (Mironov, 2008) comb. n., A. pitangi (Mironov, 2008) comb. n., A. tangarae (Mironov, 2008) comb. n., A. turdinus (Berla, 1959) comb. n., A. sialiarum (Stoll, 1893) comb. n., A. storkani (černý, 1974) comb. n., A. thraupicola (cčerný, 1974) comb. n., and A. troglodytis (černý, 1974) comb. n. Five species are transferred to the genus Tyrannidectes Mironov, 2008: Tyrannidectes amaurochalinus (Hernandes et Valim, 2006) comb. n., T. banksi (Valim et Hernandes, 2008) comb. n., T. crassus (Trouessart, 1885) comb. n., T. fissuratus (Hernandes et Valim, 2005) comb. n., and T. reticulatus (Cerný, 1974) comb. n.; and one species is moved to the genus Metapterodectes Mironov, 2008: Metapterodectes muticus (Banks, 1909) comb. n. The genus Pterodectes remains monotypic, with the type species P. rutilus Robin, 1877. © Acarina 2010.