A new genus and three new species of eriophyoid mites from China are described and illustrated. They are Abifurcacothrix brassaiopsis gen. nov. & sp. nov. infesting Brassaiopsis glomerulata (Bl.) Regel. (Araliaceae), Neocalepitrimerus pittosporus sp. nov. and Diptilomiopus illicioides sp. nov. infesting Pittosporum illicioides Mak. (Pittosporaceae). These new species were found to be vagrant on the lower surface of their associated plant leaves, with no apparent damage observed.

Diplogyniopsis fluctuosum sp. nov. associated with passalid beetles is described based on females from China on undermined passalid beetles, as well as on females and males from Thailand on Aceraius helferi (Coleoptera: Passalidae). The species represents the second known species of Diplogyniopsis Trägårdh, prompting us to redefine the genus diagnosis.

The female of a new fossil genus and species, Rhombometridium pankowskiorum gen. and sp. nov. (Acari: Trochometridiidae), is described from Cretaceous Kachin amber. The new genus is characterized by the presence of well-developed sporothecae anteriad legs III, each sporotheca containing several ovoid fungal spores. This is the oldest (ca. 100 Mya), evidence of symbiosis between mites and fungi and the first fossil record of the mite family Trochometridiidae. The new genus shares synapomorphies with the family Trochometridiidae (presence of sporothecae between bases of legs III and IV) and Caraboacaridae (rhombic body shape, absence of setae v2, absence of palpal solenidion, palps fused with distinctly widened gnathosomal capsule), and potentially represents a transitional form or a missing link between these two closely related families. We also compare the sporothecae of R. pankowskiorum with those of other heterostigmatic mites.

This work aimed to recognize the mite fauna present in the different environments of a chocolate production system in Serra Gaúcha, Southern Brazil. The collections were carried out in August 2022 in different environments of an artisanal chocolate factory and store. Chocolate samples were collected from the store, the manufacturing process, the raw materials used to produce chocolates and the dust from the factory environments. Different collection methodologies were used depending on the materials' characteristics or environments. A total of 407 mites belonging to the families Acaridae, Anystidae, Blattisociidae, Cheyletidae, Glycyphagidae, Laelapidae, Pyemotidae, Tarsonemidae, Tetranychidae, Tydeidae, in addition to Oribatida and Uropodina, were collected. Tydeidae was most abundant, with 55% of the specimens found, with Brachytydeus oregonensis being the most representative, followed by Acaridae, with Tyrophagus putrescentiae representing 27.5% of the mites found.

The twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, is one of the most dangerous pests for many crops worldwide, including the melon. Here, we raise the hypothesis that the resistance of melon genotypes to the spider mite is associated with the morphological characteristics of the leaves. We determined (i) the feeding preference and oviposition suitability of T. urticae on four melon genotypes, (ii) various biological parameters and population growth rate (ri) of T. urticae on different melon genotypes, (iii) the leaf morphology of the melon genotypes, and (iv) the relationship between the leaf characteristics and resistance to T. urticae. In no choice tests, lower numbers of adults and eggs of T. urticae were found in the genotypes CNPH 06–1047-343, CNPH 11–1071-43, and CNPH 06-1047-341 compared to control (Goldex). Individuals that fed on CNPH 06–1047-343, CNPH 06–1047-341, and CNPH 11–1071-43 genotypes had a longer egg incubation time, longer development time, lower immature viability, longer time to reach adult stage (egg–adult) and lower instantaneous rate of increase compared to control. These findings are in line with the fact that these three genotypes had thicker epidermis and greater mesophyll thickness than control genotype “Goldex”. Even the genotypes CNPH 06–1047-343, CNPH 06–1047-341, and CNPH 11–1071-43 had higher trichome densities, this morphological characteristic was not related with the resistance to T. urticae. CNPH 06–1047-343, CNPH 06–1047-341, and CNPH 11–1071-43 showed antibiosis and antixenosis against T. urticae and that resistance of the melon to T. urticae wss associated with the greater thickness of the leaf epidermis and mesophyll.

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and burden of Demodex mites in patients with rosacea, and to investigate their potential contribution to the aetiology of rosacea. The study included 82 patients (44 with papulopustular rosacea and 38 with erythematotelangiectatic rosacea) diagnosed with rosacea by clinical examination and 82 healthy controls without dermatologic disease. Samples were obtained from each participant from the cheek, nasolabial, and chin regions using standardised skin surface biopsy (SSSB). Samples were examined under a light microscope, and Demodex species were identified and counted. Demodex positivity (≥5 mites) was detected in 91% of patients and 20% of controls in the study (p< 0.01). Only D. folliculorum (total 1328, mean 44.27/cm²) was detected in 37% of patients and D. folliculorum + D. brevis coinfection (total 6071, mean 134.91/cm²) in 55% of patients. Only D. folliculorum (total 97, mean 6.06/cm²) was detected in 20% of healthy controls, while D. folliculorum + D. brevis co-infection was not detected. The study showed that Demodex burden in patients with rosacea was approximately 30 times higher than in healthy controls and was caused by coinfection of D. folliculorum and D. brevis (mean Demodex burden: 179.18/cm² in patients, 6.06/ cm² in healthy controls). It was concluded that Demodex infestation, especially co-infection with D. folliculorum and D. brevis, may be a potential factor in the aetiology of rosacea that should not be ignored in the clinic, and that it may be appropriate to initiate antiparasitic treatment when the parasite is detected.

Two new species of the subgenus Scheloribates (Perscheloribates) (Oribatida, Scheloribatidae) are described, based on adults collected from dry litter in Shorea dipterocarp forest in Southern Vietnam. Scheloribates (P.) posteriorugosus sp. nov. is characterized by the presence of heavily rugose sculpturing (several longitudinal ridges with deep furrows between them) in posterior part of the notogaster; S. (P.) dentiunguis sp. nov. is characterized by the presence of strong teeth in mediobasal part of the leg claws. An identification key to the known species of S. (Perscheloribates) from the Oriental region is presented.

This study aims to design and develop a set of universal primers for amplification of the entire mitochondrial genome of Acaridae mites based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The conserved regions were screened by comparing the mitochondrial genomes of known Acaridae mites in GenBank. To ensure that the primers cover the entire mitochondrial sequence, the mitochondrial genome was divided into six overlapping fragments based on the conserved region. After synthesizing primers, we extracted the total DNA of Acaridae mites collected from grain stores. Then the total DNA of individual Acaridae mites was used as the template for PCR, Sanger sequencing, and sequence splicing. Agarose gel electrophoresis revealed that the lengths of the six amplification products were between 1.2 kb and 3.8 kb, consistent with design expectations. The resulting sequences could be successfully spliced to form a loop structure, confirming that the primers cover the entire mitochondrial genome. The splicing results were consistent with the full sequence released in GenBank. Developed universal primers can achieve rapid amplification and help to obtain mitochondrial genome from a single acarid mite with high efficiency.