Molecular evidence of Wolbachia in bat-associated mite Periglischrus Iheringi Oudemans, 1902 (Mesostigmata: Spinturnicidae) from Brazil.

Wolbachia is an intracellular endosymbiont bacterium found in nematodes and arthopods. Regarding mites, the Wolbachia supergroup U has been described based on strains found in the genus Spinturnix. In this study, ten specimens of Periglischrus iheringi (Mesostigmata: Spinturnicidae), collected from Artibeus obscurus (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in Santa Catarina State, were found to be infected with Wolbachia.

Two case reports of the parasitism of Ophionyssus natricis (Gervais, 1844) (Mesostigmata: Macronyssidae) in captive Epicrates crassus (Cope) (Squamata: Boidae) in Brazil.

There are more than 200 species of Macronyssidae parasitizing reptiles, birds, and mammals worldwide. While most species are found on wild animals, show some degree of geographic, and host group specificity, Ophionyssus natricis thrives on captive snakes and lizards and as a result of the pet trade, has a cosmopolitan distribution. In this study, we are providing new host records for this species for the state of São Paulo, as well as SEM images and the first partial sequences of Brazilian specimens.

Molecular detection of Bartonella spp. in bat-associated macronyssid mites (Acari: Macronyssidae) from Southern and Southeastern Brazil.

Despite the worldwide occurrence and high genetic diversity of Bartonella spp. in bats, few studies investigate their occurrence in bat-associated mites. To date, 26 species of Macronyssidae mite species have been reported from Brazil, and 15 of which were found parasitizing bats.

A New Species of (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) from Brazil and Re-Description of (De Leon), the Type Species of the Genus, with DNA Barcodes.

Species of the genus bear a broad subquadrate propodosoma with many large, flattened, lanceolate to ovate dorsal setae. They also bear some plesiomorphic character states, such as the presence of three pairs of ventral setae. Here, we describe Castro, Ochoa & Feres sp.

Sleeping with the enemy: case reports of Ornithonyssus bursa (Berlese, 1888) (Mesostigmata: Macronyssidae) causing human dermatitis in Brazil.

Ornithonyssus bursa, known as the "tropical fowl mite," is a hematophagous mite of domestic and wild birds, which occasionally bites humans. Accidental bites on humans occur mainly when abandoned bird nests are close to homes or when people are handling parasitized birds. In the present study, we describe five case reports of bites on humans and new records of localities for this species.

Collaborating With Community Scientists Across Arkansas to Update Tick Distributions and Pathogen Prevalence of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia and Ehrlichia.

Tick-borne diseases (TBD) in humans have dramatically increased over recent years and although the bulk of cases are attributable to Lyme Disease in the Northeastern US, TBDs like spotted fever rickettsiosis and ehrlichiosis heavily impact other parts of the country, namely the mid-south. Understanding tick and pathogen distributions and prevalence traditionally requires active surveillance, which quickly becomes logistically and financially unrealistic as the geographic area of focus increases. We report on a community science effort to survey ticks across Arkansas to obtain updated data on tick distributions and prevalence of human tick-borne disease-causing pathogens in the most commonly encountered ticks.

Nocturnal Pollinators Significantly Contribute to Apple Production.

Agricultural dependency on insect-mediated pollination is increasing at the same time that pollinator populations are experiencing declines in diversity and abundance. Current pollinator research in agriculture focuses largely on diurnal pollinators, yet the evidence for pollination by moths and other nocturnal pollinators is growing. Apples are one of the most valuable and important fruits produced globally, and apple production is dependent on insect-mediated cross-pollination to generate a profitable crop.

A Checklist of Macronyssid Species (Mesostigmata: Macronyssidae) From Brazil.

Macronyssid mites are parasites of reptiles, birds, and mammals. A checklist of macronyssid species of Brazil is provided, containing 13 genera and 26 species collected from 99 host species.

Raoiella of the world (Trombidiformes: Tetranychoidea: Tenuipalpidae).

We describe 16 new species and redescribe six established species in the genus Raoiella-R. argenta sp. nov.

Checklist of bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) from managed emergent wetlands in the lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley of Arkansas.

Background: Here we present the results from a two-year bee survey conducted on 18 managed emergent wetlands in the lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley of Arkansas, USA. Sample methods included pan traps, sweep netting and blue-vane traps. We document 83 bee species and morphospecies in 5 families and 31 genera, of which 37 species represent first published state records for Arkansas.

Revision of torrent mites (Parasitengona, Torrenticolidae, ) of the United States and Canada: 90 descriptions, molecular phylogenetics, and a key to species.

The descriptive biology of torrent mites (Parasitengona: Torrenticolidae: ) of North America (north of Mexico) is investigated using integrative methods. Material examined includes approximately 2,300 specimens from nearly 500 localities across the United States and Canada, and a few collections in Mexico and Central America. Species hypotheses are derived from a phylogenetic analysis of the barcoding region of cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) for 476 specimens and supported with morphology and biogeography.

A comparison of trapping techniques (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Buprestidae, Cerambycidae, and Curculionoidea excluding Scolytinae).

Beetles (Coleoptera) are a charismatic group of insects targeted by collectors and often used in biodiversity surveys. As part of a larger project, we surveyed a small (4 hectare) plot in the Boston Mountains of Arkansas using 70 traps of 12 trap types and Berlese-Tullgren extraction of leaf litter and identified all Buprestidae, Carabidae, Cerambycidae, and Curculionoidea (Anthribidae, Attelabidae, Brachyceridae, Brentidae, and Curculionidae excluding Scolytinae) to species. This resulted in the collection of 7,973 specimens representing 242 species arranged in 8 families.

Terrestrial arthropods of Steel Creek, Buffalo National River, Arkansas. IV. Asilidae and other Diptera.

Background: This is the fourth in a series of papers detailing the terrestrial arthropods collected during an intensive survey of a site near Steel Creek campground along the Buffalo National River in Arkansas. The survey was conducted over a period of eight and a half months in 2013 using twelve trap types, including Malaise and canopy traps, Lindgren multifunnel traps, and pan traps.

New Information: We provide collection records for 38 species of Asilidae and other Diptera, 7 of which are new state records for Arkansas: (Asilidae) Lasiopogon opaculus Loew, 1874; (Lygistorrhinidae) Lygistorrhina sancthecatharinae Thompson, 1975; (Stratiomyidae) Cephalochrysa nigricornis (Loew, 1866), Gowdeyana punctifera (Malloch, 1915), Sargus decorus Say, 1824; (Ulidiidae) Callopistromyia annulipes Macquart, 1855; and (Xylophagidae) Rachicerus obscuripennis Loew, 1863.

Catalogue of snout mites (Acariformes: Bdellidae) of the world.

Bdellidae (Trombidiformes: Prostigmata) are moderate to large sized predatory mites that inhabit soil, leaves, leaf litter, and intertidal rocks. They are readily recognized by an elongated, snout-like gnathosoma and by elbowed pedipalps bearing two (one in Monotrichobdella Baker & Balock) long terminal setae. Despite being among the first mites ever described, with species described by Carl Linnaeus, the knowledge about bdellids has never been compiled into a taxonomic catalogue.

Arthropods of Steel Creek, Buffalo National River, Arkansas. III. Heteroptera (Insecta: Hemiptera).

Background: This is the third in a series of papers detailing the terrestrial arthropods collected during an intensive survey of a site near Steel Creek campground along the Buffalo National River in Arkansas. The survey was conducted over a period of eight and a half months using twelve trap types - Malaise traps, canopy traps (upper and lower collector), Lindgren multifunnel traps (black, green, and purple), pan traps (blue, purple, red, white, and yellow), and pitfall traps - and Berlese-Tullgren extraction of leaf litter.

New Information: We provide collection records for 54 species of Heteroptera, 11 of which were new state records for Arkansas: (Aradidae) Aradus approximatus, Aradus duzeei, Aradus ornatus, Neuroctenus elongatus, Neuroctenus pseudonymus, Notapictinus aurivilli; (Cydnidae) Sehirus cinctus; (Lygaeidae) Nysius raphanus; (Miridae) Prepops insitivus; (Reduviidae) Zelus tetracanthus; (Rhyparochromidae) Kolenetrus plenus.

Terrestrial arthropods of Steel Creek, Buffalo National River, Arkansas. II. Sawflies (Insecta: Hymenoptera: "Symphyta").

Background: This is the second in a series of papers detailing the terrestrial arthropods collected during an intensive survey of a site near Steel Creek campground along the Buffalo National River in Arkansas. The survey was conducted over a period of eight and a half months using twelve trap types - Malaise traps, canopy traps (upper and lower collector), Lindgren multifunnel traps (black, green, and purple), pan traps (blue, purple, red, white, and yellow), and pitfall traps - and Berlese-Tullgren extraction of leaf litter.

New Information: We provide collection records for 47 species of "Symphyta" (Insecta: Hymenoptera), 30 of which are new state records for Arkansas: (Argidae) Sterictiphora serotina; (Cimbicidae) Abia americana; (Diprionidae) Monoctenus fulvus; (Orussidae) Orussus terminalis; (Pamphiliidae) Onycholyda luteicornis, Pamphilius ocreatus, P.

Systematics of testudacarine torrent mites (Acari, Hydrachnidia, Torrenticolidae) with descriptions of 13 new species from North America.

Thirteen new species of North American Testudacarus (Torrenticolidae: Testudacarinae) are described: Testudacarus deceptivus O'Neill & Dowling, sp. n., Testudacarus hitchensi O'Neill & Dowling, sp.

Host-Parasite Associations in Small Mammal Communities in Semiarid Savanna Ecosystems of East Africa.

Despite the established importance of rodents as reservoirs of vector-borne zoonoses in East Africa, there is relatively limited information regarding the infestation parameters and host associations of ectoparasites that vector many such pathogens among small mammals in this region. Between 2009 and 2013, small mammals were live-trapped in the semiarid savanna of Kenya. A subset of these individual hosts, including 20 distinct host taxa, was examined for ectoparasites, which were identified to species.

Terrestrial arthropods of Steel Creek, Buffalo National River, Arkansas. I. Select beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae, Carabidae, Cerambycidae, Curculionoidea excluding Scolytinae).

Background: The Ozark Mountains are a region with high endemism and biodiversity, yet few invertebrate inventories have been made and few sites extensively studied. We surveyed a site near Steel Creek Campground, along the Buffalo National River in Arkansas, using twelve trap types - Malaise traps, canopy traps (upper and lower collector), Lindgren multifunnel traps (black, green, and purple), pan traps (blue, purple, red, white, and yellow), and pitfall traps - and Berlese-Tullgren extraction for eight and half months.

New Information: We provide collection records of beetle species belonging to eight families collected at the site.

New records of Orussus minutus Middlekauff, 1983 (Hymenoptera: Orussidae) represent a significant western range expansion.

Background: Orussus minutus is an uncommonly collected parasitoid sawfly known from the eastern United States.

New Information: We report specimens Orussus minutus Middlekauff, 1983, from Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, and Manitoba, which represent new state and province records and significantly expand the known range of the species west from previous records; provide collection information for unpublished specimens housed in the United States National Museum collection, which includes new state records for West Virginia and Michigan; and report two specimens housed in the Biological Museum at Lund University that represent new state records for Connecticut.

A review of Cunaxidae (Acariformes, Trombidiformes): Histories and diagnoses of subfamilies and genera, keys to world species, and some new locality records.

Cunaxidae are predaceous mites found in a variety of habitats. This work provides comprehensive keys to world subfamilies, genera, and species. Diagnoses and historical reviews are provided for subfamilies and genera.

On some mites (Acari: Prostigmata) from the Interior Highlands: descriptions of the male, immature stages, and female reproductive system of Pseudocheylus americanus (Ewing, 1909) and some new state records for Arkansas.

The male and immature stages of Pseudocheylus americanus (Ewing, 1909) (Pseudocheylidae) are described and illustrated for the first time and the female is re-illustrated. The description of Pseudobonzia reticulata (Heryford, 1965) (Cunaxidae) is modified to include the presence of dorsal setae f2, which were not reported in the original description. In addition, Bonzia yunkeri Smiley, 1992 and Parabonzia bdelliforimis (Atyeo, 1958) (Cunaxidae) are reported from the Ozark Mountains, Caeculus cremnicolus Enns, 1958 (Caeculidae) is reported from the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains, and Dasythyreus hirsutus Atyeo, 1961 (Dasythyreidae) is reported from Missouri and the Ouachita Mountains in Arkansas.

An overview of acariasis in captive invertebrates.

Mites are commonly found on captive invertebrates, yet little is known of their impact on the health of the host. The nature of the association between mites and invertebrate host ranges from harmonic or phoretic to parasitic and, rarely, parasitoid. The assumption is often made for mites seen on select invertebrate hosts that they are innocuous, yet hard data to support such assumptions is usually lacking.