Mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) inhabiting nests of the white-tailed sea eagle Haliaeetus albicilla (L.) in Poland

During 1997—2002, 105 samples of mites were collected from 34 nests of the white-tailed sea eagle in Poland. The material included 9,724 specimens of Mesostigmata belonging to 86 species. The mite communities were dominated by species of the families Parasitidae, Macrochelidae and Ascidae. The most abundant species were Alliplzis halleri, Androlaelaps casalis, Parasitus fimetorum and Macrocheles merdarius that altogether made up 48% of all the specimens collected. Alliplzis halleri and Androlaelaps casalis were also the two most frequently found mites. A summary is presented on the biology and distribution of the abundant species

Microgeographic diversity of Uropodina (Acari Mesostigmata) communities in dead wood and tree hollows

The current study is aimed at establishing species composition of Uropodina mite fauna in dead wood habitats in a selected forest complex in western Poland. In this case the study focuses on three natural reserves of Wielkopolska. In 278 samples of dead wood and 71 from tree hollows collected between 2002-2004, 27 species of Uropodina were found. The material collected from the tree hollows contained only 12 species. The two species that were most numerous in the analysed material were Oodinychus ovalis and Olodiscus minima. The lower number of species inhabiting the tree hollows stems from the fact that such microhabitats are isolated inaccessible places. The main factor that is responsible for the difference in the abundance of uropodine mites in both microhabitats are seasonal changes in temperature. Moreover, the results of the analyses show that species composition of Uropodina communities in dead wood and tree hollows can be different even within one forest complex, which suggests that the process of diversification in Uropodina communities inhabiting dead wood merocoenoses probably takes place at the microgeographic level

Lack of specialist nidicoles as a characteristic of mite assemblages inhabiting nests of the ground-nesting wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix (Aves: Passeriformes)

Bird and mammal nests provide microhabitats that support a range of other species, including invertebrates. However, the variation between communities of nest-dwelling invertebrates in different nests is poorly understood. The major aim of this study was to analyze the assemblage structure of mites from the suborder Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata) and from superfamily Crotonioidea (Acari: Oribatida) inhabiting nests of the wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix (Aves: Passeriformes), located on a forest floor in Białowieża Forest, in eastern Poland. We also assessed the correlation between the nest material used by the birds with the assemblage structure of Uropodina mites, and compared the results with published studies of the nests of other birds and a mammal (common mole, Talpa europaea), and also with communities of mites inhabiting the soil. The field research was conducted in the strict nature reserve of the Białowieża National Park, a near-primeval European temperate forest. In 2019, immediately after the breeding period, 69 wood warbler nests and 439 soil samples were collected. Analyses revealed assemblages of Uropodina mites inhabiting the nests that consisted of 14 species, mostly common soil species. Only five species of oribatid mites from superfamily Crotonioidea were present in the nest material. Analyzed nests had a high percentage of tree leaves and grass blades, whereas moss was the least frequent component of the nest material. The Uropodina mites were more abundant in the nests that had greater amounts of grass blades, but similar relationships were insignificant for the nests with varying amounts of tree leaves or moss. The assemblages of Uropodina mites inhabiting wood warbler nests were very similar to those found in soil and nests of the common mole, but they lacked typical nest-dwelling species of Uropodina (i.e., specialized nidicoles)

Fauna of Uropodina mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) of decayed tree stumps and hollows in Poland

Автор рассматривает результаты исследований фауны клещей Uropodina истлевших пней и дупел деревьев в Польше. В исследуемом материале охватывающем 188 образцов он обнаружил наличие 41 вида указанных клещей общим числом 2102 особей (табл. 1). Автор характеризует фауну клещей Uropodina исследуемых мероце- нозов и обсуждает сходство видового состава этой фауны в зависимости от вида дерева.Results of investigations of the fauna of Uropodina mites of decayed tree stumps and hollows in Poland are presented by the author. Occurrence of 41 species with 2102 specimens of the mites as mentioned above were found by him in the material investigated comprising 188 samples (Table 1). The characteristics of the Uropodina mites of the merocenoses under study is presented and similarity of the species composition of this fauna depending on the tree kind is discussed

Cilliba cassideasimilis Bloszyk, Stachowiak & Halliday, 2006, sp. nov.

<i>Cilliba cassideasimilis</i> sp. nov. (Figures 9–22) <p> <i>Cilliba</i> species II.— Bloszyk & Olszanowski, 1985: 488.</p> <p> <i>Cilliba cassidea</i>.— Bloszyk & Olszanowski, 1986: 193.</p> <p> <i>Cilliba</i> species I.— Bloszyk, 1990: 227; 1991: 118; 1992: 324; 1998: 99; 1999: 160.</p> <p> <i>Cilliba</i> sp.— Bloszyk, 1993: 176; 1995: 166; Bloszyk & Olszanowski, 1999: 44; Bloszyk & Krysiak, 2000: 117.</p> <p> <i>Uropoda</i> (<i>Cilliba</i>) <i>cassidea</i>: Gwiazdowicz, 1999: 39.</p> <p> <i>Uropoda</i> (<i>Cilliba</i>) species 1: Skorupski, 2000: 27.</p> <p> <i>Uropoda</i> (<i>Cilliba</i>) <i>cassideasimilis</i>.—Wi ś niewski & Hirschmann, 1993: 192; Wi ś niewski, 1993: 259.</p> <p> <i>Uropoda</i> aff. <i>cassidea</i>.— Mašán, 2001: 284.</p> <p> <b>Material examined.</b> HOLOTYPE: female, Poland, Gorczański National Park, UTM: DV 39, 22 June 1995, leaf litter, alt. 830 m a.s.l., col. PC (GPN­000.08); PARATYPES: Germany: 6 Ψ, 10 ɗ, Schweingangen valley, [1 sample, 1945]. Spain: 4 Ψ, 2 ɗ, la Coruna Province, 43°01'00" N, 08°40'00" W, [1 sample, 1983], 7 Ψ, 18 ɗ, Ponteverda Province, 42°15'00" N, 08°60'00" W, [2 samples, 1983]. Ireland: 4 Ψ, 8 ɗ, Killarney National Park, 52°00'00" N, 09°50'00" W, [4 samples, 1981] (Fig. 9). Poland (Fig. 10): 81 Ψ, 101 ɗ, 79 deutonymphs, 27 protonymphs, 15 larvae, Gorczański National Park, UTM: DV 3947, [84 samples, 1974–1995]; 18 Ψ, 20 ɗ, 15 deutonymphs, 8 protonymphs, 2 larvae, Bialowieski National Park, UTM: FD 8394, [17 samples, [1961–2001]; 68 Ψ, 114 ɗ, 54 deutonymphs, 20 protonymphs, 2 larvae, Roztocze, UTM: FB 40, 68, [45 samples, 1956–2001]; 33 Ψ, 45 ɗ, 6 deutonymphs, 2 protonymphs, Bieszczady Mnts., UTM: EV 87, 94, 97, FB 0 1, FV 0 3, 14, 16, 23, 24, [11 samples, 1959–1995]; 2 females, 1 deutonymph, Upper Silesia, UTM: CA 50, CB 70, 81, [3 samples, 1976–1992]; 36 Ψ, 59 ɗ, 1 deutonymph, 2 protonymphs, 1 larva, Beskidy Mnts., UTM: EA 46, 62, EV 0 8, 0 9, 17, 58, 98 [15 samples, 1958–1983]; 3 Ψ, 4 ɗ, 8 deutonymphs, 6 protonymphs, 3 larvae, "Las Gr dowy nad Mogilnic " Res. near Pniewy, WU 81 [6 samples, 1982–1983]; 20 Ψ, 11 ɗ, 25 deutonymphs, 23 protonymphs, 10 larvae, Majdów Res., UTM: DB 86 [6 samples, 1992]; 31 Ψ, 47 ɗ, 17 deutonymphs, 2 protonymphs, Pieniny Mnts., UTM: DV 15, 57, 66, 67, [15 samples, 1968–1979]; 27 Ψ, 38 ɗ, Mazury, UTM: DD 0 9, 54 DE 17, 19, 33, EE 0 7, 0 8, 24, 39, FE 50, [12 samples, 1971–1980]; 38 Ψ, 36 ɗ, Świętokrzyskie Mnts., UTM: DB 73, 85, EB 0 3, 13 [8 samples, 1971–1981]; 13 Ψ, 22 ɗ, 1 deutonymph, 1 protonymph, Babiogórski National Park, UTM: CA 50, CV 99, [6 samples, 1975–1981]; 13 Ψ, 7 ɗ, 2 deutonymphs, Karkonosze Mnts., UTM: WS 33,44,52, XR 29, XS 23, [5 samples, 1970–1976]; 3 Ψ, 2 ɗ, 6 deutonymphs, 1 protonymph, Wolin National Park & Southern Pomerania, UTM: VV 67,70, WV 52,83, [4 samples, 1975–1996]; 10 Ψ, 9 ɗ, 3 deutonymphs, 1 protonymph, Ojcowski National Park, UTM: DA 16,24,82. [5 samples, 1969–1970]; 8 Ψ, 6 ɗ, 5 deutonymphs, Tatra Mnts., DV 25,26, [5 samples, 1973–1979]; 22 Ψ, 20 ɗ, 2 deutonymphs, Tuchola forests, UTM: CE 0 3,95, [5 samples, 1976–1996]; 13 Ψ, 25 ɗ, Kujawy, UTM: XV 0 1,71, [3 samples, 1975–2001]; 6 Ψ, 15 ɗ, 4 deutonymphs, Drawa river basin, UTM: WU 58,76, [3 samples, 1968]; 2 ɗ, Bieniszew near Konin, UTM: CC 0 9 [1 sample, 1968]; 4 ɗ, Toruń, UTM: CD 37, [1 sample, 1975]; 1 female, meadow near Jarocin, UTM: XT 76, [1 sample].</p> <p> <i>Female</i>. Well sclerotised, colour brown.</p> <p> <i>Dorsal idiosoma</i> (Fig. 11, 13 A, B). Length 775–828 µm (mean 808 µm), width 746–814 µm (mean 769 µm) (n = 31). Dorsal shield subcircular, smooth, with characteristic ornamentation of scattered circular pits in the posterior half. Marginal shield smooth, with numerous lyrifissures (<i>id</i>), fused with dorsal shield at anterior end of body. Dorsal setae numerous, thick, simple (mean 55 µm). Submarginal setae simple (mean 19 µm), marginal setae very numerous, short, hook­like.</p> <p> <i>Ventral idiosoma</i> (Figs 12 A, 13C, D). Sternal shield smooth, with five pairs of sternal setae (<i>st1–st5</i>); <i>st1</i> above the anterior edge of epigynium, and <i>st2–st5</i> lateral to the epigynium (<i>st1</i> =6 µm, <i>st2</i> =10 µm, <i>st3</i> =15 µm, <i>st4</i> =18 µm, <i>st5</i> =17 µm). Epigynial shield tongue­shaped, articulated at level of coxae IV, with small pits in the central part (Fig. 13 D). Length of epigynial shield 158–190 µm (mean 175 µm), width 110–134 µm (mean 118 µm); surface = 15344–21079 µm2. Opisthosoma smooth, except punctate area near the epigynial shield. Ventral setae simple, short; length of setae <i>v1</i> = <i>v2</i>. Adanal setae <i>Ad1</i> very short, <i>Ad2</i> twice as long as <i>Ad1</i>. Unpaired seta <i>Pa</i> as long as <i>Ad1</i>. Anal opening small, oval. Peritreme Vshaped, with characteristic curve in anterior third, without poststigmatic section, prestigmatic section 137–193 µm in length; stigmata at level of coxae III.</p> <p> <i>Gnathosoma</i> (Fig. 14). Epistome narrow and serrated, distally bifid. Hypostomal setae <i>h1</i> very long (61–82 µm), smooth; <i>h2</i> short (17–30 µm), robust; <i>h3</i> (16–29 µm), <i>ca</i> one­third length of <i>h1</i>, serrated; <i>h4</i> (12–24 µm), curved, robust or distally serrated. Hypostomal denticles in a row between setae <i>h2</i> and scattered between setae <i>h3</i> and <i>h4</i>. Ventral setae of palp trochanter robust, <i>pv1</i> (19–33 µm) longer and thicker than <i>pv2</i> (11–20 µm) (Fig. 14 A). Fixed digit of chelicera longer than movable digit, with anterior globular sensillum (Fig. 14 C). Base of tritosternum broad, with anterior shoulders, then narrowing, 6­branched, laciniae finely serrated (Fig. 14 D).</p> <p> <i>Legs</i> (Fig. 15 A). Structure and chaetotaxy typical for the genus (Table 2). Leg I without claws, but with a long terminal seta.</p> <p> <i>Male</i>. Well sclerotised, colour brown.</p> <p> <i>Dorsal idiosoma</i>. Length 756–911 µm (mean 815 µm), width 725–839 µm (mean 780 µm) (n = 38). Structure and chaetotaxy as for female.</p> <p> <i>Ventral idiosoma</i> (Fig. 12 B, 13E, F). Intercoxal region ornamented with small circular pits at level of coxae II–III and in area behind genital shield; sternal setae <i>st1–st3</i> very short, <i>st4–st5</i> longer. Genital operculum oval (68–81 x 48 –56 µm). Chaetotaxy and sculpture of opisthosoma as for female.</p> <p> <i>Gnathosoma</i> (Fig. 14 B). Hypostomal setae <i>h1</i> very long (<i>ca</i> 41 µm), smooth, simple; <i>h2</i> very short (9 µm), simple; <i>h3</i> modified into nodules 6 µm in diameter; <i>h4</i> short (<i>ca</i> 13 µm), curved, with pinnate ending and distal serration, located far from hypostomal axis. Setae <i>pv</i> on palp trochanters massive, <i>pv1</i> (<i>ca</i> 19 µm) simple, with single denticle, <i>pv2 ca</i> 9 µm. Fixed digit of chelicera longer than movable digit, provided with anterior globular sensillum. Tritosternum 6­branched, with broad base.</p> <p> <i>Legs</i> (Fig. 15 B). As for female, except trochanter III with a robust ventral spine (length 29–44 µm).</p> <p> <i>Deutonymph</i>. Partly sclerotised, colour yellowish to lightly brown.</p> <p> <i>Dorsal idiosoma</i> (Fig. 16 A). Length 681–780 µm (mean 720 µm), width 629–780 µm (mean 660 µm) (n = 37). Dorsal shield subcircular, smooth, marginal shield absent. Dorsal setae numerous, simple (mean 46 µm); some of them accompanied by circular pores; shield surface also with several lyrifissures (<i>id</i>). Submarginal setae simple (<i>ca</i> 36 µm). Marginal setae very numerous, short, hook­like.</p> <p> <i>Ventral idiosoma</i> (Fig. 16 B, 18A). Sternal shield amphora­shaped, with slightly widened base, smooth (length 306–364 µm), extending behind coxae IV, with five pairs of short, simple setae (<i>st1–st5</i>). Two pairs of lyrifissures: <i>iv1</i> near camerostome, <i>iv2</i> below setae <i>st5</i>. Ventral shield wide, smooth, with five pairs of simple ventral setae; all setae of equal length. Setae <i>v1</i>, <i>v2</i> and <i>v5</i> accompanied by circular pores. One pair of lyrifissures (<i>iv3</i>) located near setae <i>v2</i>. Anal shield triangular, with anal opening covered by a small valve, and a pair of very short setae <i>Ad1</i>. Setae <i>Ad2</i> and <i>Pa</i> on shield surrounding the anus, <i>Ad2</i> = 2 x <i>Pa</i>. Peritreme long, with characteristic curve at level of coxae II, without poststigmatic extension, prestigmatic section 177–230 µm in length, reaching camerostome, stigmata at level of coxae III.</p> <p> <i>Gnathosoma</i>. Epistome narrow and serrated, distally bifid. Hypostome similar to female (Fig. 17 A). Tritosternum 6­branched, with broad base (Fig. 17 B).</p> <p> <i>Legs</i> (Fig. 17 C). Structure and chaetotaxy as for female.</p> <p> <i>Protonymph</i>. Weakly sclerotised, colour white to yellowish.</p> <p> <i>Dorsal idiosoma</i> (Fig. 19 A). Length 469–504 µm, width 381–404 µm (n = 3). Podonotal shield pear­shaped, large (length 264–293 µm, width 180–186 µm), smooth. Mesopodal shields small, elongate (59–72 µm); mesonotal shields irregular in shape (diameter 84–91 µm); pygidial shield crescent­shaped (152–163 µm); all shields smooth. Setae <i>j3–6</i> simple, short, inserted on podonotal shield; <i>Z1</i>, <i>J1</i> and <i>J2</i> longer, inserted on pleura between podonotal and pygidial shields. Setae <i>j2</i>, <i>z2</i>, <i>z3</i>, <i>s3–6</i>, <i>S1</i>, <i>Z2</i> and <i>J4</i> short, positioned submarginally; only <i>J4</i> on small protuberances. Setae <i>j1</i>, <i>s2</i>, <i>r3–5</i>, <i>R1</i>, <i>R3</i>, <i>S3</i>, <i>S4</i>, <i>Z3</i>, <i>Z4</i> and <i>J5</i> long, massive, inserted on protuberances along the margin of the idiosoma; apparently supporting a soft, membranous fringe surrounding the idiosoma (width 102–117 µm). Several idiosomal setae with associated circular pores.</p> <p> <i>Ventral idiosoma</i> (Fig. 18 B, 19B). Weakly sclerotised, smooth. Sternal shield poorly defined, with three pairs of simple sternal setae. Metapodal shields elongate, smooth. Opisthogastric integument with four pairs of simple ventral setae (<i>v1</i>, <i>v3–v5</i>); <i>v1</i> and <i>v3</i> anterior to the ventri­anal shield, <i>v4</i> and <i>v5</i> lateral to ventri­anal shield. Three pairs of glands open on soft ventral pleura near metapodal shields (<i>gv1</i>, <i>gv2</i> and <i>gl6</i>). Ventri­anal shield oval (width 143–156 µm), smooth, with anal opening, a pair of setae <i>Ad</i> and an unpaired seta <i>Pa</i>; <i>Ad</i> = ½ <i>Pa</i>. Peritreme short, simple, without poststigmatic section (prestigmatic section straight, 61–86 µm in length); stigmata at the level of coxae III.</p> <p> <i>Gnathosoma</i>. As for female, except hypostomal groove more distinctly denticulate. Hypostomal setae <i>h3</i> denticulate. Palp trochanter setae <i>pv1</i> and <i>pv2</i> serrated (Fig. 20 A). Tritosternum 6­branched, with broad base (Fig. 20 B).</p> <p> <i>Legs</i> (Fig. 20 C). Structure of podomeres similar to adults. Chaetotaxy has not been analysed.</p> <p> <i>Larva</i>. Unsclerotised, colour whitish.</p> <p> <i>Dorsal idiosoma</i> (Fig. 21 A). Length <i>ca</i> 347 µm, width <i>ca</i> 266 µm. Anterior end of body with three indistinct cuticular processes. Podonotal shield lanceolate, smooth. Two pairs of sclerites located below the podonotum. Dorsal setae <i>j1–j6</i> and <i>J2</i> inserted paraaxially; <i>j1</i> long, recurved, <i>j2–j6</i> simple, short, located on the podonotum, <i>J2</i> bifid, inserted on pleura between podonotal and pygidial shields. Setae <i>z2</i>, <i>z3</i>, <i>s4</i>, <i>S1</i> and <i>Z2</i> on lateral part of the idiosoma; <i>z2</i>, <i>z3</i> and <i>s4</i> robust, longer than <i>j</i> ­series setae, inserted on the edge of podonotum, <i>S1</i> and <i>Z2</i> positioned in soft pleura. Setae <i>R1–R3</i>, <i>S4</i>, <i>Z3</i>, <i>Z4</i>, <i>J4</i> and <i>J5</i> massive, inserted on protuberances along the margin of the body; all bifid, except <i>S4</i> and <i>Z4</i>, which are horn­like.</p> <p> <i>Ventral idiosoma</i> (Fig. 21 B). Sternal setae (<i>st1–st3</i>) short, simple. Ventral setae <i>v1</i> short, simple, located above anal shield, <i>v5</i> bifid, inserted lateral to anal shield; <i>v5</i> = 60 µm; <i>v1</i> = 1/3 <i>v5</i>. One pair of ventral glands (<i>gv</i>) located above setae <i>v1</i>. Anal shield with one pair of glands, a pair of adanal setae <i>Ad</i> and unpaired postanal seta <i>Pa</i>; <i>Pa</i> = <i>Ad</i>.</p> <p> <i>Gnathosoma</i>. As for female, except hypostomal setae <i>h3</i> and <i>h4</i> not present, <i>h2</i> long, serrated, denticles on hypostomal surface and hypostomal groove blunt (Fig. 22 A). Palp trochanter setae <i>pv1</i> and <i>pv2</i> robust, short; <i>pv1</i> = <i>pv2</i>. Tritosternum 6­branched, with broad base (Fig. 22 B).</p> <p> <i>Legs</i> (Fig. 22 C). Trochanter I with serrated seta <i>pl</i>; tibia I with long robust dorsal setae; tarsus I with two proximal postero­dorsal setae robust, laterally serrated, <i>pd2</i> = 2 <i>pd1</i>. Femur II with serrated seta <i>pl</i>; genu and tibia II with spine­like <i>ad1–ad2</i> and <i>pd1–pd2</i> setae; tarsus II with setae <i>ad1</i> and <i>pd1–pd2</i>, robust, laterally serrated; setae <i>v1–v2</i> robust, and seta <i>pl</i> robust, distally serrated. Tarsus III with all setae robust, <i>v1–v2</i>, <i>ad</i> and <i>pd</i> long.</p> <p> <i>Etymology</i>: The name of this species refers to its similarity to <i>C. cassidea.</i></p>Published as part of <i>Bloszyk, Jerzy, Stachowiak, Marcin & Halliday, Bruce, 2006, Two new species of Cilliba von Heyden from Poland, with discussion of the Cilliba cassidea (Hermann) species complex (Acari: Mesostigmata: Uropodina: Cillibidae), pp. 1-45 in Zootaxa 1219</i> on pages 13-26, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/172506">10.5281/zenodo.172506</a&gt