Forest Matters Most for Hirsutiella zachvatkini (Schluger, 1948): A Survey of Rodent Infestation in Four Localities within the Mazury Lake District, NE Poland

The family Trombiculidae encompasses numerous and widespread mites, the larvae of which are obligatory parasites of vertebrates. Our research objective was to assess how trombiculid burdens on rodents inhabiting three forested and one open area in NE Poland vary in relation to host identity, sex and body size, and how they are influenced by qualities of the habitat. Trapped rodents (n = 240) were measured, weighted and screened for ectoparasites. Apodemus flavicollis (n = 42) and Myodes glareolus (n = 173) harbored a total of 4652 Hirsutiella zachchvatkini larvae. Statistical tests revealed that both prevalence and abundance were significantly higher in voles (93%, 27 larvae/ind.) than in mice (14%, 0.24 larvae/ind.) but there was no effect of host sex. Among the localities, H. zachvatkini was most prevalent (98%) and abundant (41 larvae/ind.) in rodents from the deciduous mixed forest in Tałty compared to fallow land (2.6%, 0.13 larvae/ind.). The highest prevalence and abundance were found in bank voles; in this host species in Tałty, prevalence reached 100% and the mean abundance was >42 larvae/ind. Significant positive correlations were found between the body mass and body length of voles and the number of attached larvae. Our results confirm the sylvan nature of H. zachvatkini and its preference for bank voles inhabiting deciduous forests with rich and humid undergrowth. The lack of a sex bias and the moderate correlation between mite burden and host size are in line with observations already made on other rodent-associated Trombiculidae

Not Only Leptotrombidium spp. an Annotated Checklist of Chigger Mites (Actinotrichida: Trombiculidae) Associated with Bacterial Pathogens

Mites of the family Trombiculidae are known for playing a role in maintaining and spreading the scrub typhus etiologic agent, an intracellular Gram-negative bacterium, Orientia tsutsugamushi. Species of the genus Leptotrombidium are investigated most thoroughly, particularly in SE Asia, and a few are proven vectors for the pathogen. The mentioned association, however, is not the only one among trombiculids. Here, we present a list of chiggers indicated in the literature as positive for bacterial pathogens, tested throughout almost 100 years of research. Taxonomic identities of trombiculids follow recent revisions and checklists. Results point at 100 species, from 28 genera, evidenced for association with 31 bacterial taxa. Pathogen-positive mites constitute around 3.3% of the total number of species comprising the family. Discussed arachnids inhabit six biogeographic realms and represent free-living instars as well as external and internal parasites of rodents, soricomorphs, scadents, lagomorphs, peramelemorphs, bats, passerine birds, reptiles and humans. A variety of so far detected bacteria, including novel species, along with the mites’ vast geographical distribution and parasitism on differentiated hosts, indicate that revealing of more cases of Trombiculidae-pathogens association is highly probable, especially utilizing the newest techniques enabling a large-scale bacterial communities survey

Leptus kattikus Haitlinger 2009

Leptus kattikus Haitlinger, 2009 Diagnosis. Larva. One seta on palp femur and palp genu. Scutum in the shape of irregular hexagon, with sharpened antero-lateral corners. Anterior and posterior margin of scutum concave. Four intercoxalae at the level of coxae III. Anterior intercoxalae III (3 a 1) 2.0– 2.9 times shorter than the posterior ones (3 a 2). Tibia I (283–328) with two solenidia (φ). ISD = 78–105. Ti III/AW = 3.2–4.5. DS max = 73–97. L/W = 0.8–1.1. Ti III = 362–440. Description. Larva (Figs 1 –14). For morphometric data see Table 1. TABLE 1. Morphometric data on larvae of Leptus kattikus. Leptus kattikus Haitlinger, 2009 Sample size Mean Range Data for holotype (original description (Haitlinger 2009)/present studies) Character GNATHOSOMA ...... continued on the next page Leptus kattikus Haitlinger, 2009 Sample size Mean Range Data for holotype (original description (Haitlinger 2009)/present studies) Character PW/AW 20 1.3 1.1–1.3 1.1 / 1.2 DS max. 20 87 73–97 88 / 90 VS 20 78 75–85 no data/ 78 3 a 1 20 33 27–39 25 / 25 3 a 2 20 81 67–95 65 / 70 3 a 2 / 3 a 1 20 2.5 2.0– 2.9 2.6 / 2.8 LEGS Cx I (L) 20 102 75–120 106 / 100 Tr I (L) 20 64 45–83 60 / 73 bFe I (L) 20 169 157–183 160 / 175 tFe I (L) 20 151 138–162 162 / 155 Ge I (L) 20 213 188–229 236 / 225 Ti I (L) 20 304 283–320 328 / 328 Ta I (L) 20 216 197–234 208 / 230 Ta I (W) 20 32 20–62 19 / 20 LEG I ( Σ ) 20 1219 1145–1267 1260 / 1286 Cx II (L) 20 121 92–133 112 / 108 Tr II (L) 20 67 54–78 70 / 70 bFe II (L) 20 138 120–154 146 / 145 tFe II (L) 20 132 113–142 152 / 138 Ge II (L) 20 174 161–194 180 / 180 Ti II (L) 20 276 253–301 290 / 298 Ta II (L) 20 203 177–234 200 / 203 Ta II (W) 20 28 24–33 19 / 25 LEG II ( Σ ) 20 1110 1039–1161 1150 / 1142 Cx III (L) 20 124 100–144 116 / 118 Tr III (L) 20 71 58–86 70 / 85 bFe III (L) 20 164 151–180 190 / 183 tFe III (L) 20 171 151–187 186 / 185 Ge III (L) 20 199 184–210 212 / 213 Ti III (L) 20 383 362–406 420 / 440 Ta III (L) 20 207 192–224 – Ta III (L) 20 25 20–28 – LEG III ( Σ ) 20 1319 1250–1386 – IP 20 3649 3434–3810 – Ti I/AW 20 2.8 2.4 –3.0 3.2 / 3.3 Ti I/Ge I 20 1.4 1.3–1.5 1.4 / 1.5 Ti II/PW 20 2.0 1.9–2.1 2.6 / 2.6 Ti II/Ge II 20 1.6 1.5–1.7 1.6 / 1.7 Ti III/AW 20 3.5 3.2–3.7 4.0/ 4.5 Ti III/Ge III 20 1.9 1.8–2.1 2.0/ 2.1 Ti III/Ti I 20 1.3 1.2–1.3 1.3 / 1.3 1) distorted (underestimate), due to the fold in the posterior part of the shield, 2) broken, 3) one with broken tip, one missing, 4)distorted (underestimate), due to the broken tip of AL. Gnathosoma. Chelicera (Figs 1, 12) composed of basal segment and movable claw. Mouth (Figs 4, 6, 12) surrounded with lamellar, narrowing apically fimbriae. At mouth—c. 4–5 pairs of digit-shaped and terminally diverged processes. Dorsally, a pair of setiform adoral setae (cs) (c. 15) placed anteriorly and a pair of club-shaped supracoxal setae (elcp) (c. 2) located postero-laterally, at gnathosoma base (Fig. 4). Ventrally (Fig. 6) a pair of very short (c. 3) spine-like setae (as) and a pair of longer (c. 35) subcapitular setae (bs), covered with few short barbs, arising at medial part of the stem. Pedipalp formula: 0-B-B-BBB-NNBBBωζ. Palp femur and palp genu (Fig. 4) with one setulose seta. Palp tibia (Figs 2, 13) with three barbed setae. Odontus simple. Palp tarsus (Figs 2, 13) with six normal setae, of which four are covered with setules and two are smooth, one solenidion (ω) located in proximal part of the segment and one prominent distal eupathidium (ζ). Dorsal side of idiosoma. Scutum (Figs 3 –4, 14) with indistinct perforations on the entire surface. Setae AL shorter than PL. AL almost levelled with ASens, PL placed posteriorly to AL, c. at the widest part of scutum. ASens shorter than PSens, both with setules covering the distal half of the stem. Single eyes on circular sclerites located at the level of posterior margin of scutum. The remaining part of idiosoma covered with cuticle displaying a linear design. Folds (Fig. 15) separated with rows of perforations. Each perforation clogged with cuticular plug. Dorsal setae (Fig. 5) inserted in small cuticular rims and covered with setules distributed along the stem, except for its basal most part. ƒD = 43–58 (n = 19). Ventral side of idiosoma (Fig. 6). ƒCx = 1 - 1 - 1. Club-shaped supracoxal setae elc I present on dorsal side, in terminal part of coxae I. Setae 1 b, 2 b, 3 b located on coxae I, II, III, respectively. Setae 1 a, 2 a, 3 a 1 -a 2 placed between the respective coxal plates. Setae 3 a 1 (Figs 6 –7, 15) distinctly shorter than 3 a 2. ƒV = 22–29 (n = 19) (the total number of setae in ƒD and ƒV formula (NDV) = 72–84, n = 19). Ventral setae (Fig. 8) with setules more sharpened than in dorsal setae. Cuticle displays the similar pattern to one on dorsal side of idiosoma; the rows of perforations more distinct (Fig. 15). Legs (Figs 9 –11, 16– 17). Leg segmentation formula: 7 - 7 - 7. For leg chaetotaxy see Table 2. Cuticle on legs arranged in transverse folds, especially distinct on tarsi. Normal setae on legs covered with husk-like setules. Famulus on tarsus I located distally to solenidion. Eupathidia on tarsi I–III covered with delicate fimbriae. Slightly longer fimbriae present on claw-like claw and on empodium at tarsi termination. Tarsal claws without terminal hooks. Leg segment Chaetotaxy Cx I 1 n, 1 supracoxal seta Tr I 1 n bFe I 2 n tFe I 5 n Ge I 8 n, 1 σ, 1 κ Ti I 14 n, 2 φ, 1 κ Ta I 26 n, 2 ζ, 1 ω, 1 ε Cx II 1 n Tr II 1 n bFe II 2 n tFe II 5 n Ge II 7–8 n, 1 κ Ti II 14–15 n, 2 φ Ta II 21–24 n, 2 ζ, 1 ω Cx III 1 n Tr III 1 n bFe III 1 n tFe III 5 n Ge III 8 n Ti III 15 n, 1 φ Ta III 25–27 n, 1 ζ FIGURES 4–8. Leptus kattikus: 4. Dorsal side of the body (legs omitted beyond trochanters); 5. Dorsal idiosomal seta; 6. Ventral side of the body (legs omitted beyond trochanters); 7. Intercoxala 3 a 1; 8. Ventral idiosomal seta. FIGURES 12–17. Leptus kattikus. SEM micrographs. 12. Antero-ventral part of gnathosoma; 13. Palp tibia and palp tarsus; 14. Cheliceral bases and scutum; 15. Intercoxala 3 a 1; 16. Tibia I; 17. Tarsus III. Distribution. Nepal, Vietnam. Deposition of the material. A total number of 121 larvae were separated from a single host. Voucher specimens are deposited in the senior author’s collection (Institute of Biology, Department of Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland). Molecular analysis. We expected to obtain an approximately 650 bp long COI gene product from L. kattikus, however after sequencing we obtained only a reliable 438 bp long contig beginning at the 5 ’ end. Unfortunately most of the 3 ’ end of the sequence was illegible due to the presence of double peaks. The PCR reaction as well as sequencing were repeated and, for each repetition, the obtained results were similar to the initial sequencing. BLAST alignment analysis of the COI barcode region of our sequence showed 88 %– 84 % similarity, in the overlapping regions, with the sequences being those of Phasmatidae. The highest levels of similarity (87.9 % and 86.8 %) were observed for Ramulus irregulariterdentatus (AB 477463) and Phraortes illepidus (AB 477460), respectively. The results show that the amplified product of COI barcode belongs to the host of Leptus kattikus which was determined morphologically as Xenophasmina bedoti. Thus, despite the unsuccessful amplification of barcode COI region of the mite larva, we were able to obtain the sequence of its host, which demonstrates molecular host identification based on DNA content isolated from engorged mite larvae.Published as part of Mąkol, Joanna, Felska, Magdalena, Moniuszko, Hanna & Zaleśny, Grzegorz, 2012, Redescription of Leptus kattikus Haitlinger, 2009 (Actinotrichida, Parasitengona, Erythraeidae) and molecular identification of its host from DNA barcoding, pp. 67-78 in Zootaxa 3569 on pages 69-75, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.20881

Hard Nut to Crack. Acorn Hardness Implications on Oviposition of the Acorn Weevil <i>Curculio glandium</i> Marsham, 1802 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Curculio glandium females associated with the pedunculate oak were investigated in order to fill the knowledge gap on acorn structure preferences and shell-hardening influence on ovipositional behavior and fecundity. Shell solidification progression of weekly harvested acorns was measured using penetration and force–deformation tests along with fruit mass within a time frame covering weevils’ reproduction period. Captured females were offered regular acorns (uncracked, soft enough to drill into) and older seeds (with natural cracks) for behavior recordings and preferences tests. Young acorns and fruits ripe enough to be too hard for females to drill (artificially pierced and untouched) were used for egg output assessment throughout the shell-hardening progression. Experiments revealed that naturally cracked acorns were chosen significantly more often, which resulted in reduced drilling-phase duration. Egg number did not differ significantly before and after the threshold of acorn hardening; however, having passed it, females significantly more frequently deposited eggs in artificially pierced seeds. Results indicate the opportunistic nature of female preferences. Oviposition in cracked or pierced acorns facilitates the process and lowers competition for relatively shortly available soft and healthy seeds, the first of which reach impenetrability in the third week of August

Hard Nut to Crack. Acorn Hardness Implications on Oviposition of the Acorn Weevil Curculio glandium Marsham, 1802 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Curculio glandium females associated with the pedunculate oak were investigated in order to fill the knowledge gap on acorn structure preferences and shell-hardening influence on ovipositional behavior and fecundity. Shell solidification progression of weekly harvested acorns was measured using penetration and force&ndash;deformation tests along with fruit mass within a time frame covering weevils&rsquo; reproduction period. Captured females were offered regular acorns (uncracked, soft enough to drill into) and older seeds (with natural cracks) for behavior recordings and preferences tests. Young acorns and fruits ripe enough to be too hard for females to drill (artificially pierced and untouched) were used for egg output assessment throughout the shell-hardening progression. Experiments revealed that naturally cracked acorns were chosen significantly more often, which resulted in reduced drilling-phase duration. Egg number did not differ significantly before and after the threshold of acorn hardening; however, having passed it, females significantly more frequently deposited eggs in artificially pierced seeds. Results indicate the opportunistic nature of female preferences. Oviposition in cracked or pierced acorns facilitates the process and lowers competition for relatively shortly available soft and healthy seeds, the first of which reach impenetrability in the third week of August

Cannibalism as Competition Strategy in Larvae of the Acorn Weevil <i>Curculio glandium</i> (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Curculio glandium is one of the pre-dispersal seed predators occurring in Central Europe. It is associated with Quercus robur, the acorns of which are shelter and food sources for developing larvae. Females of the species, to our knowledge, are lacking in marking pheromones or do not use them; therefore, in nature, multiple infestations (over 10 eggs or larvae) of the same host fruit can be found. Such density can provoke very strong competition, which was verified in this study. The survival rate and body mass of 695 second-instar larvae, competing in various test groups (one, three, five, eight and ten larvae) offered one acorn, were measured and video recordings made in order to describe their behavior and determine differences between groups. Experimental observations indicated that when the density of larvae in an acorn increased, the survival rate and body mass significantly decreased—being the lowest in test groups consisting of eight and ten individuals. In the latter groups, also the acorn embryo was completely consumed. Video footage, along with the presence of dead, nibbled larvae and living ones covered with scars resembling mouthparts, is evidence for aggression and cannibalism in the second and the third larval instars—behavior scarce in weevils and in phytophagous insects in general. Results confirm the assumption that in heavily infested oak fruits, competition between individuals is so strong that it involves cannibalism, which at the same time provides the strongest larvae with additional nutrients

Cannibalism as Competition Strategy in Larvae of the Acorn Weevil Curculio glandium (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Curculio glandium is one of the pre-dispersal seed predators occurring in Central Europe. It is associated with Quercus robur, the acorns of which are shelter and food sources for developing larvae. Females of the species, to our knowledge, are lacking in marking pheromones or do not use them; therefore, in nature, multiple infestations (over 10 eggs or larvae) of the same host fruit can be found. Such density can provoke very strong competition, which was verified in this study. The survival rate and body mass of 695 second-instar larvae, competing in various test groups (one, three, five, eight and ten larvae) offered one acorn, were measured and video recordings made in order to describe their behavior and determine differences between groups. Experimental observations indicated that when the density of larvae in an acorn increased, the survival rate and body mass significantly decreased&mdash;being the lowest in test groups consisting of eight and ten individuals. In the latter groups, also the acorn embryo was completely consumed. Video footage, along with the presence of dead, nibbled larvae and living ones covered with scars resembling mouthparts, is evidence for aggression and cannibalism in the second and the third larval instars&mdash;behavior scarce in weevils and in phytophagous insects in general. Results confirm the assumption that in heavily infested oak fruits, competition between individuals is so strong that it involves cannibalism, which at the same time provides the strongest larvae with additional nutrients

Accumulation of Plastics and Trace Elements in the Mangrove Forests of Bima City Bay, Indonesia

Pollution with microplastics (MPs), nanoplastics (NPs) and trace elements (TEs) remains a considerable threat for mangrove biomes due to their capability to capture pollutants suspended in the water. This study investigated the abundance and composition of plastics and TEs contained in the soil and pneumatophores of Avicennia alba sampled in experimental areas (hotel, market, river mouth, port, and rural areas) differentiated in anthropopressure, located in Bima Bay, Indonesia. Polymers were extracted and analyzed with the use of a modified sediment isolation method and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Trace elements were detected by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The lowest and highest quantities of MPs in soil were recorded in rural and hotel areas, respectively. The rural site was characterized by distinct MP composition. The amounts of sediment-trapped MPs in the tested localities should be considered as high, and the recognized polymers partly corresponded with local human activity. Concentrations of seven plastic types found in plant tissues did not entirely reflect sediment pollution with nine types, suggesting a selective accumulation (particularly of polyamides and vinylidene chloride) and substance migration from other areas. Very low concentrations of non-biogenic TEs were observed, both in sediments and pneumatophores. The results highlight the relevance of environmental contamination with plastics