Ecology and Host Associations of \u3ci\u3eHistiogaster Arborsignis\u3c/i\u3e (Acari: Acaridae) in the Great Lakes Region, Particularly in the Huron Mountains of Northern Michigan

Histiogaster arborsignis is recorded from subcortical habitats and fungal fruiting bodies in the Huron Mountains of northern Michigan. Deutonymphs were collected from 15 species of Coleoptera, Hymenoptera and Diptera. Additional host and locality records for this species are provided from other areas in the Great Lakes region

Systematics, Ecology and Host Associations of \u3ci\u3eNaiadacarus\u3c/i\u3e (Acari: Acaridae) in the Great Lakes Region

Naiadacarus arboricola Fashing, is reported from adults collected from water-filled treeholes and deutonymphs phoretic on Mallota species, Eristalis bardus and Somula decora (Diptera: Syrphidae) from Michigan, Illinois, and New York. Naiadacarus fashingi, new species, is described from deutonymphs phoretic on Brachypalpus oarus and seven other species of Syrphidae from Michigan, New York and New Jersey. Naiadacarus mydophilus, new species, is described from deutonymphs phoretic on Brachypalpus oarus from Michigan. Based upon known biologies of host insects and other mite species which utilize these hosts, it is hypothesized that N. lashingi and N. mydophilus may inhabit wet decaying wood andior moist treeholes rather than water-filled treeholes. Naiadacarus is hypothesized to be closely related to the genera Schwiebea, Histiogaster and Thyreophagus. The subfamily name Naiadacarinae is placed in synonymy with Rhizoglyphinae

Ontogeny and Systematics of the Genus \u3ci\u3eCerophagus\u3c/i\u3e (Acari: Gaudiellidae), Mites Associated With Bumblebees

Nymphs and adults of Cerophagus nearcticus n. sp. are described from the nest of Bombus terricola occidentalis in California and phoretic associations with B. impatiens in Michigan and New York. On the basis of adult morphology, the genus Cerophagopsis is removed from synonymy with Cerophagus and retained in the family Acaridae, while Cerophagus is transferred to the family Gaudiellidae. The genus Rhypoglyphus is considered a junior subjec­tive synonym of Cerophagopsis. The genera of Gaudiellidae are noted and the genus Trigonacoptes is considered a junior subjective synonym of Gaudiella

Two New Genera of Hemisarcoptidae (Acari: Astigmata) From the Huron Mountains of Northern Michigan

Two new genera and species of Hemisarcoptidae, Superioropus huronmontanus and Huronopus michiganensis are described from deutonymphs phoretic on ichneumonid wasps from the Huron Mountains, Marquette County, Michigan

Improved tRNA prediction in the American house dust mite reveals widespread occurrence of extremely short minimal tRNAs in acariform mites

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Atypical tRNAs are functional minimal tRNAs, lacking either the D- or T-arm. They are significantly shorter than typical cloverleaf tRNAs. Widespread occurrence of atypical tRNAs was first demonstrated for secernentean nematodes and later in various arachnids. Evidence started to accumulate that tRNAs of certain acariform mites are even shorter than the minimal tRNAs of nematodes, raising the possibility that tRNAs lacking both D- and T-arms might exist in these organisms. The presence of cloverleaf tRNAs in acariform mites, particularly in the house dust mite genus <it>Dermatophagoides</it>, is still disputed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Mitochondrial tRNAs of <it>Dermatophagoides farinae </it>are minimal, atypical tRNAs lacking either the T- or D-arm. The size (49-62, 54.4 ± 2.86 nt) is significantly (p = 0.019) smaller than in <it>Caenorhabditis elegans </it>(53-63, 56.3 ± 2.30 nt), a model minimal tRNA taxon. The shortest tRNA (49 nt) in <it>Dermatophagoides </it>is approaching the length of the shortest known tRNAs (45-49 nt) described in other acariform mites. The D-arm is absent in these tRNAs, and the inferred T-stem is small (2-3 bp) and thermodynamically unstable, suggesting that it may not exist in reality. The discriminator nucleotide is probably not encoded and is added postranscriptionally in many <it>Dermatophagoides </it>tRNAs.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Mitochondrial tRNAs of acariform mites are largely atypical, non-cloverleaf tRNAs. Among them, the shortest known tRNAs with no D-arm and a short and unstable T-arm can be inferred. While our study confirmed seven tRNAs in <it>Dermatophagoides </it>by limited EST data, further experimental evidence is needed to demonstrate extremely small and unusual tRNAs in acariform mites.</p

Morphology, Evolution, and Host Associations of Bee-Associated Mites of the Family Chaetodactylidae (Acari: Astigmata) with a monographic revision of North American taxa

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/110995/1/Bee Mites.pdfDescription of Bee Mites.pdf : Main Pape

Out of Africa: the mite community (Arachnida: Acariformes) of the common waxbill, Estrilda astrild (Linnaeus, 1758) (Passeriformes: Estrildidae) in Brazil

Abstract Background The common waxbill, Estrilda astrild (L., 1758) (Passeriformes: Estrildidae) is a small passerine bird native to Sub-Saharan Africa that has been introduced into several regions of the world. Results In the present paper, eight mite species (Acariformes) are reported from this host from Brazil, including three species new to science: Montesauria caravela n. sp., M. conquistador n. sp. (Proctophyllodidae), Trouessartia transatlantica n. sp., T. minuscula Gaud & Mouchet, 1958, T. estrildae Gaud & Mouchet, 1958 (Trouessartiidae), Onychalges pachyspathus Gaud, 1968 (Pyroglyphidae), Paddacoptes paddae (Fain, 1964) (Dermationidae) and Neocheyletiella megaphallos (Lawrence, 1959) (Cheyletidae). Comparative material from Africa was also studied. Conclusions These mites represent at least three morpho-ecological groups regarding their microhabitats occupied on the bird: (i) vane mites (Montesauria and Trouessartia on the large wing and tail feathers); (ii) down mites (Onychalges); and (iii) skin mites (Paddacoptes and Neocheyletiella). On one bird individual we found representatives of all eight mite species. Although the common waxbill was introduced to the Neotropical region almost two centuries ago, we demonstrate that it still retains its Old World acarofauna and has not yet acquired any representatives of typical Neotropical mite taxa.https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/137645/1/13071_2017_Article_2230.pd

Promyialges italicus sp. nov. (Astigmata: Epidermoptidae) with redescriptions of mites of the families Epidermoptidae and Cheyletidae (Prostigmata) associated with Pseudolynchia canariensis (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) from Iran and Italy

Pseudolynchia canariensis (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) is a parasite of pigeons but also a host for hyperparasitic mites living on the same avian hosts. Four species and subspecies of mites found on this louse fly, Myialges anchora, Promyialges italicus sp. nov., Promyialges lophortyx (Astigmata: Epidermoptidae), and Ornithocheyletia hallae hallae (Prostigmata: Cheyletidae), are described or redescribed. One new species of feather mites is described from Tuscany, Pisa, Italy, from Pseudolynchia canariensis (Mcquart, 1840) from Columba livia (Gmelin, 1789). This is the first report of the genera Myialges and Ornithocheyletia for the Iranian fauna, while the subspecies Ornithocheyletia hallae hallae represents a new report for Asia. Specimens of O. hallae from populations in Italy and in Iran differ morphologically. According to these findings, we recognized two subspecies, Ornithocheyletia hallae hallae and O. hallae simili

IGF-I activates caspases 3/7, 8 and 9 but does not induce cell death in colorectal cancer cells

Background: Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the western world. Chemotherapy is often ineffective to treat the advanced colorectal cancers due to the chemoresistance. A major contributor to chemo-resistance is tumour-derived inhibition or avoidance of apoptosis. Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) has been known to play a prominent role in colorectal cancer development and progression. The role of IGF-I in cancer cell apoptosis is not completely understood.Methods: Using three colorectal cancer cell lines and one muscle cell line, associations between IGF-I and activities of caspase 3/7, 8 and 9 have been examined; the role of insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR) in the caspase activation has been investigated.Results: The results show that exogenous IGF-I significantly increases activity of caspases 3/7, 8 and 9 in all cell lines used; blocking IGF-I receptor reduce IGF-I-induced caspase activation. Further studies demonstrate that IGF-I induced caspase activation does not result in cell death. This is the first report to show that while IGF-I activates caspases 3/7, 8 and 9 it does not cause colorectal cancer cell death.Conclusion: The study suggests that caspase activation is not synonymous with apoptosis and that activation of caspases may not necessarily induce cell death

Correction of a case of homonymy in the genus Zonurobia (Acari: Pterygosomatidae)

OConnor, Barry M. (2020): Correction of a case of homonymy in the genus Zonurobia (Acari: Pterygosomatidae). Acarologia 60 (3): 557-558, DOI: 10.24349/acarologia/20204383, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.24349/acarologia/2020438