Four new records of mites (Acari: Astigmata) phoretic on insects in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

A survey was carried out to investigate astigmatid mites associated with four unrelated insect species, belonging to four families. The four insect species, Musca domestica (Linnaeus, 1785) (Diptera: Muscidae), Labidura riparia (Pallas, 1773) (Dermaptera: Labiduridae), Gryllus bimaculatus (DeGeer, 1773) (Orthoptera: Gryllidae), and Periplaneta americana (Linnaeus, 1758) (Blattaria: Blattidae), collected from different localities in Riyadh, were observed. Four astigmatid mites (Caloglyphus csibbii Eraky, Histiostoma camphori Eraky, Histiostoma pickaxei Eraky and Shoker, and Myianoetus lili Eraky) belonging to two families, Acaridae and Histiostomatidae, were recorded on G. bimaculatus, L. riparia, P. americana, and M. domestica, respectively. All recorded mites are considered new to Saudi Arabian mite fauna. One individual of Copronomoia sphaerocerae (Vitzthum) (Histiostomatidae) mite, previously recorded in Saudi Arabia, was found on M. domestica. For each mite species found, notes on density and attachment sites are given. An identification key, based on deutonymphal stages, for the five mite species reported in this study and other phoretic astigmatid mites previously recorded on insects in Saudi Arabia is provided

Paragigagnathus desertorum

Paragigagnathus desertorum (Amitai and Swirski) Phytocerus desertorum Amitai and Swirski 1978: 123 – 127; Swirski and Amitai 1985: 185; 1997: 31. Amblyseius desertorum Ueckermann 1996: 28. Paragigagnathus desertorum (Amitai and Swirski), Chant and McMurtry 2003: 39 – 44; Moraes et al. 2004: 159; Chant and McMurtry 2007: 33; Hajizadeh et al. 2010: 22 – 227. Female. (n = 8), the measurements of Saudi Arabian specimens in range. Dorsal idiosoma Dorsal shield 288 – 302 long and 204 – 212 wide at the level of setae R 1 , strongly sclerotized, ornamented and with wax plates, rugose lines/ patches; with 19 pairs of setae including setae r 3 and R 1 . All dorsal setae thick and set on prominent tubercles. Dorsal shield setal length: j 1 16 – 18, j 3 26 – 31, j 4 24 – 27, j 5 29 – 30, j 6 32 – 35, J 2 38 – 40, J 5 13 – 14, z 2 35 – 37, z 4 36 – 38, z 5 24 – 26, Z 1 36 – 39, Z 4 46 – 49, Z 5 45 – 47, s 4 39 – 42, S 2 45 – 47, S 4 45 – 48, S 5 46 – 49 and lateral setae r 3 23 – 24, R 1 18 – 19. Peritreme extending up to setae j 1 . Ventral idiosoma Sternal shield smooth, convex anteriorly and posteriorly, 76 – 79 long, 57 – 59 wide at the level of setae ST 2 ; with two pairs of setae and one pair of pores. ST 3 present on metasternal platelets, ST 4 present on soft cuticle. Genital shield truncate posteriorly, 55 – 58 wide, wider than ventrianal shield, with one pair of setae. One pair of pores present lateral to genital shield on soft cuticle. Ventrianal and genital shields with a membranous fold in between. Ventrianal shield smooth, elongate, sole shaped, with marked waist, 36 – 37 wide at preanals, 60 – 61 wide (at anal setae), 99 – 105 long. L/W ratio at narrowest point 3.43, with three pairs of preanal setae, three circumanal setae and one pair of pores. Four pairs of setae, six pairs of pores and two pairs of metapodal platelets present on the membrane surrounding the ventrianal shield. ZV 1 = ZV 3 = 11 – 12, JV 4 14 – 15, JV 5 17 – 18, primary metapodal platelet 36 – 39, secondary 16 – 18. Spermatheca Vesicle is saccular, calyx, dish shaped, not very thick, atrium not adjacent to the calyx, major duct long, thick, minor duct not prominent. Chelicerae Fixed digit with one bifid tooth and a pilis dentilis; the movable digit smooth. Leg IV One macroseta on basitarsus 23 – 25. Material examined Eight females, 130 km Al – Madinah road, Makkah, Acacia raddiana L. (Fabaceae), 7 Feb., 2014, coll. M. Kamran. Distribution and hosts Israel, ex. Acacia raddiana L. (Fabaceae), association with Thrips sp. (Thripidae) (Amitai and Swirski 1978; Swirski and Amitai 1985, 1997); Yemen ex unidentified plants (Ueckermann 1996). It was found on Acacia raddiana in association with Sonotetranychus sp. (Acari: Tetranychidae) in Saudi Arabia.Published as part of Alatawi, Fahad J., Kamran, M. & Basahih, J., 2015, First record of the genus Paragigagnathus Amitai and Grinberg, 1971 (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) from Saudi Arabia with description of a new species, pp. 701-709 in Journal of Natural History 50 on pages 706-707, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2015.1082656, http://zenodo.org/record/398971

Genus Eryngiopus Summers (Acari: Trombidiformes: Stigmaeidae) from Saudi Arabia; a new record and redescription of E. discus Meyer, with a key to the world species

International audienceEryngiopus discus Meyer, 1969 (Acari: Trombidiformes: Stigmaeidae), the first species of the genus Eryngiopus Summers recorded from Saudi Arabia, is re-described and illustrated. The specimens of this species were collected from foxtail grass Cenchrus sp. (Poaceae) and Euryops arabicus (Asteraceae). Also, the species of the genus Eryngiopus are categorized into two species groups, bakeri and gracilis, based on three and four pairs of prodorsal setae, respectively. A key to the world species of the genus Eryngiopus is provided too

Suitability of date palm pollen as an alternative food source for the predatory mite Cydnoseius negevi (Swirski & Amitai) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) at a low relative humidity

Alatawi, Fahad J., Basahih, Jamal S., Kamran, Muhammad (2018): Suitability of date palm pollen as an alternative food source for the predatory mite Cydnoseius negevi (Swirski & Amitai) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) at a low relative humidity. Acarologia 58 (2): 357-365, DOI: 10.24349/acarologia/20184247, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.24349/acarologia/2018424

2012b. Incidence of predatory phytoseiid mites in Saudi Arabia: new records and a key to the Saudi Arabian species (Acari: Mesostigmata: Gamasina

Abstract Cydnoseius negev

Zachvatkinia (Zachvatkinia) sternae Canestrini & Fanzago 1876

Zachvatkinia (Zachvatkinia) sternae (Canestrini & Fanzago, 1876) Dermaleichus sternae Canestrini & Fanzago, 1876: 109. Specimen examined. One male ex sooty gull, Ichthyaetus hemprichii (Bruch, 1853) (Charadriiformes: Laridae), Umm Al-Malik Island, Red Sea, Tabuk province, Saudi Arabia, 25 º 13 ' 48 ''N, 37 º 8 ' 37 ''E, 12 November 2011, leg. M. Shobrak. Remarks. In Saudi Arabia, the sooty gull is considered as a coastal gull found throughout the year in the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf, especially around fishing ports. It is distributed through Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, India, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Maldives, Mozambique, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates and Yemen (Pons et al. 2005; Cottridge 2006; Porter & Aspinall 2010). The type specimens of Z. sternae were collected from Chlidonias niger (Linnaeus, 1978) in Italy (Canestrini & Fanzago 1876) and further it was recorded by these authors also from Sterna hirundo Linnaeus, 1758 (Canestrini & Fanzago 1877). We consider the collection of Z. sternae from I. hemprichii to represent a new host record for this species although we collected only one specimen of it. The Saudi male specimen is very similar to the redescription done by Mironov (1989 a: 97) who depicted the ventral setae cx 3 (= 3 b) and c 1 (= 3 a) at one level. However, 3 b are distinctly posterior to the level of 3 a in the Saudi specimen. We consider this difference to represent intraspecific variation. This is the first record of this species in Saudi Arabia. Z. sternae occurs in Italy (Canestrini & Fanzago 1876, 1877), Russia (Mironov, 1989 a) and Saudi Arabia (present study).Published as part of Negm, Mohamed W., Nasser, D., Alatawi, Fahad J., Al Ahmad, Azzam M. & Shobrak, Mohammed, 2013, Feather mites of the genus Zachvatkinia Dubinin, 1949 (Astigmata: Analgoidea: Avenzoariidae) from Saudi Arabia: A new species and two new records, pp. 61-71 in Zootaxa 3710 (1) on page 70, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3710.1.4, http://zenodo.org/record/28466

Zachvatkinia (Zachvatkinia) repressae Negm & Alatawi, sp. n.

Zachvatkinia (Zachvatkinia) repressae Negm & Alatawi sp. n. (Figs. 1 ̶ 9) Type material. Male holotype (KSMA), 8 male and 18 female paratypes ex Sterna repressa Hartert, 1916 (Charadriiformes: Sternidae), Jana Island, Arabian Gulf, Saudi Arabia, 27 º 22 ' 10 "N, 49 º 53 ' 53 "E, 11 July 2012, leg. M.G. Nasser. Holotype, most male and female paratypes—KSMA; a paratype female and male—The Acarology Laboratory, Museum of Biological Diversity, The Ohio State University. Description. Male (Figs. 1–5) (holotype, range for 4 paratypes in parentheses): gnathosoma length 100 (90– 105), maximum width 80 (80–85). Idiosoma length 710 (650–720) from anterior end of propodosomal shield to level of bases of setae h 3 posteriorly, greatest width 340 (322–348) (Fig. 1). Propodosomal shield: subtriangular, posterolateral angles rounded, posterior margin straight or slightly convex and with a pair of small transversely directed extensions, surface of shield without ornamentation, length along midline 180 (166–180), maximum width 210 (200–228), lengths of scapular setae si 26 (24–26) and se 125 (122–126), distance between setae se-se 180 (173–180) (Fig. 3). Humeral shields well developed, setae c 2 35 (32–36) situated on their anterior ends, lanceolate setae c 3 45 (44–46) long and macrosetae cp 125 (122–128) long. Hysteronotal shield: anterior margin straight or slightly concave, anterior angles acute, length from anterior margin to the bases of setae h 3 530 (515–542), width at anterior margin 300 (288–305). Openings of opisthosomal glands situated anterolateral to setae e 1. Terminal cleft narrow, subtriangular, anterior end extending beyond level of setae e 2, length of cleft from anterior end to bases of setae h 3 250 (248–253). Setae ps 1 60 (57–62) long, situated on lateral margins of supranal concavity, their tips almost extending to bases of setae h 3. Macrosetae h 2 and h 3 with noticeably thickened basal part and with long filiform distal part. Distances between hysteronotal setae: c 2:d 2 165 (161–172), d 2:e 2 135 (134–143), e 2:f 2 132 (132–145), f 2:h 2 33 (25–33), c 1:d 1 82 (80–86), d 1:e 1 112 (100–114), e 1:h 1 188 (178–190), h 1:h 3 120 (116–122), ps 2:ps 1 45 (45–50). Epimerites I fused into a Y, sternum without lateral extensions (Fig. 2). Setae 1a 40 (38–41) long, situated on coxal fields I close to epimerites II. Coxal field II open. Epimerites III and IIIa fused, coxal field III closed, setae 3 b 50 (45–52) long. Setae 3a 37 (35–38) long, situated approximately at same level with setae 3 b. Setae 4a 37 (37–42) long, situated at same level with genital papillae. Distances between ventral setae: 1 a: 1a 105 (102–110), 3 b: 3 b 205 (202–212), 4 a: 4a 97 (95–99), 3 a: 3a 45 (44–50), g:g 37 (36–42), ps 3:ps 3 48 (48–50). Distance from genital arch apex to level of setae ps 1 230 (212–241). Genital arch shaped as inverted bowl, free ends of its branches directed outward (Fig. 4). Length of genital arch 37 (35–38), width 50 (47–54). Genital shields represented by small and narrow longitudinal strips widely separated from each other, setae g situated on posterior ends of genital shields. Adanal shields fused and form acute median extensions with two small lateral ledges. One pair of additional adanal sclerites shaped as inverted cups present, closely adjacent or poorly connected to adanal apodemes. Bases of setae g and ps 3 in subrectangular arrangement. Anal suckers rounded, 35 (32–37) in diameter. Legs III extend beyond lobar apices by full tarsus. Tarsus III with seta s thick, spine-like and tridentate apically (Fig. 5 A). Tarsus IV with two dorsobasal spines and with one apical spine-like extension at base of modified seta e (Fig. 5 B). Female (Figs. 6–9) (range for 5 paratypes): gnathosoma length 80–90, width 70–80. Idiosoma: length 440–466 from anterior end of propodosomal shield to level of bases of setae h 3, maximum width 280–310 (Fig. 6). Propodosomal shield: subtriangular in shape as in males, posterior margin conspicuously convex, without extensions, lateral angles with small notches posterior to bases of setae se, length along midline 122–130, width at the level of scapular setae se 144–150, distance between scapular setae si - si 92–100 (Fig. 8). One pair of small transverse sclerites situated between propodosomal shield and transverse row of setae c 1, c 2. Humeral shields narrow, not developed dorsally and not extending beyond anterior ends of hysteronotal shields. Setae c 2 situated off humeral shields. Humeral setae cp filiform, 80–88 long, subhumeral setae c 3 spiculiform, 33–37 long. Hysteronotal shields: one pair of large longitudinal shields along lateral body margins, separated by wide longitudinally striated area. Setae d 1 situated on median striated integument of hysterosoma, close to inner margins of hysteronotal shields. Pygidial shield present, length 21-25, width 70–76. Distances between hysteronotal setae: c 2:d 2 128–135, d 2:e 2 110–116, c 1:d 1 73–77, d 1:e 1 115–122. Epimerites I fused into a Y (Fig. 7). Length of setae 1a 16 – 18. Epimerites II free, with pointed tips. Remnants of epimerites IIa not fused with humeral shields. Transverse sclerites situated much anterior to the level of epimerites III, not fused to epigynum. Epimerites III and IVa short. Length of setae 3 b 25–30. Setae 3a 14 – 17 situated anteriorly to level of setae 3 b, while setae g slightly posterior to them. Distances between ventral setae: 1 a: 1a 92– 105, 3 b: 3 b 180–205, 3 a: 3a 51 – 55, g:g 72–85, 4 a: 4a 48 – 56. Epigynum semicircular, bow-shaped, length 35–37, width 75–90, its tips extending slightly beyond level of setae 3 a but not reaching level of genital papillae (Fig. 8). Oviporus folds moderate in size and extend to level of epimerites IIIa tips. Tarsi, tibiae, genua and femora of legs I– IV longer than wide. Legs IV extend beyond posterior margin of opisthosoma by distal half of tarsus. Tarsus IV twice as long as corresponding tibia. Differential diagnosis. The new species Z. repressae sp. n. can be differentiated from the morphologically most similar species, Zachvatkinia chlidoniae Mironov, 1989, by the following characters: In males of Z. repressae sp. n., the branches of the genital arch are slightly curved, so that their free ends are directed outward while the anterior end of the arch forms an acute angle, the anterior end of the adanal shield forms an acute angle (Fig. 4), and the posterior margin of propodosomal shield has a pair of small transversely directed extensions (Fig. 3). In males of Z. chlidoniae, the branches of the genital arch are strongly S-shaped, so that their free ends are bent forward, the front end of the adanal shield forms an obtuse angle, the posterior margin of propodosomal shield is slightly convex and has no extensions. In females of Z. repressae sp. n. the epigynum is 75–90 in width, while in Z. chlidoniae it is shorter (64-72) (Mironov, 1989 a). Etymology. The new species epithet repressae derives from the specific name of the type host. Remarks. In Saudi Arabia, Sterna repressa occurs during the breeding season in summer in many islands of the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea, where it nests. Sterna repressa is distributed through Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Maldives, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates and Yemen (Porter & Aspinall 2010). In his review of the genus Zachvatkinia, Mironov (1989 a) largely revised material previously investigated from host species in the Procellariiformes and Charadriiformes in the USSR, resulting in 12 species, of which six were new. Procellariiformes are assumed to be primary hosts for feather mites of the genus Zachvatkinia. The study of host-parasite associations revealed some features of co-evolution both with procellariiform and charadriiform hosts (Mironov, 1991 a). Zachvatkinia (Zachvatkinia) dromae Mironov, 1992 Zachvatkinia (Zachvatkinia) dromae Mironov, 1992: 497. Specimens examined. Many males, females and nymphs, from the crab plover, Dromas ardeola Paykull, 1805 (Charadriiformes: Dromadidae), Farasan Archipelago, Jazan province, Saudi Arabia, 16 º 50 ' 4 ''N, 42 º 1 ' 38 "E, 17 July 2012, leg. M.G. Nasser. Remarks. In Saudi Arabia, the crab plover breeds during summer in some Red Sea islands including Farasan Archipelago and Umm Al-Qamarie Island and are usually never seen in the mainland. It is distributed through the East African coast, Red Sea, Arabian Gulf and Southern coast of Iran, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka (Baker 1929; Porter & Aspinall 2010). The type specimens of Z. dromae were collected from D. ardeola captured on Providence Island, Madagascar (Mironov 1992: 499). The Saudi specimens are very similar to the description done by Mironov, 1992 who illustrated the propodosomal shield of female without notches at the posterolateral angles; however, some of the Saudi specimens have small notches posterior to scapular setae se. This is the first record of this species in Saudi Arabia. Up to now, Z. dromae is known from just two countries, Madagascar (Mironov 1992) and Saudi Arabia (present study).Published as part of Negm, Mohamed W., Nasser, D., Alatawi, Fahad J., Al Ahmad, Azzam M. & Shobrak, Mohammed, 2013, Feather mites of the genus Zachvatkinia Dubinin, 1949 (Astigmata: Analgoidea: Avenzoariidae) from Saudi Arabia: A new species and two new records, pp. 61-71 in Zootaxa 3710 (1) on pages 63-70, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3710.1.4, http://zenodo.org/record/28466

Avenzoariidae Oudemans 1905

Family Avenzoariidae Oudemans, 1905Published as part of Negm, Mohamed W., Nasser, D., Alatawi, Fahad J., Al Ahmad, Azzam M. & Shobrak, Mohammed, 2013, Feather mites of the genus Zachvatkinia Dubinin, 1949 (Astigmata: Analgoidea: Avenzoariidae) from Saudi Arabia: A new species and two new records, pp. 61-71 in Zootaxa 3710 (1) on page 63, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3710.1.4, http://zenodo.org/record/28466

Bonnetellinae

Subfamily Bonnetellinae Atyeo & Gaud, 1981Published as part of Negm, Mohamed W., Nasser, D., Alatawi, Fahad J., Al Ahmad, Azzam M. & Shobrak, Mohammed, 2013, Feather mites of the genus Zachvatkinia Dubinin, 1949 (Astigmata: Analgoidea: Avenzoariidae) from Saudi Arabia: A new species and two new records, pp. 61-71 in Zootaxa 3710 (1) on page 63, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3710.1.4, http://zenodo.org/record/28466