Experimental and Applied Acarology最新文献

{"title":"Population dynamics, overwintering strategy, and cultivar-associated differences of Tuckerella japonica on tea in Türkiye.","authors":"Burcu Özen Yazici, Rana Akyazi","doi":"10.1007/s10493-026-01191-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10493-026-01191-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Tea, Camellia sinensis (Theaceae), is one of the most economically important industrial crops globally. The mite Tuckerella japonica (Trombidiformes: Tuckerellidae) has been reported as a pest on tea, yet information on its seasonal population dynamics and overwintering strategy in tea-growing regions remains limited. Moreover, comparative data on the population among different tea cultivars/clones are lacking. This study aimed to determine the population fluctuations, overwintering stage, and potential differences in susceptibility among tea cultivars. The study was conducted in Rize province, located in the Black Sea Region of Türkiye, during 2022 and 2023 under open-field conditions. Fieldwork was conducted in three tea gardens containing the cultivars Samidori and Saekari and the Muradiye-10 clone. During the vegetation period, sampling was performed at 20-day intervals from March to November. At each sampling date, 45 stems (15 cm long) were collected from lateral shoots, comprising 15 stems from each of the lower, middle, and upper canopy levels. Additionally, 60 leaves (20 per canopy level) were sampled, and when available, 25 flowers and 25 fruits were collected. During the winter period (December-February), monthly sampling was carried out using the same scheme. All samples were examined under a stereomicroscope, and the number of mites on stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits was recorded separately. Mites were mounted in Hoyer's medium, dried at 50 °C, and identified to species level using a phase-contrast microscope. Tuckerella japonica populations generally reached their peak densities on stems in July and October, while the highest densities on fruits were recorded in November. Population density decreased significantly during the winter months. In this period, only adult individuals were detected on stems, with no eggs or immature stages observed, indicating that T. japonica may overwinter as adults. Mite densities also varied among cultivars, with the Muradiye-10 clone showing lower infestation levels than the Saekari and Samidori cultivars. These findings enhance understanding of the seasonal biology of T. japonica in tea ecosystems and may aid in developing cultivar-based management strategies within integrated pest management programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":12088,"journal":{"name":"Experimental and Applied Acarology","volume":"97 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148911388","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antipredation escape behaviour differs between fighter and sneaker males in the two-spotted spider mite.","authors":"Aoi Takano, Yukie Sato","doi":"10.1007/s10493-026-01182-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10493-026-01182-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Predation risk can strongly influence the evolution of reproductive tactics because behaviours that enhance mating success often increase vulnerability to predators. Males of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, exhibit distinct reproductive tactics, including fighting and sneaking, as a conditional strategy. We investigated whether escape behaviour in response to predation risk differs between fighter and sneaker males during precopulatory mate guarding. To examine responses to different predator-associated cues, we introduced different developmental stages (adult female, deutonymph, protonymph, and larva) of the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis to guarding males and quantified escape timing. Sneaker males showed significantly delayed escape responses compared with fighter males. Female survival during predator encounters varied depending on both male tactic and predator developmental stage. Although escape responses appeared to vary among predator developmental stages, the interaction between male tactic and predator stage was not statistically significant. We also observed counterattacking behaviour directed toward predators in male T. urticae. Most counterattacks were performed by fighter males, indicating a potential behavioural association between predator-directed aggression and male reproductive tactics. Our findings demonstrate that reproductive tactics are associated with differences in antipredator responses and provide new insight into behavioural evolution under the trade-off between reproduction and predator avoidance.</p>","PeriodicalId":12088,"journal":{"name":"Experimental and Applied Acarology","volume":"97 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148879491","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Revisiting Ornithodoros (Pavlovskyella) nicollei (Ixodida: Argasidae): new records and first molecular data from Mexico.","authors":"Jose A Hernández-Martínez, Iarubittzel Mendieta-Morales, Gustavo Paniagua-Campos, Gerardo Chavez-Esquivel, Carlos Machain-Williams, José M Aranda-Coello, César P Ley-Quiñonez, Patricio Pellegrini-Hernández, Paulina Estrada-de Los Santos, Alan A Zavala-Norzagaray, J Antonio Ibarra","doi":"10.1007/s10493-026-01184-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10493-026-01184-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study updates the distribution and phylogenetic position of Ornithodoros (Pavlovskyella) nicollei in Mexico through new occurrence records, morphological identification, and the first molecular data for the species. A total of 171 specimens were collected from seven localities across five Mexican states: Sinaloa, State of Mexico, Puebla, Oaxaca, and Chiapas. Morphological identification was based on diagnostic characters consistent with previous descriptions of the species. For molecular characterization, a 475 bp fragment of the mitochondrial 16S rDNA gene was sequenced, showing 83.09-84.26% identity with other Neotropical members of the subgenus Pavlovskyella. Phylogenetic analysis placed O. (P.) nicollei within the Neotropical Pavlovskyella clade, where it represents the northernmost known member. These results expand the known distribution of the species in Mexico and provide the first molecular framework for its phylogenetic placement and biogeographic significance.</p>","PeriodicalId":12088,"journal":{"name":"Experimental and Applied Acarology","volume":"97 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148886545","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Combined use of Beauveria bassiana and the predatory mite Neoseiulus californicus to suppress Tetranychus urticae on greenhouse-grown sweet pepper.","authors":"Miguel Michereff-Filho, Rogerio Biaggioni Lopes, Paloma Alves da Silva, Elisangela Gomes Fidelis, Atos Mendes do Vale","doi":"10.1007/s10493-026-01190-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10493-026-01190-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Predatory mites and invertebrate-pathogenic fungi are important biological control tools for managing populations of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, in horticultural field crops. Here, we evaluated strategies for the combined use of a mite-pathogenic strain of Beauveria bassiana and Neoseiulus californicus to suppress T. urticae populations on sweet pepper plants. First, we compared the performance of both biocontrol agents, applied alone or in combination, under greenhouse conditions. A decline in T. urticae populations was observed 7 days after the release of the predatory mite (53-62%), the application of fungal conidia (77-81%), and their combined use (73-81%). However, in the combined treatment, N. californicus abundance was lower on plants sprayed with B. bassiana than on unsprayed plants. We then evaluated a temporal selectivity strategy in lab and greenhouse conditions, releasing the predatory mite at varying intervals after fungal application, to improve T. urticae suppression. Intervals of 6 days between B. bassiana conidia application and N. californicus release, under both laboratory and greenhouse conditions, substantially reduced the negative effects of the fungus on the predatory mite. These findings indicate that the combined use of these biological control agents requires a well-defined sequential application strategy to maximize T. urticae suppression by the predatory mite.</p>","PeriodicalId":12088,"journal":{"name":"Experimental and Applied Acarology","volume":"97 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13529904/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148864292","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Predation, prey preference and switching behaviour of the soil predatory mite Blattisocius mali (Mesostigmata: Blattisociidae) on immature stages of Drosophila hydei.","authors":"Muhammad Arslan Ibrahim, Katarzyna Michalska, Marcin Studnicki","doi":"10.1007/s10493-026-01187-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10493-026-01187-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Blattisocius mali is a soil predatory mite known to disperse phoretically on adult drosophilid fruit flies and feed ectoparasitically on them during transport. Despite this association, its behavioural and trophic interactions with immature drosophilid stages remain poorly understood. This study analysed B. mali's ability to prey on Drosophila hydei immature stages and examined the effects of prior rearing diet on predation, prey preference, and switching. Two types of predatory mite were compared: (1) fly-reared (FR) and (2) mite-reared (MR), raised on fruit flies or acarid mites, respectively. Predator females successfully attacked all developmental stages, except pupae, during 24 h of exposure in our assay. In non-choice tests, mean predation rates were highest on first-instar (L1), followed by eggs, second-instar (L2), and third-instar larvae (L3). FR predators, as compared to MR predators, showed the highest predation rates on all prey stages except L3. Feeding on fly eggs, B. mali exhibited significantly higher fecundity, laying nearly twice as many eggs compared to when they were fed on L1. Their oviposition declined markedly on L2 and L3. In two-choice and three-choice assays, B. mali showed a clear preference for eggs over larval instars in both predator types. FR predators preferred L1 over L2, while, conversely, MR predators preferred L2. Furthermore, B. mali females displayed different behaviour depending on the proportion of fly eggs and/or larvae available, including no switching, switching, or counter-switching. These findings improve understanding of trophic interactions between mesostigmatic mites and drosophilid flies and highlight the role of dietary experience in shaping predator foraging behaviour.</p>","PeriodicalId":12088,"journal":{"name":"Experimental and Applied Acarology","volume":"97 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13529868/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148864287","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bottom-up effects of strawberry cultivar resistance on the demographic and predatory performance of Neoseiulus californicus (Phytoseiidae) against Phytonemus pallidus (Tarsonemidae).","authors":"Hassan Ansari-Shiri, Myron P Zalucki, Yaghoub Fathipour","doi":"10.1007/s10493-026-01188-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10493-026-01188-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The cyclamen mite, Phytonemus pallidus Banks, is a major threat to strawberries, causing significant damage. Chemical control is challenging due to its hidden feeding habits. Therefore, emphasizing host plant resistance is crucial, particularly in the tritrophic system. In the present study, the compatibility of the predatory mite Neoseiulus californicus McGregor with resistant and susceptible strawberry cultivars was evaluated for the management of the cyclamen mite, P. pallidus, under laboratory conditions. Leaves from two greenhouse-adapted cultivars, Sabrina (susceptible) and Albion (resistant), and two field-adapted cultivars, Gaviota (susceptible) and Paros (resistant), were used to assess predator performance. The fecundity, intrinsic rate of increase (r), and finite rate of increase (λ) of N. californicus were significantly greater on the susceptible greenhouse- and field-adapted cultivars than on the corresponding resistant cultivars. Predation rate did not differ significantly between the greenhouse cultivars but was significantly higher on the resistant field cultivar Paros than on the susceptible cultivar Gaviota. Although Paros reduced the predator's population growth potential by approximately 19%, this effect was compensated by a 21% increase in predation rate. In contrast, Albion caused only a slight reduction (5%) in predator population growth while substantially suppressing cyclamen mite populations (20%). These findings indicate that N. californicus remains an effective biological control agent on resistant strawberry cultivars, particularly Albion, demonstrating good compatibility between host plant resistance and biological control. The combined use of resistant cultivars and N. californicus therefore represents a promising strategy for the sustainable management of cyclamen mite in strawberry production systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":12088,"journal":{"name":"Experimental and Applied Acarology","volume":"97 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148860255","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chemical composition and fumigant acaricidal activity of Salvia officinalis essential oil against Rhipicephalus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae).","authors":"Tayeb Mahi, Lalia Ammar, Narimen Madouni, Tara Canelo, Raul Bonal","doi":"10.1007/s10493-026-01185-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10493-026-01185-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ticks are major ectoparasites of livestock worldwide, causing severe economic losses through blood feeding, reduced productivity, and the transmission of several diseases. The intensive use of synthetic acaricides has led to resistance in tick populations and raised concerns about environmental contamination and animal health. Consequently, there is increasing interest in plant-derived products as safer and more sustainable alternatives for tick management. This study investigated the chemical composition and fumigant acaricidal activity of Salvia officinalis essential oil against the tick Rhipicephalus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae). A total of 36 compounds were identified by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The major constituents were dextro-camphor (26.90%), linalool (20.85%), and eucalyptol (20.37%), indicating a predominance of oxygenated monoterpenes. The essential oil exhibited marked fumigant toxicity against adult ticks under laboratory conditions. The median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) values were 3.19 and 1.89 µL L^-¹ air after 12 h and 24 h of exposure, respectively. The median lethal time (LT₅₀) ranged from 26.31 h at the lowest concentration (1.66 µL L^-¹ air) to 1.50 h at the highest concentration (26.66 µL L^-¹ air), showing a clear dose- and time-dependent effect. These findings suggest that S. officinalis essential oil could be a promising botanical fumigant for controlling R. microplus, with potential applications in integrated tick management strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":12088,"journal":{"name":"Experimental and Applied Acarology","volume":"97 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148857157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dry bulb mite Aceria tulipae (Acariformes: Eriophyidae) on garden garlic (Allium sativum): new insights into distribution and control methods in Ukraine.","authors":"Lesia M Bondareva","doi":"10.1007/s10493-026-01177-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10493-026-01177-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The dry bulb mite Aceria tulipae is one of the most economically important pests of Allium crops worldwide, damaging plants during vegetation and bulb storage. Despite its increasing phytosanitary importance, information on the distribution and management of A. tulipae in Ukraine remains limited. This study provides the first confirmed record of the species in the Kyiv region and new data on its biology. The study also provides one of the first evaluations of biorational pesticides against A. tulipae under Ukrainian field and storage conditions, addressing an important gap in environmentally sustainable mite management. Field surveys conducted during 2022-2024 revealed characteristic infestation symptoms on garlic (Allium sativum L.), including fine wrinkling of cloves and low to moderate leaf injury, with mean damage ratings of 2.2-3.1 on a 9-point scale. The regional spread of the pest is likely linked to the circulation of infested planting material among private and small-scale farms. The efficacy of biorational pesticides approved for organic farming was evaluated under field conditions during garlic growth and during post-harvest bulb storage. The highest and most stable biological efficacy against A. tulipae, expressed as mite population reduction relative to the untreated control, was achieved with Cezar and Actofit, reaching 87.7-93.7%, followed by Fitoverm M. The biopreparation \"Komplekson-TM\" demonstrated stable but slightly lower efficacy, whereas colloidal sulfur was significantly less effective. Although complete eradication was not achieved, biorational pesticides substantially reduced mite populations and represent promising components of integrated and environmentally sustainable garlic protection strategies against A. tulipae.</p>","PeriodicalId":12088,"journal":{"name":"Experimental and Applied Acarology","volume":"97 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148850269","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of temperature on the development and reproduction of Macrocheles nataliae.","authors":"Wenbiao Liu, Zhaohua Zeng, Jie Ji, Chuanqing Ruan, Shiyong Xie","doi":"10.1007/s10493-026-01186-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10493-026-01186-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Macrocheles nataliae (Acari: Macrochelidae) holds promise as a biological control of soil-inhabiting pests. Temperature is a critical abiotic factor influencing the population dynamics and biocontrol efficacy of predatory mites. However, its effects on the development and reproduction of M. nataliae remain poorly understood. In this study, the effects of five constant temperatures (17, 21, 25, 29, and 33 °C) on the growth, survivorship and reproduction of M. nataliae fed on Carpoglyphus lactis was examined using the age-stage, two-sex life table theory and linear degree-day model. Within the 17-29 °C range, the developmental duration and adult longevity of both female and male M. nataliae decreased gradually with increasing temperature. Although immature mites successfully completed development at 33 °C, adult females failed to reproduce, which indicated that high temperature imposes severe inhibitory effects on reproductive function of M. nataliae. The developmental rates of all life stages were adequately described by the linear degree-day model (R² > 0.90), with lower developmental thresholds ranging from 11.11 to 12.61 °C across different stages. Life table analyses identified 25 °C as the optimal temperature for population performance, producing the maximum net reproductive rate (R₀ = 14.98), intrinsic rate of increase (r = 0.15 d^-¹), finite rate of increase (λ = 1.16 d^-¹) and gross reproductive rate (GRR = 28.1). Females exhibited longer lifespans and higher reproductive values than males under suitable temperatures, and individual life expectancy consistently declined with rising temperature. This study firstly defines the suitable thermal range (17-29 °C), optimal temperature (25 °C), and high-temperature (33 °C) reproductive threshold of M. nataliae. These temperature-response parameters provide fundamental data for the mass rearing of this novel biocontrol mite resource under laboratory conditions, and offer a basis for further evaluation of its potential field performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":12088,"journal":{"name":"Experimental and Applied Acarology","volume":"97 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148850224","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Protein regulation mechanism of Haemaphysalis longicornis in response to high temperature.","authors":"Ningmei Wang, Bofang Zhang, Panyi Yang, Zihan Zhao, Ziyin Wang, Jingze Liu, Hui Wang","doi":"10.1007/s10493-026-01181-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10493-026-01181-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ticks, as obligate blood-sucking ectoparasitic arthropods, are closely tied to ecosystem stability. High ambient temperatures can profoundly affect tick survival and reproduction by influencing individual behavior, population physiology, and adaptive evolution, thereby altering the risk of tick-borne pathogen transmission and posing a threat to public health. To investigate the impact of high temperature on Haemaphysalis longicornis and its associated protein regulatory mechanisms, this study performed quantitative proteomic analyses using data-independent acquisition (DIA) on the ovaries, salivary glands, and midguts of H. longicornis exposed to high temperature. The results showed significant alterations in protein expression under heat stress, affecting multiple critical biological processes. Notably, ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase (UCH) was up-regulated in high-temperature conditions across ovaries. RNA interference-mediated knockdown of UCH reduced heat tolerance in H. longicornis, demonstrating its important role in maintaining normal physiological functions under high-temperature environments. This study reveals key physiological mechanisms facilitating tick adaptation to heat stress and offers potential molecular targets for future tick control strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":12088,"journal":{"name":"Experimental and Applied Acarology","volume":"97 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148839614","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}