The diagnosis of the genus Geophilophagus Goux (Acari: Neopygmephoridae) is revised. Two new species, namely, Geophilophagus latisetosus Khaustov & Faizi sp. nov. and G. iraniensis Khaustov & Faizi sp. nov., collected on centipedes of the family Geophilidae, are described from Iran. A key to the species of Geophilophagus is also provided.

Two new Brachtydeus species B. peripulcher sp.n., based on adults of both sexes and B. prebeni sp.n. (Tydeidae: Tydeinae) based on females are described and illustrated from kiwi vines in Türkiye. Specimens were collected from kiwi leaves during surveys carried out from 2018 to 2019 in the Ordu Black Sea regions. A key to the Brachytydeus species of Türkiye is given.

Cheletogenes saudiensis sp. nov. (Acari: Prostigmata: Cheyletidae) is hereby described and illustrated based on females and males collected from different regions of Saudi Arabia. The morphologically variable and consistent diagnostic characters of all Cheletogenes species are tabulated. Additionally, taxonomic notes are provided on the identity of Cheletogenes species reported from Pakistan.

This study reevaluates three phytoseiid mite species: Proprioseiopsis doorco, Indiraseiulus pectoralus, and Paraseiulus parajirofticus, described by Denmark & Evans in 2011. Upon review, we found that the original descriptions of these species did not comply with Article 16.4.2 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN). The species were described after 1999 and a statement was not included indicating the repository for the type specimens. Moreover, our examination of the type specimens revealed that if the names of these species had been made available, they would have been junior synonyms of previously described species: Proprioseiopsis mauiensis (Prasad), Ricoseius loxocheles (De Leon) and Paraseiulus soleiger (Ribaga), respectively. Given that, rather than naming a repository to make those names available, we propose keeping them deliberately as nomina nuda.

Stratiolaelaps scimitus (Womersley) (Acari: Laelapidae) is a generalist predatory mite widely used in biological control due to its effectiveness against various soil-dwelling pests. Optimising rearing methods for S. scimitus is essential to enhance its efficacy and cost-effectiveness as a biocontrol agent. The moth Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and mould mite Tyrophagus curvipenis Fain & Fauvel (Sarcoptiformes: Acaridae) are pests of stored products but are also used in the rearing of arthropod predators. This study investigates the impact of diet switching on the short-term performance of S. scimitus adults when transitioning between these two factitious prey: E. kuehniella eggs and T. curvipenis adults. Prey consumption and oviposition were measured across three diet regimes: continuous feeding on E. kuehniella eggs, continuous feeding on T. curvipenis, and switching diet between the two prey species. The results indicated that diet switching significantly reduced both prey consumption and oviposition compared to a consistent diet, highlighting the importance of diet history in the practical application of S. scimitus for pest management. This study underscores the need for careful consideration of diet transitions between rearing conditions and releasing in the field to maintain the predator's efficacy in biological control programmes.

A new species of the family Phytoseiidae, Amblyseius parvicalyx sp. nov., is described based on female specimens collected from leaf litter in the Arasbaran forest, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. The species is assigned to the americanus species group of Denmark & Muma and the duncansoni species subgroup of Chant & McMurtry, based on the morphology of the dorsal setae and the shape of the spermatheca. Amblyseius parvicalyx sp. nov. is primarily characterized by its small, cup-shaped calyx of the spermatheca and by the relatively long dorsal seta z4, which nearly reaches the base of seta s4. Comparisons with closely related species are provided, and diagnostic morphological characteristics distinguishing the new species from congeners are discussed in detail. In addition, an updated identification key to the Amblyseius species reported from Iran is presented.

Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) is one of the most important pests feeding on many plants in agricultural production in the world. The aim of this study was to investigate the resistance mechanisms of the T. urticae (MER) population collected from cucumber production areas and the laboratory (GSS) population, which was used as a comparison group, against abamectin. Additionally, the study aimed to determine the effects of abamectin on the life tables of these populations. The LC₅₀ values of GSS and MER populations were 0.0324 and 3.517 mg active ingredient per liter (mg a.i. L^-1) for abamectin, respectively. The activities of detoxifying enzymes (EST, GST, and P450) in the MER population were statistically different from those in the GSS population for each of them. In order to investigate the presence of the G326E mutation in GSS and MER populations, DNA sequencing analysis revealed that none of the tested individuals exhibited this mutation associated with abamectin resistance. In addition, life table parameters were determined to identify the biological differences between the MER and GSS populations. Daily number of offspring, total number of offspring and intrinsic rate of increase (r), net reproductive rate (R₀), finite rate of increase (λ) and fecundity (F) values of MER population were significantly lower than GSS population. In addition, the relative fitness value of the MER population was determined as Rf = 0.47. The findings indicate that the MER population exhibits disadvantaged reproductive characteristics compared to the GSS population. Future research should prioritize investigating the relationship between fitness costs and resistance to understand this effect better.

Ticks are external parasites that can blood-feed from many species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. As carriers and vectors of a wide variety of pathogens, including bacteria, protozoa and viruses, ticks may transmit pathogenic organisms from infected hosts to humans and other animals. Migratory birds, in particular, play an important role in the spread of ticks and tick-borne pathogens. Within the scope of this study, a total of 103 ticks collected from 23 different bird species caught in the Kızılırmak delta, Samsun province were individually screened for the presence of Bartonella, Borrelia and Rickettsia bacteria by conventional PCR method targeting NADH dehydrogenase gamma subunit (nuoG), flagellin B (flaB) and citrate synthase (gltA) genes, respectively. Positive PCR products were bidirectionally sequenced and analyzed using BLASTn against the NCBI database, and the following results were obtained: Borrelia turdi and Bartonella grahamii were detected in Ixodes frontalis; Bartonella henselae was found in Haemaphysalis concinna, Haemaphysalis punctata, Hyalomma marginatum, Ixodes frontalis, and Ixodes ricinus; Rickettsia aeschlimannii was identified in Hyalomma marginatum; and Rickettsia helvetica was detected in Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes sp. In this study, the presence of Bartonella and Rickettsia spp. was detected for the first time in related ticks collected from the passerines in Türkiye. In addition, the presence of Borrelia turdi was recorded for the first time in Türkiye.

The two-spotted spider mite (TSSM), Tetranychus urticae (Koch), is a polyphagous pest of tomato in Bangladesh and other growing regions. This study investigated the impact of five high-yielding tomato cultivars, viz., BARI Tomato-2, BARI Tomato-5, BARI Tomato-9, BARI Tomato-10, BARI Tomato-11, and one hybrid variety, F1 hybrid (Beautiful), on the life history and population growth parameters of TSSM at 25 ± 2°C and a photoperiod of 16: 8 hours (L:D) with 60 ± 10% relative humidity using age-stage, two-sex life table method. The immature developmental times of females of TSSM were longest on BARI Tomato-11 (13.45 days) and shortest on BARI Tomato-2 (11.96 days). Fecundity varied significantly among the cultivars, with the lowest observed on BARI Tomato-9 (60.0 eggs female^-1) and the highest on BARI Tomato-5 (74.56 eggs female^-1). The net reproductive rate (R₀) varied from 45.51 on BARI Tomato-2 to 57.51 on BARI Tomato-5. The finite rate of increase (λ) was highest on BARI Tomato-5 (1.2790 day^-1) and lowest on BARI Tomato-11 (1.2567 day^-1). The lowest and highest intrinsic rate of increase (r) were 0.2285 day^-1 and 0.2461 day^-1 on BARI Tomato-11 and BARI Tomato-5, respectively. The mean generation time (T) were lowest on BARI Tomato-2 (15.77 days) and highest (17.57 days) on BARI Tomato-11 (17.57 days). A comparison of TSSM demographic data on six tomato cultivars revealed that BARI Tomato-11 and BARI Tomato-5 were less suitable and susceptible cultivars, respectively. The findings could provide new valuable information for designing a comprehensive IPM strategy against T. urticae in tomato cultivation.