Stekolnikov, Alexandr A.; Karağaç, Rümeysa; Sevsay, Sevgi; Elverici, Mert

The adult stage of a bat-parasitizing chigger mite Leptotrombidium miniopteri Feider, 1966 known from Romania was described for the first time based on specimens collected in Hacı Akif Cave located in the Konya Province of Türkiye. The identification was based on the larval offspring obtained from one female kept alive in a laboratory. At the same time, free larvae identified as L. miniopteri were collected in the same place within the cave. A re-description of L. miniopteri larval stage was prepared based both on specimens collected in nature and on those obtained in laboratory. A comparison with closely related species was carried out based on morphometric and meristic traits. Leptotrombidium avonense Vercammen-Grandjean & Langston, 1976 described from a bat in England is a probable synonym of L. miniopteri. Morphological variation of larvae and adults of L. miniopteri was recorded and discussed.

Karağaç, Rümeysa; Eroğlu, Halil Erhan; Hekimoğlu, Olcay; Sevsay, Sevgi

Cytogenetic studies on mites (and ticks) remain scarce and have received limited attention in the literature. In this study, for the first time, chromosome numbers of two species belonging to Trombidioidea are presented. The diploid chromosome number was determined to be 2n=12 in Trombidium latum C.L. Koch, 1837 (Trombidiidae) and 2n=14 in Eutrombidium trigonum (Hermann, 1804) (Microtrombidiidae). Additionally, a comprehensive list of mite species with known chromosome numbers to date has been compiled. To support species identification, we generated the COI gene sequence of T. latum from Türkiye and compared it with available sequences in GenBank. The integration of cytogenetic and molecular data aims to improve species identification and provide a foundation for future phylogenetic and genetic diversity studies in trombidioid mites.

Doğan, Salih; Koç, Kamil; Ueckermann, Edward A.; Lindquist, Everet E.

Mortazavi et al. (2018) described the family Dytiscacaridae Hajiqanbar and Lindquist and placed it in the superfamily Raphignathoidea in the cohort or hyporder Raphignathina. We now consider that this family should be recognised as a separate superfamily within the Raphignathina, based on a detailed comparison with the other superfamilies in this group.

Doğan, Salih; Doğan, Sibel

Two new species of Eustigmaeus Berlese (Acari: Stigmaeidae), E. incisus n. sp. and E. paraincisus n. sp. are described and illustrated from Türkiye. This paper presents compile checklist of the valid Eustigmaeus species. Eustigmaeus sphagneticolus Cooreman stat. nov., originally described as a subspecies of E. ottavii by Cooreman in 1943, is regarded as a separate species. Eustigmaeus aminiae (Nazari and Khanjani) n. comb.. and E. indiscretus (Dönel and Doğan) n. comb.. (from Ledermuelleriopsis Willmann) have a partially detached hysterosomal shield. Currently, we consider that these species belong more comfortably in Eustigmaeus than in Ledermuelleriopsis, where they are considered transitional species between the genera Eustigmaeus and Ledermuelleriopsis.

Per, Sedat; Doǧan, Salih; Zeytun, Erhan; Ayyildiz, Nusret

A new species Allocaeculus turcicus n. sp. (Acariformes: Caeculidae) is described based on specimens collected from Karanlıkdere Valley, Yozgat, Turkey. Some asymmetries and numerical variations of dorsal body setae of the new species are recorded. A list of the species of this genus is provided. In Turkey, this genus is recorded for the first time.