Information on circulation of rickettsiae between small mammals and their ectoparasitic mites is scarce. In this study, we investigated infestation rates of rodents with mites in some areas of SW Slovakia and the role of mites as possible vectors of pathogenic rickettsiae. A total of 615 rodents of five species were caught during 2010-2012. All individuals were examined for ectoparasites which resulted in 2821 mites belonging to three species of Laelapidae and six species of Trombiculidae. The most common Laelapidae species was Laelaps agilis (81.25 %), followed by Haemogamasus nidi, and Eulaelaps stabularis. Hirsutiella zachvatkini (16.52 %) was the dominant species of the family Trombiculidae. DNA extracted from rodent blood and ectoparasitic mites was examined for the presence of rickettsiae by PCR. By pooling mites, 345 pool samples were created, of which 112 (32.46 %) were found to be positive for the rickettsial DNA. From 487 examined rodent blood samples, rickettsial DNA was found in 46 (9.44 %). Sequencing DNA from the positive blood samples and mites revealed the identity of Rickettsia helvetica and Rickettsia monacensis. The results of the study suggest that ectoparasitic mites may be reservoirs as well as vectors of some pathogenic rickettsiae.

Two new parakalummid mites of the subgenus Neoribates (Neoribates), N. (N.) ornamentus sp. nov. and N. (N.) parabarbatus sp. nov., are described from Indian soils. The first new species is morphologically most similar to Neoribates (Neoribates) punctulatus (Balogh, 1970) and Neoribates (Neoribates) szabadosi (Balogh, 1970) from New Guinea; however, it differs from the former by the length of interlamellar setae and morphology of rostrum, and from the latter by the length of interlamellar setae and morphology of body surface. The second new species is morphologically most similar to Neoribates (Neoribates) barbatus Hammer, 1968 from New Zealand and N. (N.) Neoribates (Neoribates) Balogh and Mahunka, 1978 from Australia; however, it differs from the former by body size, absence of translamella and morphology of sensilli, and from the latter by the morphology of interlamellar setae and sensilli and length of subcapitular setae h. Neoribates auranthiacus (Oudemans, 1914) is for the first time recorded in India. An identification key to species of Neoribates (Neoribates) from the Oriental region is provided.http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D2A0237B-C64C-486B-8B4A-828A97FF2FDF

A total of 12 chigger species (Acariformes: Trombiculidae) occurred on 7 bird species in Vietnam. Two new species, namely Neoschoengastia vietnamensis sp. nov. and Hypogastia stekolnikovi sp. nov. are described, figured and compared with similar species placed in relevant genera using differential diagnoses of related species.

Two new mite species from Central Europe, viz. Armascirus fendai sp. nov. and Armascirus masani sp. nov. (Acari: Prostigmata, Cunaxidae) are described and figured. The keys to the known species (females and males) of the genus Armascirus are given.

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Oribatid mites may be of epidemiological and medical importance because several species have been shown to serve as intermediate hosts for anoplocephalid tapeworms of wild and domestic animals. Despite their economic and conservation significance, relatively few studies examined factors influencing the effective number of oribatid mites that can serve as intermediate hosts. We examined variation in the structure of the edaphic arthropod community in functionally different territory parts of the Alpine marmot (Marmota marmota latirostris), a known definitive host of a prevalent anoplocephalid tapeworm, Ctenotaenia marmotae. We used a field experiment to test whether the abundance of oribatid mites in marmot pastures is affected by the presence of fresh herbivore faeces. We found that the abundance of soil and litter dwelling oribatid mites in marmot pastures did not change shortly after faeces addition. In contrast, numbers of other predominant soil-litter and phoretic microarthropods increased after faeces addition. The abundance of the two predominant phoretic mites colonizing the faeces was inversely related to the abundance of oribatid mites. In contrast, the abundance of a ubiquitous soil-litter mesostigmatid mite was a positive function of oribatid numbers. Although absolute numbers of oribatid mites did not change after faeces addition, our study suggests that, depending on soil quality or type, the probability of tapeworm egg ingestion by oribatid mites can be reduced due to increased interspecific prey-predatory and trophic interactions. Latrine site selection in Alpine marmots is consistent with a reduced probability of tapeworm transmission by oribatids.

A new genus Lepidocunaxoides gen. nov., with the type species Lepidocunaxoides robustus sp. nov. (Acari: Prostigmata, Cunaxidae), is described and figured from Vietnam. The general characters of the genus Lepidocunaxoides gen. nov. within the tribe Pulaeini include: palp femurogenu with 6 setae; palp tibiotarsus with 5 setae; setal formula for telofemora I–IV 5-5-4-3 sts; setae f2 absent. It differs from related genera of the subfamily Cunaxoidinae by its paired ventral plates resembling butterfly wings, separating the sternal plate from fused coxae II–IV, by three paired platelets around the genital plates, and by the basifemora I–IV setal formula 3-5–3-2. An undated identification key to the tribes and genera of Cunaxoidinae is provided.

Two new mite species from SW Slovakia, viz. Armascirus cyaneus sp. nov. and A. cerris sp. nov. (Acari: Prostigmata, Cunaxidae) are described and figured. A key to females of the genus Armascirus of the world is given.