<p><strong>New Zealand<em> Pneumolaelaps</em> (Acari: Laelapidae): description of a new species, key to species and notes on biology</strong></p>

Abstract

Mites of the genus Pneumolaelaps Berlese are often found in association with bumble bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Approximately sixty species of the genus have been described worldwide but only two of them have been recorded in New Zealand, viz. Pneumolaelaps bombicolens (Canestrini, 1885) and P. breviseta (Evans & Till, 1966). A new species, Pneumolaelaps niutirani, collected from hives of honeybee Apis mellifera (Apidae) and nests of the German wasp Vespula germanica (Vespidae) brings the number of species in New Zealand to three. We herein review P. bombicolens and P. breviseta, describe the new species, Pneumolaelaps niutirani, with notes on its biology, and provide a key to the species known in New Zealand. This is the first report of Pneumolaelaps in association with a vespid wasp.

A metatranscriptomic analysis of diseased social wasps (Vespula vulgaris) for pathogens, with an experimental infection of larvae and nests

“…The disease symptoms are similar to those we observed in infected wasp larvae. In New Zealand, the collapse and death of wasp nests has been associated with the mite Pneumolaelaps niutirani [9,10]. This genus of mites is a known detritivore.…”

“…Recently, diseased wasps were found in a study investigating the association of the mite Pneumolaelaps niutirani with V . vulgaris in New Zealand [9,10]. Larvae in the infected nests showed signs of deterioration, presenting abnormal opaque discoloration beneath the cuticle indicating hypertrophied tissues.…”

Options for the biological and physical control of Vespa velutina nigrithorax (Hym.: Vespidae) in Europe: A review

“…Only a few research programs on the control of V. velutina (Decante, ; Milanesio et al., ) (IRBI‐University of Tours, France; University of Turin, Italy; INRA‐Bordeaux, France; MNHN‐Paris, France) and some local institutional initiatives (notably the “Plan Frelon 06” of the Department Council of Alpes Maritimes) aimed to localize and destroy nests have been funded so far (“Plan Frelon CD06”, https://www.departement06.fr/lutte-contre-les-especes-envahissantes/le-frelon-asiatique-9032.html). Meanwhile, our New Zealand colleagues have launched major research projects aimed at reducing the population of V. germanica and V. vulgaris (Barlow et al., ; Beggs et al., ; Fan et al., ; Ward, ), whose threat is probably not as great. This underlines the fact that serious investments in research should be made rapidly (Table ).…”

“…As part of New Zealand's nationwide struggle against V. germanica and V. vulgaris wasps, researchers have recently isolated Pnemolaelaps niutirani mites (Fan, Zhang, Brown, France, & Bennett, 2016). Very few mites species have been observed to date in vespids.…”

“…Although inbreeding was observed, and was supposed to reduce the population size, this has not happened so far (Darrouzet, Gévar, Guignard, & Aron, 2015 Despite warnings from the scientific community (Salles, 2016), the French and European authorities do not appear to be very concerned by the progression of this resilient predator-threatening pollinators (Santarém, 2016). Only a few research programs on the control of V. velutina (Decante, 2015;Milanesio et al, 2016 (Barlow et al, 1998;Beggs et al, 2008;Fan et al, 2016;Ward, 2014), whose threat is probably not as great. This underlines the fact that serious investments in research should be made rapidly (Table 1).…”