Two new intranasal chiggers of the subgenus Laurentella, genus Ascoschongastia, are described and figured. These chiggers are Ascoschongastia dactylopsila n. sp. and A. itagakii n. sp. from a common striped possum, Dactylopshla trivirgata Gray, 1858.

View full abstract

A simple but rather unusual hydrocarbon in nature was demonstrated as a major component of the secretion from opisthonotal glands of Carpoglyphus lactis, and its structure was identified as (Z, Z)-6, 9-heptadecadiene by physico-chemical analyses, derivatization and synthesis. The hydrocarbon was distributed sporadically among 7 species of 5 families, when 18 species from 7 families were exmined, including three Caloglyphus mites. Although the diene and other hydrocarbons of C. lactis were emitted along with the alarm pheromone of citral in much higher amount when mites were molested than mites undisturbed, their biological functions were obscure, like those other mites possessing the diene.

View full abstract

Multipulchroppia was elevated from subgeneric taxon to generic one. A new subspecies, Multipulchroppia schauenbergi punctulata was described. The present subspecies differs from the nominotypical subspecies in the location of some setae, body length etc.

View full abstract

Fukuyama, K. and M. Ito, 1992. Succession of oribatid mites(Acari: Cryptostigmata)Community in soil and in needle litter after reforestation of Cryptomeria japonica in Japan. J. Acarol. Soc. Jpn., 1(2): 113-126.
A comparison of oribatid mite communities inhabiting soil and needle litter in differently aged(6, 13, 38 and 80 year old)plantations of Cryptomeria japonica D. Don was carried out at Mt. Tsukuba, in central Japan. The density of the microarthropods was highest in the youngest stand and lowest in the 38-year-old. The distribution pattern of dominant species of oribatid mite among study sites was divided into 4 types. Type 1 was related to the mass of the soil organic material. Type 2 was related to soil humidity. Type 3 was related to the mass of needle litter. And type4 was related to the age after reforestation. Exchange between closely related species occurred among differently aged forests. Four oribatid species were recovered from the needle litter of C. japonica. Rhysotritia ardua(Koch)and Hoplophthiracarus foveolatus Aoki are dominant species inhabiting in the needle litter.

View full abstract

Field mushrooms were collected from11sites in the Kanto area of central Japan(Fig .
1)in1989.Each mushroom or cluster of mushrooms picked up in the field was individually placed in a paper bag and carried back to the laboratory.Most mushroom samples were submitted for mite extraction immediately after the transportation to the laboratory.For some mushrooms, they were stored overnight in a refrigerator, and provided for the extraction in the following day.Mites were extracted by placing the mushrooms on a sieve which was then put in a Tullgren funnel with a40W electric bulb for72h.Extracted mites were directly dipped into70%alcohol and later mounted in Hoyer's medium.Identification was conducted under a phase-contrast microscope.
Specimens whose family names we were unable to identify were excluded from the results.Cryptostigmatic mites were observed on46species of mushrooms, and those identified at the specific level included37species belonging to22families.The most popular family among those identified was Oppiidae, and Oppiella nova was the most popular species overall(Table1).
The authors thank Professor J.Aoki(Department of Soil Zoology, Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, Yokohama National University)and Mr.H. Neda(Mushroom Ecology Laboratory, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute) for identification of and valuable advice on Cryptostigmatic mites(J.A.)and some mushrooms(H.N.).

View full abstract