An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was developed to detect antibodies in roosters against the northern fowl mite(NFM), Ornithonyssus sylviarum. NFM extracted with0.15M sodium chloride solution was used as the antigen without detergent treatment. One percent bovine serum albumin and 1% hemoglobin were used for dilution of test sera and rabbit antichicken IgG conjugated with horseradish peroxidase to eliminate false positive reaction. During experimental infestation of the roosters, there was significant antibody production by ELISA and the agar-gel precipitation test(AGP)at almost the same time in all roosters. Antibodies against NFM were found by much smaller amounts of antigens and for longer periods following elimination of NFM using ELISA than by the AGP.

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Reproductive process and developmental rate of Trhypochthoniellus setosus willmann, the most dominant oribatid species in Yachidaira-moor in Northeast Japan, was studied by laboratory cultures. T. setosus was proved to be thelytokous and ovoviviparous. The matured female laid larvae one by one at intervals of one to three days. The average number of larvae laid by one female was0.8 at15°C, 3.3 at 20°C, 10.5 at 25°C and 14.1 at 29°C. It was considered that the larva deposition world occur above15.1°C. The threshold of development from protonymph to deutonyph was calculated to be8.5°C, while the total effective temperature from larva to adult was estimated to be1600.5 degree-days.

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Enami, Y. and J. Aoki, 1993. A new genus and species of oribatid mite from Japan(Acari: Damaeidae). J. Acarol. Soc. Jpn., 2(1): 15-18.
A new genus and species of damaeid mite, Acanthobelba tortuosa sp. nov. is described from Japan. This genus is distinguishable from the other genera of Damaeidae mainly by the lanceolate sensilli, absence of humeral angulations and the dorsosejugal suture becoming indistinct between a pair of spinae adnatae which are well developed and strongly curved as fish hooks.

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Field mushrooms were collected from 11 sites 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 mushrooms on a sieve which was then put in a Tullgren funnel with a40W electric bulb for72h. Extracted mites were dipped directly into70%alcohol and later mounted in Hoyer's medium.Identification was conducted under a phasecontrast microscope .
Specimens whose family names we were unable to identify wereexcluded from the results. Mesostigmatic mites were observed on38species of mushrooms, and those identified at the specific level included17species belonging to7families(Table1). There were8species of 5families of Prostigmata(from31species of mushrooms)(Table2)and a single species of Astigmata(from14 species of mushrooms)(Table3). The most popular family among those identified in Mesostigmata was Ascidae and Lasioseius sugawarai was the most popular species overall. The most popular family in Prostig mata was Eupodidae, but many specimens remained unidentified. Acaridae and Anoetidae were the only two families observed among Astigmata, and Tyrophagus putrescentiae was the lone identified species found on six species of mushrooms. The authors thank Professors K. Ishikawa(Matsuyama Shinonome College)and M. Shiba(Matsuyama Shinonome Junior College)and Mr. H. Neda(Mushroom Ecology Laboratory, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute)for identification of and valuable advice on Mesostigmatic mites(K.I.), Prostigmatic mites(M.S.)and some mushrooms(H.N.).

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