Simple Summary Forensic entomology applies the knowledge of arthropods to obtain useful information for the resolution of forensic investigations. In legal medicine, one of the methods used for the dating of death is the faunal succession, which is based on the orderly and predictable changes of the species associated with a corpse over time. The potential of insects for this purpose has been known for more than seven centuries, but mites are only currently being incorporated. Mites can provide useful information on the time and place of death because: they are a very diverse group, ubiquitous, abundant, and frequent; they contribute to the faunal succession; they are indicators of location and transfer of the corpse; they can be present in unfavorable conditions or environments for insects; they complement the information obtained from insects; and they are tracking evidence. Due to the absence of knowledge regarding the sarcosaprophagous fauna in the Mediterranean region, it is necessary to highlight the diversity of insects, together with their phoretic mites, present in decomposing animal organic matter, and their interaction network in this region, in order that the results obtained can be applied in future forensic investigations and contribute to the estimation of the time and place of death. The potential of insects for forensic investigations has been known for more than 700 years. However, arthropods such as mites could also play a role in these investigations. The information obtained from insects, together with their phoretic mites, is of special interest in terms of estimating the time and geographical location of death. This paper presents the first interaction network between phoretic mites and their host insects in Navarra. It also reports the first time that an interaction network was applied to animal remains of forensic relevance. The data reveal the degrees of specificity of the interactions established, the biological and ecological characteristics of the mites at the time of association, and factors that played important roles in the mites' dispersion. Fauna was collected using 657 traps baited with 20 g of pig carrion over a year. Only 0.6% of insects collected carried phoretic mites. The network comprised 312 insects (275 beetles, 37 flies) and 1533 mites and was analyzed using various packages of the R programming language. We contribute new host insect records for 15 mites, 3 new records of insects as hosts, 5 new mite records for the Iberian Peninsula, and 2 new mites records and 8 new insect records for Navarra.

The effect of seed coating salt-stressed tomato with the bacterium Achromobacter xylosoxidans BOA4 and/or irrigation with an extract of the marine algae Enteromorpha intestinalis (EI) is herein evaluated. The plant shoots and roots were harvested separately on day 50, following extensive saline stress. The addition of BOA4 and/or EI extract resulted in an average increase of 33% in plant shoot DW, but an averaged decrease of 44% in the root to shoot biomass ratio. Anthocyanin content increased by over 34% and 44% with EI and BOA4 plus EI treatments, respectively. Since enhanced protein tyrosine nitration (PTN) is a known plant response to salt stress, the PTN level was inspected through 3-nitrotyrosine content determination. This was drastically increased by salt stress; however, BOA4, EI or both caused an averaged PTN decrease of 30% in stressed roots or shoots. This PTN response could be associated with tomato phenotypic characteristics and is postulated to be inversely correlated to cytokinin contents in stressed plants, namely cis-zeatin-type-cis-zeatin (cZ) plus cis-zeatin riboside (cZR), and isopentenyladenine (iP). The latter showed a drastic average increase by 3.6-fold following BOA4 and/or EI treatments of salinized tomato. This increment could be related to cytokinin biosynthesis induced by the applied bio-stimulants; IP and derivatives are the main cytokinins in seaweeds, and Achromobacter xylosoxidans BOA4 was shown to produce up to 17.5 pmol mL -1 of isopentenyladenine. This work is the first report on the influence of bio-stimulants, used to improve salt stress tolerance, on plant PTN levels; BOA4 and/or EI treatments decreased PTN, while increasing cis-zeatin-type and iP cytokinins in tomato, the latter showed an enhanced tolerance to salt stress.

Within wide geographical areas, Odonata populations can show biometric differences as a consequence of both biotic (e.g., predation, competition) and abiotic factors (mainly temperature). These differences can occur in the larval stage, although reliable characters are needed to detect differences. We analyzed whether Cordulegaster boltonii larvae from 18 Iberian populations differ regarding head width and prementum size (maximum width, minimum width, and maximum length), using measurements taken on final stage exuviae. Prementum length was greater in southern populations than in northern ones. Geographic latitude and temperature were the variables that best explained this variation in females, whereas latitude and altitude above sea level offered the best explanation among males.

Boyeria irene is mainly a West Mediterranean species. The instar distribution during winter is that of a `summer species¿ sensu Corbet (1964). Little is known about how the geographical location of the population may affect the biometric peculiarities of B. irene larvae. Eight biometric variables were studied in male and female larvae belonging to three southern Iberian populations, with the objective of ascertaining whether there are differences between populations. The southernmost population (Los Alcornocales) shows the largest sizes for most of the variables measured, while the northernmost population (Sierra Madrona) shows the smallest sizes for most of the variables. Winter water temperatures may be the cause of the size divergences, due to a longer arrest in time of larval growth in the northernmost population.

CapsuleThe winter diet of Common Kingfishers Alcedo atthis using two rivers in central Spain was 94.9% fish, all of which were non-native species.AimsTo determine the composition Common Kingfisher diet in an area recently colonized by non-native fish species, and to compare estimated prey size during the winter to that of fish fed to nestlings during the breeding season.MethodsThe diet was studied by analysis of pellets collected from the River Duero (lentic, still water) and River Pisuerga (lotic, riverine) in central Spain. Fish size (total length and biomass) calculated from paired remains contained in each pellet.ResultsPrey items were almost exclusively fish (94.9% of all prey), with a small proportion of non-native Red Swamp Crayfish Procambarus clarkii (4.9%) and aquatic insects (0.2%). The diet consisted of only five species of fish, all of which were non-native. The Common Bleak Alburnus alburnus and Eastern Mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki were the prey captured most often in the River Pisuerga and River Duero, respectively. Estimated length of fish prey ranged from 1.5 to 10.5 cm, but 53.6% of individuals were between 3 and 5 cm. Mean biomass of the fish consumed was also small (1.08 g per fish). Mean values of both fish total length and biomass were lower than the measurements reported elsewhere in Europe during the breeding season.ConclusionNative fish species have disappeared from the diet of Common Kingfishers in our study area, probably because the non-native species are more common.

Boyeria irene (Fonscolombe, 1838) is a large dragonfly common in rivers and streams in southern Europe, but it is little known about the biometrical variations of their populations. In this paper, we test whether the time of the emergence period of this species differs in the same river, whether the larval size varies during the emergence period, and whether the distinct size variations are associated with the different river sections. Results have revealed that 1) female exuviae are larger than those of males, 2) except for the paraproct length, the exuviae have similar size across the entire river length, 3) size of the exuviae is larger in the first period of emergence than in the second one. A difference in emergence duration across the three river sections has been recorded.

La distribución geográfica de insectos odonatos en la península ibérica se ha analizado profusamente en los últimos años, aunque una amplia superficie del NW permanece aún poco estudiada. En este trabajo se presenta la distribución de especies del género Sympetrum (Odonata, Libellulidae) en la cuenca del río Duero, España, donde la variedad de condiciones orográficas y climáticas es grande. Seis especies han sido registradas: S. fonscolombii, S. meridionale, S. sanguineum, S. striolatum, S. vulgatum y S. flaveolum. Un modelo lineal generalizado con datos de altitud sobre el nivel del mar, latitud, temperatura media del aire y pluviosidad anual obtenidos en 25 puntos de muestreo mostró que estos cuatro factores conjuntamente pueden explicar la distribución de S. fonscolombii, S. striolatum y, sobre todo, S. sanguineum. La distribución de S. meridionale está influida por la latitud y la pluviosidad anual. En el presente estudio se ratifica que las especies S. vulgatum y S. flaveolum están asociadas sobre todo a zonas de montaña.

In female imagines of Boyeria irene, two forms are known according to the length of the cerci: forma brachycerca (short appendages) and f. typica (long appendages). Both forms are also recognisable in exuviae. Hitherto, no accurate measurements have been performed to distinguish between the two forms. Hence, we measured and analysed the absolute and relative length of the cerci in both sexes of exuviae from 11 populations originating from the centre and north of the Iberian Peninsula. We show that there are specimens intermediate between the two forms and that dimorphism is also present in males. The brachycerca form is more frequent in the north than in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula. Correct identification of both forms should always be based on accurate measurements of the length of the cerci.

In species of similar shape and size, biometric analyses make it possible to establish differences. Within one species, biometrics can help researchers to detect differences between populations and analyze their adaptations to environmental conditions. Until now little was known about the biometrics of the Iberian populations of Boyeria irene (Odonata: Aeshnidae), a large species living mainly in southern Europe. Eight biometric variables were studied in male and female exuviae of B. irene collected in three rivers of the Iberian Peninsula, with the objective of ascertaining which are the most suitable populations of this species to study. An analysis of principal components (PCA) shows that lengths of the epiproct, paraproct and prementum are the most influential in each of the three populations. The other variables (head width, body length, length of the gonapophyses, maximum and minimum width of the prementum) proved not to be relevant in this context.

In nature, plants acquire nutrients from soils to sustain growth, and at the same time, they need to avoid the uptake of toxic compounds and/or possess tolerance systems to cope with them. This is particularly challenging when the toxic compound and the nutrient are chemically similar, as in the case of phosphate and arsenate. In this study, we demonstrated that regulatory elements of the phosphate starvation response (PSR) coordinate the arsenate detoxification machinery in the cell. We showed that arsenate repression of the phosphate transporter PHT1;1 is associated with the degradation of the PSR master regulator PHR1. Once arsenic is sequestered into the vacuole, PHR1 stability is restored and PHT1;1 expression is recovered. Furthermore, we identified an arsenite responsive SKP1-like protein and a PHR1 interactor F-box (PHIF1) as constituents of the SCF complex responsible for PHR1 degradation.We found that arsenite, the form to which arsenate is reduced for compartmentalization in vacuoles, represses PHT1;1 expression, providing a highly selective signal versus phosphate to control PHT1;1 expression in response to arsenate. Collectively, our results provide molecular insights into a sensing mechanism that regulates arsenate/phosphate uptake depending on the plant's detoxification capacity.

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a very powerful method to detect and identify pathogens. The high sensitivity of the method, however, comes with a cost; any of the millions of artificial DNA copies generated by PCR can serve as a template in a following experiment. If not identified as contaminations, these may result in erroneous conclusions on the occurrence of the pathogen, thereby inflating estimates of host range and geographic distribution. In the present paper, we evaluate whether several published records of avian haemosporidian parasites, in either unusual host species or geographical regions, might stem from PCR contaminations rather than novel biological findings. The detailed descriptions of these cases are shedding light upon the steps in the work process that might lead to PCR contaminations. By increasing the awareness of this problem, it will aid in developing procedures that keep these to a minimum. The examples in the present paper are from haemosporidians of birds, however the problem of contaminations and suggested actions should apply generally to all kinds of PCR-based identifications, not just of parasites and pathogens.

This paper certifies the presence of the family Opilioacaridae in the Iberian Peninsula. It is represented by a new species of the Order Opilioacarida, Opilioacarus baeticus, from three localities, plus a photographic record, from southern and southeastern Spain. O. baeticus is described based on adult of both sexes and female tritonymphal instar. A key to genera of the family Opilioacaridae and species of the genus Opilioacarus is given.

The ecological functioning of dryland ecosystems is closely related to the spatial pattern of the vegetation, which is typically structured in patches. Ground arthropods mediate key soil functions and ecological processes, yet little is known about the influence of dryland vegetation pattern on their abundance and diversity. Here, we investigate how patch size and cover, and distance between patches relate to the abundance and diversity of meso-and microarthropods in semi-arid steppes. We found that species richness and abundance of ground arthropods exponentially increase with vegetation cover, patch size, and patch closeness. The communities under vegetation patches mainly respond to patch size, while the communities in the bare-soil interpatches are mostly controlled by the average distance between patches, independently of the concurrent changes in vegetation cover. Large patches seem to play a critical role as reserve and source of ground arthropod diversity. Our results suggest that decreasing vegetation cover and/or changes in vegetation pattern towards small and over-dispersed vegetation patches can fast lead to a significant loss of ground arthropods diversity in drylands.

Silicon has not been cataloged as an essential element for higher plants. However, it has shown beneficial effects on many crops, especially under abiotic and biotic stresses. Silicon fertilization was evaluated for the first time on plants exposed to fluctuations in an Fe regime (Fe sufficiency followed by Fe deficiency and, in turn, by Fe resupply). Root and foliar Si applications were compared using cucumber plants that were hydroponically grown in a growth chamber under different Fe nutritional statuses and Si applied either to the roots or to the shoots. The SPAD index, Fe, and Mn concentration, ROS, total phenolic compounds, MDA concentration, phytohormone balance, and cell cycle were determined. The results obtained showed that the addition of Si to the roots induced an Fe shortage in plants grown under optimal or deficient Fe nutritional conditions, but this was not observed when Si was applied to the leaves. Plant recovery following Fe resupply was more effective in the Si-treated plants than in the untreated plants. A relationship between the ROS concentration, hormonal balance, and cell cycle under different Fe regimes and in the presence or absence of Si was also studied. The contribution of Si to this signaling pathway appears to be related more to the induction of Fe deficiency, than to any direct biochemical or metabolic processes. However, these roles could not be completely ruled out because several hormone differences could only be explained by the addition

Thrips are major economic insect pests of citrus worldwide. During the few last years these insects have become serious pests of citrus in Tunisia. The objective of this study was to determine the species of thrips' natural enemies occurring in citrus orchards and assess the effects of manure application on the abundance of soil predatory mites. Sampling of thrips and their natural enemies was performed in citrus orchards in northern Tunisia from 2015 to 2017. Results revealed that (i) the most abundant predatory species found on plant leaves was Chrysoperla carnea representing 40.38% of the total number of natural enemies collected, followed by Coccinella septempunctata (13.57%) and that (ii) the most abundant soil predatory mite was Parasitus americanus representing 43.44% of the total number of predatory mites collected, followed by Stratiolaelaps scimitus, Pachylaelaps imitans and Odontoscirus sp. (9.43%, 6.45% and 5.41%, respectively). Higher population densities of P. americanus and S. scimitus in the soil were directly correlated with decreased thrips' abundance and reduced plant damage. Our findings suggest that manure application significantly affects the abundance of both predatory mites and thrips in the soil. Here we provide first knowledge on natural enemies' action against thrips and their potential use as biocontrol agents in Tunisian citrus orchards.

High-throughput DNA methods hold great promise for phylogenetic analysis of lineages that are difficult to study with conventional molecular and morphological approaches. The mites (Acari), and in particular the highly diverse soil-dwelling lineages, are among the least known branches of the metazoan Tree-of-Life. We extracted numerous minute mites from soils in an area of mixed forest and grassland in southern Iberia. Selected specimens representing the full morphological diversity were shotgun sequenced in bulk, followed by genome assembly of short reads from the mixture, which produced >100 mitochondrial genomes representing diverse acarine lineages. Phylogenetic analyses in combination with taxonomically limited mitogenomes available publicly resulted in plausible trees defining basal relationships of the Acari. Several critical nodes were supported by ancestral-state reconstructions of mitochondrial gene rearrangements. Molecular calibration placed the minimum age for the common ancestor of the superorder Acariformes, which includes most soil-dwelling mites, to the Cambrian-Ordovician (likely within 455-552 Ma), whereas the origin of the superorder Parasitiformes was placed later in the Carboniferous-Permian. Most family-level taxa within the Acariformes were dated to the Jurassic and Triassic.

Biometric data of the exuviae of female larvae of the dragonfly Cordulegaster boltonii collected in Portugal, Spain and Morocco were analysed to determine whether the size of three exuvial structures measured differed depending on the geographic localities of the populations. Based on the results recorded for the 16 populations studied, head width was negatively correlated with latitude and the greatest length of the gonapophysis was recorded for the Iberian populations at the centre of this peninsula. Multivariate cluster analysis revealed a clear separation of the Moroccan population. A second cluster separated the southernmost population (Sierra Nevada) from the remaining Iberian populations. Four population groups were distinguished: those located in watercourses in the north and central area of the Iberian Peninsula, those in Iberian watercourses in the East and Middle South, the Sierra Nevada and North Morocco. Some of these results coincide with the results of genetic studies of other authors.

We report a new analysis of haemosporidian occurrence in 392 Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis nestlings previously reported in Hernandez et al. (2017. Haemosporidian prevalence in Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis nestlings: impact on body condition and geographic distribution in the Iberian Peninsula. Bird Study 64: 362-373). The previous findings have since been suspected of suffering from contamination by DNA samples from another species. The new analysis showed a prevalence of 1% with a single Leucocytozoon lineage (ENCIR02), distributed in two of the three populations studied.

Because of its ability to expedite specimen identification and species delineation, the barcode index number (BIN) system presents a powerful tool to characterize hyperdiverse invertebrate groups such as the Acari (mites). However, the congruence between BINs and morphologically recognized species has seen limited testing in this taxon. We therefore apply this method towards the development of a barcode reference library for soil, poultry litter, and nest dwelling mites in the Western Palearctic. Through analysis of over 600 specimens, we provide DNA barcode coverage for 35 described species and 70 molecular taxonomic units (BINs). Nearly 80% of the species were accurately identified through this method, but just 60% perfectly matched (1:1) with BINs. High intraspecific divergences were found in 34% of the species examined and likely reflect cryptic diversity, highlighting the need for revision in these taxa. These findings provide a valuable resource for integrative pest management, but also highlight the importance of integrating morphological and molecular methods for fine-scale taxonomic resolution in poorly-known invertebrate lineages.

The degree of darkening of the gonopophyses in females final instar (F-0) larvae of Cordulogaster boltonii (Donovan) (Golden-ringed Dragonfly) is compared with the four stages (here referred to as 1 - 4) of metamorphosis described by Ferreras-Romero & Corbet (1999) in this species. There is a reasonable degree of correlation, with larvae showing no darkening of the gonopophyses falling mainly stages 1 and 2, whereas those with no more tan 25% of darkening fall almost exclusively into stages 3 and 4. The method described in the current study is a simple method for determining the stage of metamorphosis but it is suggested that, for maxium accuracy, both methods should be used.

Some plants that associate with ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi are also able to simultaneously establish symbiosis with other types of partners. The presence of alternative partners that may provide similar benefits may affect ECM functioning. Here we compared potential leucine-aminopeptidase (LA) and acid phosphatase (AP) enzyme activity (involved in N and P cycling, respectively) in ECM fungi of three hosts planted under the same conditions but differing in the type of partners: Pinus (ECM fungi only), Eucalyptus (ECM and arbuscular mycorrhizal -AM- fungi) and Acacia (ECM, AM fungi and rhizobial bacteria). We found that the ECM community on Acacia and Eucalyptus had higher potential AP activity than the Pinus community. The ECM community in Acacia also showed increased potential LA activity compared to Pinus. Morphotypes present in more than one host showed higher potential AP and LA activity when colonizing Acacia than when colonizing another host. Our results suggest that competition with AM fungi and rhizobial bacteria could promote increased ECM activity in Eucalyptus and Acacia. Alternatively, other host-related differences such as ECM community composition could also play a role. We found evidence for ECM physiological plasticity when colonizing different hosts, which might be key for adaptation to future climate scenarios.

Uroseius sorrentinus is redescribed based on nymphal instars and adults of both sexes from a cave in Southern Spain. New observations of the ontogeny of setae, glands and lyrifissures on the idiosoma and legs are provided, allowing for the clarification and expansion of the diagnostic characters of the genus Uroseius. The female of this species is distinguished from other Uroseius species by its: rounded idiosoma, with prominent anteriorly knobbed vertex; medial dorsal shield with approximately 26 pairs of short, brush-like setae; pigmented soft cuticle at posterior margin of dorsal shield with one pair of long setae; genital shield with spine-like anterior process with anterior half covered by soft sternal cuticle; and 15-20 pairs of feathered ventral setae of heterogeneous length. Males are distinguished by their: femora, genu and tibia with seta av modified as spurs; and tarsus II with two enlarged, spine-like setae. Deutonymphs are distinguished by their: dorsal shield not covering vertical and dorsolateral regions; presternal transverse sclerite present; sternal shield entire; sternal region with three pairs of conspicuous gland openings: and ventrianal shield with 8-10 pairs of setae. A key to the species of deutonymphs of Uroseius is given.

Forest management aimed to maximize timber production might impact soil fungi, especially those symbiotically associated to tree roots. In this study, we analyse the temporal dynamics of soil fungi along five sampling years after tree removal in a managed Pinus sylvestris stand in northern Spain, where timber production is combined with regular mushroom harvesting. Two management methods were tested: total and partial clear-cutting leaving retention trees for seedling regeneration. Undisturbed, uncut plots were also included in the experiment as a control treatment. The whole fungal community (phylotypes and ecological guilds) were analysed by high-throughput Illumina MiSeq sequencing of fungal ITS1 amplicons. We hypothesized that (1) ectomycorrhizal fungal communities will decrease after both clear-cutting treatments with a concurrent increase in the abundance of saprotrophs, (2) the abundance and diversity of the ectomycorrhizal guild will be more preserved in partially clear-cut than in total clear-cut plots, and (3) the overall fungal diversity will decrease in the cut plots leading to major losses of ectomycorrhizal species. Our results show that soil fungal composition changed across the five years after clear-cutting by decreasing ectomycorrhizal fungi and increasing saprotrophs. However, these changes did not significantly affect fungal diversity and there were taxa-specific responses to tree harvest treatments.

Description of a new species of Uroseius Berlese based on deutonymph and female specimens from northern Spain is presented. Observations of some cuticular organs on idiosoma and legs are described for the first time for the genus. An attempt to notate idiosomal setae as in Gamasina mesostigmatid mites is made based on complete dorsal chaetome of larval and pronymphal instars of Uroseius and Apionoseius Berlese species. Uroseius acuminatus (C.L. Koch) is a new record for the Iberian Peninsula. General morphological and biological aspects of Uroseius are presented. A tentative key, provided for separation of the 15 deutonymphs and nine adult females of the world species of Uroseius, is given.

Mites should not be overlooked as a forensic tool, as many are commonly associated with decomposing animal matter and are closely associated with specific insect carriers and habitats. It is necessary to increase our understanding of the diversity of mites that are found in human and animal remains, their geographical distribution, and their population dynamics. This work is the first study of the role of mites in forensic science in the Mediterranean region of Navarra (northern Spain). Samples were taken using three types of traps (96 modified McPhail, 96 modified pitfall, and 32 carrion on surface) baited with pig carrion during the period between 11 April and 24 June, 2017. Insects were collected in 100% of the traps and only 27% of them contained mites. Information on 26 species of mites belonging to seven families, their ontogenetic phoretic stage/s, their abundance, and presence/absence during the spring season of the study is given. The most abundant species collected were Macrocheles merdarius, Poecilochirus austroasiaticus, and Poecilochirus subterraneus. We are contributing 16 new records for the Iberian Peninsula: seven species of Parasitidae, three species of Macrochelidae, four species of Eviphididae, one species of Halolaelapidae, and one species of Laelapidae.

A new species, Reticulolaelaps caditanus n. sp., is described based on adult females found in an oothecal cell of Mantis religiosa. The species has several morphological characteristics, including the presence of presternal shields, endopodal III-IV widely connected with sternal shield, 50 pairs of dorsal setae and at least 11 setae "x", curly and barbed, and thin and smooth ventral setae including six pairs of setae on the genitoventral shield. A revised diagnosis of the genus with the addition of new characters and a key to the world species of the genus are provided.

The genus Leioseius Berlese is reviewed, faunistically in North America, and taxonomically, world-wide. Descriptions of two new species, redescriptions of two previously recorded species, and first records of Leioseius elongatus Evans in North America are presented. Observations indicate that various leg setal and pretarsal attributes are useful in taxonomic discrimination of species in this genus. A key to North American species based on both idiosomatic and leg setal aspects is presented. Four species previously described under the genus Iphidozercon Berlese are accounted for the first time as species of Leioseius, and other taxa described previously as four yet other species of Leioseius are transferred to other genera. A tentative key, provided for separation of females of the 22 recognizable world Leioseius species, accounts for these changes. General morphological notes about mites of this genus are presented, some of which may lead to recognition of species-groups. Scant, general biological aspects about Leioseius mites are presented.

An inventory of soil mites from citrus orchards was carried out in four localities situated in the regions of Mornag and Bizerte, northern Tunisia. The soil sampling was performed monthly under the canopy throughout the two years of the study (2016 and 2017). A total of 31 species of mites belonging to 20 families were identified. The acari fauna was predominantly composed of Oribatida followed by Mesostigmata mites. The most frequent and abundant Oribatida families were Oribatulidae and Phenopelopidae, while Parasitidae, Laelapidae and Pachylaelapidae were the predominant families of Mesostigmata.

This study provides the first biometrics analysis of exuviae from Moroccan populations of the Ibero-Maghrebian endemic dragonfly Cordulegaster boltonii algirica Morton, 1916 collected in the Rif Mountains. Among the biometric variables that were measured, tibia length was highly correlated with the exuviae body length (BL), and can, therefore, be used to calculate the BL of partially broken exuviae. The head width exhibited the smallest coefficient of variation for both males and females and, therefore, is a valuable measurement that can be used for biometric comparison of different populations. The data presented herein will be used for future comparison with other North African and European populations of C. boltonii algirica.

Recovery of ringed birds provides only a partial view of bird movements and may be complemented by using techniques such as molecular analyses. The White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus is a passerine restricted to mountain rivers, and considered sedentary in the Iberian Peninsula. The objective of this paper is to establish whether the displacement data found by molecular techniques match those obtained by ringing or not, and to infer if these displacements follow a defined route. 236 Dippers from 13 populations in the Iberian Peninsula were ringed and genotyped using microsatellite markers. The percentage of ringed Dippers that was subsequently recorded outside the sampling area was less than 3%, with most of the birds confined to the same river stretch. However, according to the genetic information presented here, 14.4% of the individuals had moved from their natal localities to other river basins, where they were subsequently trapped. Moreover, migrant Dippers travelled an average distance of 218 km (range 79¿484), which is about ten times the distance estimated through ringing recoveries occurring in additional ringing data. The results of the genetic analysis revealed that Iberian Dippers move frequently between mountain ranges and suggest four potential routes for Dipper movements in the Iberian Peninsula. Molecular techniques thus complement the data obtained by ringing and provide new insights into the dispersion of this species.

A new species-group of Lasioseius is described from adults and immatures of four newly described and one undescribed species associated with hispine beetles of the genera Cephaloleia and Chelobasis and other gamasine mites in the furled leaf habitat of Heliconia and related Zingiberales plants. The species-group presents a suite of apomorphic attributes placing it in the subgenus L. (Lasioseius). Adults and immatures were found moving freely on and off the beetles when the latter were exposed from their habitat. Larviparity is indicated by adult females gravid with fully developed larvae. Limited data suggest considerable host specificity between mites and their beetle hosts, indicating that there may be a vast diversity of these mites associated with hundreds of species of hispine beetles in the Neotropical Region. Keys are provided to currently accepted species-groups of Lasioseius and to the species within the new species-group.