The spider fang is a natural injection needle, hierarchically built from a complex composite material comprising multiscale architectural gradients. Considering its biomechanical function, the spider fang has to sustain significant mechanical loads. Here we apply experiment-based structural modelling of the fang, followed by analytical mechanical description and Finite-Element simulations, the ...

Species that differ in their social system, and thus in traits such as group size and dispersal timing, may differ in their use of resources along spatial, temporal, or dietary dimensions. The role of sociality in creating differences in habitat use is best explored by studying closely related species or socially polymorphic species that differ in their social system, but share a common environ...

The toxicity of 2 reduced-risk pesticides, 2% horticultural oil with 0.05% Silwet L-77 and Grandevo (Chromobacterium subtsugae Strain PRAA4-1T), to 2 predators: Metaseiulus occidentalis (Nesbitt) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) and Hemicheyletia wellsina DeLeon (Acari: Cheyletidae), and 3 orchid pests: the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae), the phalaenopsis mit...

During April-June 2010, red two-spotted carmine spider mites Tetranychus urticae Koch (Trombidiformes: Tetranychidae) were found on aerial apical parts of Ashwagandha Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (Solanales: Solanaceae) plants in the Amritsar District of Punjab Province in the North Indian plains. The mites fed on the leaves, making them shiny white in color, which gradually dried off and were...

Acaricide is a pesticide designed to control harmful species of mites (Acari)1. In crop protection practices, acaricides are used against phytophagous mites, pests causing economic injuries to agricultural crops and ornamental plants. Until mid-twentieth century, in agroecosystems of low-level productivity, phytophagous mite populations usually stayed below economic injury levels, due to natura...

The fauna of the family Stigmaeidae Oudemans on grapevines and weed plants associated with vineyard agroecosystem in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) was studied. Five recognized species were reported: Agistemus brasiliensis Matioli et al., 2002, Agistemus floridanus Gonzales, 1965, Agistemus mendozensis Simons, 1967, Zetzellia agistzellia Hernandes and Feres, 2005, and Zetzellia malvina...

The genus Sonotetranychus consisted of seven species prior to this study. Sonotetranychus menziesii sp. nov., collected on Nothofagus menziesii and N. fusca from New Zealand, is described based on females, protonymphs, deutonymphs and a male. An updated key to the species of Sonotetranychus is provided.

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/srep23571.

Two new species of tarsonemid mites, Daidalotarsonemus annonae sp. nov. and Fungitarsonemus setillus sp. nov. found on Annonaceae leaves collected in northeastern Brazil are described and illustrated. Females of D. annonae are similar to those of D. serissae, but differ by having setae c2 setiform, and seta 1a distant from apodeme 1. F. setillus is similar to F. pereregrinus, but females can be...

Tetranychus evansi Baker & Pritchard, 1960 (Tetranychidae) is a phytophagous mite with wide distribution and high importance for agriculture. This study reports the occurrence of T. in Nicotiana alata Link Otto, forgetiana Sander ex W. Watson (Solanaceae) their putative hybrids greenhouse Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Different stages development were found N. hybrids.