Dear acarologists,

CSIRO Australia has vacancies for two insect systematists. Details follow.
 

CSIRO ENTOMOLOGY Canberra

RESEARCH SCIENTIST - PRINCIPAL RESEARCH SCIENTISTS
INSECT SYSTEMATISTS
$52K - $80K plus superannuation

We are seeking two outstanding insect systematists to lead and undertake
research on taxonomy, systematics, evolution, phylogeny and general
biology of Australian insects. You will have demonstrated leadership in
modern systematics and will be expected to develop and lead dynamic
innovative research programs.  You may also be responsible for the
curation and development of sections of the Australian National Insect
Collection. Our interests cover all the major insect orders, and our aim
will be to achieve balance in our skills base across our biosystematics
research portfolio.  While research experience in Diptera, Coleoptera
(other than weevils) or Hemiptera is currently of particular interest to
us, applicants with experience in other groups are encouraged to apply.

An Information Package including selection criteria can be obtained by
phone from (02) 6246 4001, by fax from (02) 6246-4068, by email from
recruit@ento.csiro.au and from our web site http://www.ento.csiro.au
Applications should quote position Number C0723(AUS),  list the names of
at least three referees and be forwarded to The Recruitment Officer,
CSIRO Entomology, PO Box 1700 Canberra ACT 2601 by 15 October 1999
 

Bruce Halliday

***********************************************************
Dr. R. B. Halliday
CSIRO Entomology
GPO Box 1700
Canberra ACT 2601
Australia

Telephone (02) 6246 4085
International Telephone (61) (2) 6246 4085
Fax (02) 6246 4000
International Fax (61) (2) 6246 4000

E-mail bruceh@ento.csiro.au
http://www.ento.csiro.au/research/natres/natres.html
***********************************************************

From: Valentina <cvigiani@dada.it> Save Address Block Sender
 Reply-To: cvigiani@dada.it
 To: acarology@nhm.ac.uk Save Addresses
 Subject: Infestatipon by Acari! Help!!
 Date: Mon, 13 Sep 1999 01:36:02 +0200
 

Dear acarologists,
I'm interested in insects and I'm trying to breed them in captivity, but
I have a big problem: all my Coleoptera (Cetonia aurata, Cetonia
aeruginosa, Dorcus parallelepipedus, etc.) have been attached from acari
(sorry, I do not know the species, but they are sand coloured very small
and they usually live on the abdomen of the adults between the head and
the rel avdomen...on the neck, if they were humans).
Now they are really a lot and they infested also larvae, are they
dangerous? Is there a method to destroy them?
Please help me, I'm really worried about my pets!

Thank you,

Valentina Vigiani

At 1:36 AM +0200 9/13/1999, Valentina wrote:
>Dear acarologists,
>I'm interested in insects and I'm trying to breed them in captivity, but
>I have a big problem: all my Coleoptera (Cetonia aurata, Cetonia
>aeruginosa, Dorcus parallelepipedus, etc.) have been attached from acari
>(sorry, I do not know the species, but they are sand coloured very small
>and they usually live on the abdomen of the adults between the head and
>the rel avdomen...on the neck, if they were humans).
>Now they are really a lot and they infested also larvae, are they
>dangerous? Is there a method to destroy them?
>Please help me, I'm really worried about my pets!
>

Dear Valentina - Your colonies are almost certainly infested with an acarid
mite of the genus Sancassania (=Caloglyphus).  These mites are naturally
associated with scarabaeoid beetles, but will also cause problems in
laboratory cultures of many insect species.  The small brown mites you see
on the beetles are the dispersing deutonymphs.  They're not parasitic but
can be so abundant as to impair movement and feeding by the beetles,
especially larvae in cultures.  You should see the adults and other feeding
stages of the beetles in the food material you are providing the insects
(they are rather large and white).  They will eat a wide variety of
materials as long as they are relatively moist.  They will also readily
consume dead insects.  It is quite difficult to control these pests once
they are introduced into a colony.  I don't know of any acaricide that has
been tried against these mites.  I usually advise people to clean the mites
off adult insects and replace the insects in a completely new rearing
container.  Everything from the old, contaminated, containers should be
discarded.
        If you are bringing adult beetles from the wild, you may also see
mites of the family Canestriniidae.  These are ectoparasites or commensals
(probably feeding on cuticular exudates), and species are known to be
associated with Dorcus and Cetoniinae.  They will be rather larger, white
mites found either on the venter of the thorax or in the subelytral space
of adults.  They won't be found on the larvae.  If you have these, they
won't be a problem.
        I would be happy to confirm the identification if you can send me
some specimens in alcohol or on slides to the address below. - Barry OConnor
 
 

Barry M. OConnor                phone: (734) 763-4354
Museum of Zoology               FAX: (734) 763-4080
University of Michigan          e-mail: bmoc@umich.edu
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1079  USA

Fot your information:

CABI Publishing is pleased to announce the publication of a new book:

Mites: Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour
by D E Walter

For more details and ordering information, please go to:
http://www.cabi.org/catalog/BOOKS/Book_detail.asp?ISBN=0851993753

In order to claim 10% discount when ordering, quote the code: ZH

Regards,
Vicki Cottrell
Product Manager
CABI Publishing
v.cottrell@cabi.org

This title is not available from CABI in Australia, New Zealand,
Brunei,Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand and the islands of Oceania. Customers from these territories should
order from University of New South Wales Press, Sydney 2052, Australia.
Orders in the US should go via OUP, as detailed at the site given above

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

Dear acarologists,

I am a lizard ecologist and have been working with lizards that are
attacked by Trombiculidae mites, in the Brazilian savannah. So, I would
like to contact people working with taxonomy of this group that could
identify the species for me.

Best wishes,

Maria Goretti de Melo Pinto
Departamento de Zoologia
Universidade de Brasília

My friends,

I have received an inquiry about cheese mites. I have not seen any
specimens, but I assume this refers to Tyrolichus casei, and possibly other
species as well. Does anyone know of other species of mites that are
regularly found on cheese? Is there any evidence of harmful effects on
humans caused by ingesting these mites?

Thank you for your help.

Bruce Halliday

***********************************************************
Dr. R. B. Halliday
CSIRO Entomology
GPO Box 1700
Canberra ACT 2601
Australia

Telephone (02) 6246 4085
International Telephone (61) (2) 6246 4085
Fax (02) 6246 4000
International Fax (61) (2) 6246 4000

E-mail bruceh@ento.csiro.au
http://www.ento.csiro.au/research/natres/natres.html
***********************************************************

In the past, "cheese mite" commonly referred to Acarus siro; in fact, the
old generic synonym, Tyroglyphus, directly refers to cheese.  In modern
cheese production, where the cheese is sealed in plastic, mite infestations
are prevented, however, A. siro, and occasionally other species of Acarus
can still be found in more traditional "farmhouse" cheese production.
Tyrolichus casei is more commonly found in powdered milk or stored grain.

At 7:54 AM +1000 9/21/1999, Bruce.Halliday wrote:
>My friends,
>
>I have received an inquiry about cheese mites. I have not seen any
>specimens, but I assume this refers to Tyrolichus casei, and possibly other
>species as well. Does anyone know of other species of mites that are
>regularly found on cheese? Is there any evidence of harmful effects on
>humans caused by ingesting these mites?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
So many mites, so little time!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Barry M. OConnor                phone: (734) 763-4354
Museum of Zoology               FAX: (734) 763-4080
University of Michigan          e-mail: bmoc@umich.edu
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1079  USA
 

===== Original Message from bmoc @ umich.edu (Barry M. OConnor) at 9/21/99
1:29 am

In the past, "cheese mite" commonly referred to Acarus siro; in fact, the
old generic synonym, Tyroglyphus, directly refers to cheese.  In modern
cheese production, where the cheese is sealed in plastic, mite infestations
are prevented, however, A. siro, and occasionally other species of Acarus
can still be found in more traditional "farmhouse" cheese production.
Tyrolichus casei is more commonly found in powdered milk or stored grain.

At 7:54 AM +1000 9/21/1999, Bruce.Halliday wrote:
>My friends,
>
>I have received an inquiry about cheese mites. I have not seen any
>specimens, but I assume this refers to Tyrolichus casei, and possibly other
>species as well. Does anyone know of other species of mites that are
>regularly found on cheese? Is there any evidence of harmful effects on
>humans caused by ingesting these mites?

===== Comments by POGREBS@CNFA (Slava Pogrebnyak) at 9/21/99 9:57 am

As I remember Tyroglyphus and Tyrophagus are two mouse-knight-heros from
"Batrahomiomahia". So, we have a chanse to se representatives of both genera
everywere we see cheese.

Slava.

My friends,

It is with great sadness that I must advise you of the death of our friend
and colleague Glenn Hunt, who lost his battle with cancer last Monday. His
cheerful and optimistic nature, and his contributions to the knowledge of
Australian oribatids, will be sorely missed.

Bruce Halliday

***********************************************************
Dr. R. B. Halliday
CSIRO Entomology
GPO Box 1700
Canberra ACT 2601
Australia

Telephone (02) 6246 4085
International Telephone (61) (2) 6246 4085
Fax (02) 6246 4000
International Fax (61) (2) 6246 4000

E-mail bruceh@ento.csiro.au
http://www.ento.csiro.au/research/natres/natres.html
***********************************************************

My thanks to all the people who generously answered my question about cheese
mites. Apparently they are usually Acarus siro, but can also be other
species including Tyrophagus putrescentiae and Tyrolichus casei. They are
usually regarded as pests, but are sometimes actively encouraged as part of
the cheese-making process. A cheese called "boule de Lille" in France gains
some of its flavour from Acarus siro, but these cheeses can cause digestive
upsets if taken to excess.

Thanks again.
 
 

Bruce Halliday

***********************************************************
Dr. R. B. Halliday
CSIRO Entomology
GPO Box 1700
Canberra ACT 2601
Australia

Telephone (02) 6246 4085
International Telephone (61) (2) 6246 4085
Fax (02) 6246 4000
International Fax (61) (2) 6246 4000

E-mail bruceh@ento.csiro.au
http://www.ento.csiro.au/research/natres/natres.html
***********************************************************

I need a downloadable picture and paragraph description of a Haif Follicle
Mite and a nematode, any one will do, C. elegans. This is for a education
pamphlet about the differences. Credit will be given to source.

Thanks inadvance,
Diana

Pennsylvania State University Bee Lab
Department of Entomology
501 Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building
University Park, PA 16802
Lab: (814) 865 2810  Fax: (814) 865 3048
Email: acarapis@psu.edu

  http://www.psu.edu/dept/beehive/index.html
   http://MAAREC.cas.psu.edu/