Eight species of phytoseiid mites are reported from date palm orchards in Saudi Arabia. Seven of them were first records for this country: Neoseiulus bicaudus (Wainstein), N. conterminus (Kolodochka), N. makuwa (Ehara), N. rambami (Swirski & Amitai), Proprioseiopsis asetus (Chant), P. messor(Wainstein), P. ovatus (Garman). Neoseiulus makuwa and P. asetus are recorded from the Middle East and North Africa for the first time. One new species is described from Bermuda grass, Neoseiulus saudiensis n. sp. The new species is most similar to Neoseiulus alpinus (Schweizer) and N. marginatus (Wainstein). A key for identification of the included species is provided.

Feather mites of the family Avenzoariidae (Acari: Astigmata: Analgoidea) are recorded for the first time in Saudi Arabia. A new avenzoariid species, Zachvatkinia (Zachvatkinia) repressae sp. n. (Avenzoariidae: Bonnetellinae), is described from the White-cheeked Tern, Sterna repressa Hartert, 1916 (Charadriiformes: Sternidae). The new species belongs to the sternae group and is closely related to Z. (Z.) chlidoniae Mironov, 1989a. Two more species, Z. (Z.) dromae Mironov, 1992 and Z. (Z.) sternae (Canestrini & Fanzago, 1876), were collected from the Crab Plover Dromas ardeola Paykull, 1805 (Charadriiformes: Dromadidae) and the Sooty Gull Ichthyaetus hemprichii (Bruch, 1853) (Charadriiformes: Laridae), respectively. Among the 18 described species of Zachvatkinia Dubinin, 1949, including the new species, this is the fifth species recorded from a sternid host. The remaining 13 nominal species are associated with birds of the families Diomedeidae, Dromadidae, Hydrobatidae, Laridae, Pelecanoididae, Procellariidae and Stercorariidae. A checklist of world species of Zachvatkinia with data on their distribution and type hosts is also provided.

The family Otopheidomenidae Treat, 1955 is recorded for the first time from Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Peninsula on the basis of a new species, Nabiseius arabicus sp. nov. Adult females, collected from Cynodon dactylon L. (Poaceae) in association with thrips (Insecta: Thysanoptera), are described and illustrated. A key to world species of Nabiseius is provided.

An updated checklist of cheyletid mites (Acariformes: Cheyletidae) of Egypt is provided. The list was compiled from a survey of published literature and from examining some previously described species. The list of the Egyptian Cheyletidae includes now 5 tribes, 15 genera, 27 species, one genus inquirenda (Aegyptocheyla Yousef) and five species inquirendae (Acaropsellina tyrophagus El-Badry, Cheletomimus minutus Soliman, Chiapacheylus desertorum Zaher and Soliman, C. macrocorneus Zaher and Soliman and Neoeucheyla macrocorneus Soliman). A key to the Egyptian cheyletids is also presented.

The old world date mite, Oligonychus afrasiaticus (McGregor, 1939) (Acari: Tetranychidae) is a severe spider mite pest of date palm in most of the Middle East and North Africa. Considering that nothing is known about the performance of phytoseiid predators against O. afrasiaticus. Biology, predation and life table parameters of Cydnoseius negevi (Swirski & Amitai, 1961) and Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes (Acari: Phytoseiidae), collected from date palm orchards, were studied under laboratory conditions (25, 35ºC and 35 ± 10% RH) as a first step to understand their effectiveness against all mobile life stages of O. afrasiaticus. For both predators, oviposition period was significantly shorter at 35 than at 25ºC. The following parameters were obtained for C. negevi and N. barkeri at 25 and 35°C, respectively: female longevity, 31.8, 20.1, 35.7, 27.4 days; fecundity, 21.6, 38.0, 18.8, 34.8 eggs/female; oviposition period, 23.9, 13.7, 25.9, 18.1 days. Total predation of C. negevi and N. barkeri female was 246.0, 270.0, 227.6, 205.3 prey at 25 and 35°C, respectively. Rectal plugs were observed attached to the opisthosoma of some adult¬ females of N. barkeri, which often cause the mite to stick to the surface. Life table parameters were estimated as net reproductive rate (Rо) 10.44, 17.35, 10.19, 13.84, intrinsic rate of increase (rm) 0.14, 0.19, 0.13, 0.16 days-1, finite rate of increase (λ) 1.15, 1.21, 1.12, 1.17 days-1, generation time (T) 17.03, 15.17, 17.83, 16.61 days, doubling time (DT) 04.95, 03.64, 05.33, 04.33 days for C. negevi and N. barkeri at 25 and 35ºC, respectively. The values of intrinsic rate of increase and net reproductive rate were higher in C. negevi than N. barkeri at both temperature regimes. Therefore, it could be concluded that C. negevi performance was better than N. barkeri against O. afrasiaticus and can be considered as a valuable addition to the existing methods for spider mites control.

Mite fauna of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is poorly studied. Based on published works, only 26 species (representing three orders, 18 families and 24 genera) were previously reported from coleopteran insects, plants, leaf litter and soil. This paper reports 11 new records of mites from the emirate of Dubai. A checklist of the taxa reported from the UAE to date is presented.

Faunistic information about bat mites in Egypt is scarce. Collection records of parasitic mites, Meristaspis lateralis (Kolenati, 1856) (Mesostigmata: Spinturnicidae), are reported from the Egyptian fruit bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus (Geoffroy, 1810) (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in Assiut Governorate, Egypt. Seven species of bat mites are recognized from Egypt to date. A host-parasite checklist and an identification key to these species are presented.

Mites inhabiting citrus orchards in Egypt were listed. The checklist, compiled from a survey of published literature, contains 149 mite species representing 39 families. It is expected that the number of the Egyptian mite species inhabiting different citrus cultivations will increase as comprehensive surveys continue. The most diverse order, Prostigmata, is represented by 95 species followed by, Mesostigmata, with 37 species. The families with the most citrus mite species known from Egypt are the Phytoseiidae and Tetranychidae with 18 and 12 species.

The date palm, Phoenix dactylifera , is attacked by several mite species that frequently cause signifi cant damage. The Banks grass mite, Oligonychus pratensis (Banks), and the Old World date mite, Oligonychus afrasiaticus (McGregor), (Acari: Tetranychidae) are considered major pests of date palms. The spider mite Eutetranychus palmatus Attiah (Tetranychidae), the red palm mite, Raoiella indica Hirst, and the red and black fl at mite, Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes), (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) are considered pests of minor importance to date palm. This chapter summarizes the present knowledge about the distribution, host range, damage, biology, seasonal incidence and management practices of these species. Strategies used for mites are centered on the use of chemical pesticides. Often, the extensive use of these products has resulted in secondary pest outbreaks, undermining the adoption of sustainable pest management programs. Alternative management tactics, including biological control, have not been widely adopted by date producers. Therefore, since more research is needed, future research priorities are also discussed.

Within the scope of a project investigating phytophagous and predacious mites associated with date palm,Phoenix dactylifera L. (Arecaceae), a comprehensive survey was conducted at five different provinces of Saudi Arabia. Eleven species within eight genera of false spider mites (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) were recorded from date palm trees, ground cover plants, and soil debris. Among them, three genera, Dolichotetranychus Sayed, Phytoptipalpus Sayed and Pseudoleptus Bruyant and three species, Pentamerismus retusus Meyer, Pseudoleptus kermanshahiensis Khanjani, Khanjani, Saboori & Seeman and Tenuipalpus bagdadensis Al-Gboory, are new to the mite fauna of Saudi Arabia. Two new species, Phytoptipalpus phoenicis sp. nov. and Dolichotetranychus riyadhensis sp. nov., collected from P. dactylifera and Cynodon dactylon L. (Poaceae), respectively, are described and illustrated. A key to species of Tenuipalpidae reported from date palms worldwide is given.