New records of mites (Acari) and harvestmen (Opiliones) from Malta with a preliminary checklist of Maltese Arachnida

Authors

  • Walter P. Pfliegler Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, University of Debrecen, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1., 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
  • Axel Schönhofer Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz, Institut für Zoologie, Abteilung Evolutionsbiologie, Johannes-von-Müller-Weg 6, 55128 Mainz, Germany
  • Wojciech Niedbała Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, ul. Umultowska 89, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
  • Patrick Vella † 74, Buontempo Estate, BZN1135 Balzan, Malta
  • Arnold Sciberras Nature Trust Malta, PO Box9, VLT 1000, Valetta Malta
  • Antoine Vella 74, Buontempo Estate, BZN1135 Balzan, Malta

Keywords:

Mediterranean, endemic, soil fauna, faunistics, distribution, anthropogenic habitat

Abstract

We present new faunistic records of mites and harvestmen from the Maltese Archipelago and reviewed available data on the faunistics of the class Arachnida of the Archipelago. Literature records of Arachnids are rather scarce and uncomprehensive and up to date, checklists dealing with them have not been published except for spiders and gall mites. Along with newly recorded families, genera and species, we compiled a preliminary checklist and review of Maltese Arachnida to facilitate faunistic research on these groups. In regard to mites, Geckobia sarahae Bertrand, Pfliegler & Sciberras, 2012 is established as a lapsus calami that refers to G. estherae Bertrand, Pfliegler & Sciberras, 2012.

 

References

Anderson, D. L. & J. W. H. Trueman (2000): Varroa jacobsoni (Acari: Varroidae) is more than one species. – Experimental and Applied Acarology 24 (3): 165–189.

Baldacchino, A. E., D. Dandria, E. Lanfranco & P. J. Schembri (1993): Records of spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) from the Maltese islands (Central Mediterranean). – The Central Mediterranean Naturalist 2 (2): 37–59.

Bertrand, M., W. P. Pfliegler & A. Sciberras (2012): Does the African native host explain the African origin of the parasite? The Maltese Geckobia estherae n. sp. parasitic on Tarentola mauritanica (Acari: Raphignathoidea: Pterygosomatidae). – Acarologia 52 (4): 353–366.

Bonnet, G. & J. Attard (2005): The Maltese Countryside Vol 2: A pictorial guide to the fauna of the Maltese Islands. – Publishers Enterprises Group, San Gwann, Malta: 392 pp.

Bosmans, R. & D. Dandria (1994): Some new records of spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) from the Maltese Islands (Central Mediterranean). – Animalia 20: 23–26.

Brignoli, P. M. (1969): Note sugli Scytodidae d’Italia e Malta. – Fragmenta Entomologica 6: 121–166.

Brignoli, P. M. (1979): Ragni d’ltalia XXX. Nuovi dati corologici ed ecologici su alcuni Araneidae. – Fragmenta Entomologica 15: 17–41.

Brignoli, P. M. (1982): Contribution a la connaissance des Filistatidae polearctiques (Araneae). – Revue Arachnologique 4: 65–75.

Cantarella, T. (1982): Salticidae (Araneae) delle Isole Maltesi. – Animalia 9: 239–252.

Caruana Gatto, A. (1926): Primo contributo alla conoscenza dei zoocecidii delle Isole Maltesi. – Archivum Melitense 7 (3): 103–126.

Condé, B. (1988): Nouveaux palpigrades de Trieste, de Slovénie, de Malte, du Paraguay, de Thaïlande et de Bornéo. – Revue Suisse de Zoologie 95 (3): 723–750.

Dandria, D. (1996): Arachnids – In: Sultana, J. & V. Falzon (eds): Wildlife of the Maltese Islands. – Environment Protection Department, Floriana, Malta: 257–262.

Dandria, D. (2001): Observations on the endemic Maltese trap door spider Nemesia arboricola Pocock, 1903 (Araneae: Nemesiidae). – The Central Mediterranean Naturalist 3 (3): 103–108.

Dandria, D. & P. Mahoney (2002): First record of spider poisoning in the Maltese Islands. – The Central Mediterranean Naturalist 3 (4): 173–176.

Dandria, D., V. Falzon & J. Henwood (2005): The current knowledge of the spider fauna of the Maltese Islands with the addition of some new records (Arachnida: Araneae). – The Central Mediterranean Naturalist 4 (2): 121–129.

Dandria, D., A. Gatt Florida & S. Mifsud (2011-2012): Recent records of spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) from Malta. – The Central Mediterranean Naturalist 5 (3-4): 6–8.

Decae, A. E. (2012): Geography-related sub-generic diversity within the Mediterranean trapdoor spider genus Nemesia (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Nemesiidae). – Arachnologische Mitteilungen 43: 24–28.

Denis, J. (1934): Elements d’une faune arachnologique de l’île de Port-Cros (Var). – Annales de la Société de Sciences Naturelles de Toulon 18: 136–158.

Di Pompeo, P., A. Kulczycki, C. A. Legittimo & E. Simeon (2011): New records for Europe: Argiope trifasciata (Forsskål, 1775) from Italy and Malta (Araneae, Araneidae). – Bulletin of the British Arachnological Society 15 (6): 205–208.

Fan, Q.-H. & Z.-Q. Zhang (2007): Tyrophagus (Acari: Astigmata: Acaridae). Fauna of New Zealand 56. – Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln, New Zealand: 291 pp.

Fet, V., M. E. Soleglad, B. Gantenbein, V. Vignoli, N. Salomone, E. V. Fet & P. J. Schembri (2003): New molecular and morphological data on the Euscorpius carpathicus species complex (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae) from Italy, Malta, and Greece justify the elevation of Euscorpius carpathicus sicanus (C.L. Koch, 1837) to the species level. – Revue suisse de Zoologie 110: 355–379.

Freudenschuss, M., T. Bauer & A. Sciberras (2013): Menemerus fagei new to Malta and Europe (Araneae: Salticidae). – Arachnologische Mitteilungen 46: 6–8.

Gardini, G. & R. Rizzerio (1987): I Roncus eucavernicoli del gruppo siculus (Pseudoscorpionida Neobisiidae). – Bollettino della Società Entomologica Italiana 119: 67–80.

Gulia, G. (1889-1890): Prontuario di Storia Naturale, contenente la nomenclatura scientifica coi corrispondenti vocaboli italiani e inglesi degli animali e delle piante che sono conosciute sotto una denominazione maltese. – A. Pugliesevich, Malta: 70 pp.

Gulia, G. (1914): Uno sguardo alla zoologia delle ‚Isole Maltesi’. – IX Congres Internationale de Zoologie, Monaco, Section II: 545–555.

Harvey, M. S. (2003) Catalogue of the Smaller Arachnid Orders of the World: Amblypygi, Uropygi, Schizomida, Palpigradi, Riciniculei and Solifugae. – CSIRO Publishing, Clayton, Vic, Australia: 400 pp.

Harvey, M. S. (2011): Pseudoscorpions of the World. Version 2.0. [ http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/catalogues/pseudoscorpions].

Harvey, M. S., F. Štáhlavský & P. D. Theron (2006): The distribution of Eukoenenia mirabilis (Palpigradi: Eukoeneniidae): a widespread tramp. – Records of the Western Australian Museum 23: 199–203.

Klimov, P. B. & B. M. OConnor (2010): Acarus putrescentiae Schrank, 1781 (currently Tyrophagus putrescentiae; Acariformes, ACARIDAE): proposed conservation of usage by designation of a replacement neotype. – Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 67 (1): 24–27.

Kontschán, J. (2003): Data to the Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata) of Greece and Malta. – Annales historico-naturales Musei nationalis hungarici 95: 185–191.

Kritscher, E. (1992): Erstnachweis von Skorpionen auf den Maltesischen Inseln. Euscorpius carpathicus candiota (Birula, 1903) (Arachn.: Scorp.: Chactidae) auf Malta und Gozo. – Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien 93B: 185–188.

Kritscher, E. (1994): Nemesia arboricola Pocock, 1903, eine durch ein Jahrhundert hindurch verschollene Spinnenart der Maltesischen Inseln. – Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien 96B: 49–57.

Kritscher, E. (1996): Ein Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Spinnen-Fauna der Maltesischen Inseln. – Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien 98B: 117–156.

Licari, E., N. Takács, N. Solymosi, R. Farkas (2017): First detection of tick-borne pathogens of dogs from Malta. – Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 8: 396–399.

de Lillo, E. (2013): Fauna Europaea: Eriophyidae. – In: Magowski, W. (2013) Fauna Europaea: Prostigmata. Fauna Europaea version 2.6.2. [http://www.faunaeur.org].

Mahnert, V. (1975): Pseudoscorpione von den Maltesischen Inseln. – Fragmenta Entomologica 11: 185–197.

Mahnert, V. (1982): Neue höhlenbewohnende Pseudoskorpione aus Spanien, Malta und Griechenland (Arachnida, Pseudoscorpiones). – Mitteilungen der Schweizerischen Entomologischen Gesellschaft 55: 297–304.

Marcellino, I. (1974): Nuovi dati sugli Opilioni (Arachnida) di Sicilia e di altre isole del Mediterraneo. – Animalia 1: 185–200.

Mifsud, D. (1997): Biological control in the Maltese Islands – past initiatives and future programmes. – Bulletin OEPP/EPPO Bulletin 27: 77–84.

Mifsud, D., R. Monfreda & E. de Lillo (2006): Eriophyoid mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Eriophyoidea) from the Maltese Islands (Central Mediterranean): new reports and a preliminary checklist. – Entomologica 40: 117–138.

Mifsud, D., A. Falzon, C. Malumphy, E. de Lillo, N. Vovlas & F. Porcelli (2012): On some arthropods associated with Ficus species (Moraceae) in the Maltese Islands. – Bulletin of the Entomological Society of Malta 5: 5–34.

Pedley, M., M. Hughes Clarke & P. Galea (2002): Limestone Isles in a Crystal Sea: The Geology of the Maltese Islands. Publishers Enterprises Group, San Gwann, Malta: 109 pp.

Pfliegler, W. P. & F. Janssens (2016): Checklist of Maltese Collembola with nomenclatural notes and new synonyms. – Soil Organisms 88 (3): 201–206.

Pocock, R. I. (1903): Descriptions of four new Arachnida of the orders Pedipalpi, Solifugae and Araneae. – Annals and Magazine of Natural History 7 (11): 220–226.

Porcelli, F., E. Ragusa, A. M. D’Onghia, S. Mizzi & D. Mifsud (2009): Occurrence of Centrouropoda almerodai and Uroobovella marginata (Acari: Uropodina) phoretic on the Red Palm Weevil in Malta. – Bulletin of the Entomological Society of Malta 2: 61–66.

Roewer, C. F. (1912): Revision der Opiliones Palpatores (= Opiliones Plagiostethi). II. Teil: Familie der Phalangiidae. (Subfamilien: Sclerosomini, Oligolophini, Phalangiini). – Abhandlungen aus dem Gebiete der Naturwissenschaften, herausgegeben vom Naturwissenschaftlichen Verein in Hamburg 20 (1): 1–295.

Saaristo, M. I. & A. V. Tanasevitch (2001): Reclassification of the pallidus-, insignis- and spelaeorum-groups of Lephthyphantes Menge, 1866 (sensu lato) (Arachnida: Araneae: Linyphiidae: Micronetinae). – Reichenbachia 34: 5–17.

Saliba, L. J. (1963): Insect pests of crop plants in the Maltese Islands. – Department of Information, Valetta, Malta: 35 pp.

Salvi, D., P. J. Schembri, A. Sciberras & D. J. Harris (2014): Evolutionary history of the Maltese wall lizard Podarcis filfolensis: insights on the ‘Expansion–Contraction’ model of Pleistocene biogeography. – Molecular Ecology 23: 1167–1187.

Savona Ventura, C. (2002): Parasites and pests of medical significance in Maltese environment - a historical review of culprit species. – The Central Mediterranean Naturalist 3 (4): 149–152.

Schembri, P. J. (1982): Harvestmen. – Potamon 1 (10): 146–147.

Schembri, P. J. (1983): The natural history of St. Paul’s Islands: invertebrates other than insects. – Potamon 11: 15–17.

Schembri, P. J. (1989): Invertebrates (other than Insects and Molluscs). – In: Sultana, J. & P. J. Schembri (eds): Red Data Book for the Maltese Islands. Ministry of Education, Valletta, Malta: 71–78.

Schembri, P. J. (1993): Physical geography and ecology of the Maltese Islands: A brief overview. – In: Busuttil, S., F. Lerin & L. Mizzi (eds): Malta: Food, agrilculture, fisheries and the environment. Options Méditerranéennes: Série B. Etudes et Recherches n7. CIHEAM, Montpellier, France: 27–39.

Schembri, P. J. (1997): The Maltese Islands: climate, vegetation and landscape. – GeoJournal 41 (2): 115–125.

Schembri, P. J. (2003): Current state of knowledge of the Maltese non-marine fauna. – In: Anonymous: Malta Environment and Planning Authority Annual report and accounts 2003. – Malta Environment and Planning Authority, Floriana, Malta: 36–65.

Sciberras, J. & A. Sciberras (2010): Topography and flora of the satellite islets surrounding the Maltese Archipelago. – The Central Mediterranean Naturalist 5 (2): 31–42.

Sciberras, J., A. Sciberras & L. Pisani (2012): Updated checklist of flora of the satellite islets surrounding the Maltese Archipelago. – Biodiversity Journal 3 (4): 385–396.

Sciberras, A., J. Sciberras, M. Freudenschuss & W. P. Pfliegler (2014): Araneus angulatus Clerck, 1757 (Araneae: Araneidae) new for the fauna of the Sicilian and Maltese archipelagos. – Revista Ibérica de Aracnología 24: 109–110.

Stekolnikov, A. A., W. P. Pfliegler & A. Sciberras (2014): Contributions to the fauna of reptilian chiggers Acari: Trombiculidae) from the Central Mediterranean, with a description of one new species. – International Journal of Acarology 40 (8): 588–594.

Stoch, F. (2003): Checklist of the species of the Italian fauna. [http://www.faunaitalia.it/checklist/introduction.html].

Sultana, J. & C. Gauci (1977-1978): Ectoparasites (other than Hippoboscidae) collected from birds. – Il-Merill (Malta) 19: 21.

Thaler, K. (1996): Neue Funde europäischer Krallenweberknechte. – Berichte des naturwissenschaftlichen-medizinischen Verein Innsbruck 83: 135–148.

World Spider Catalog (2017): World Spider Catalog. [http://wsc.nmbe.ch].

Wunderlich, J. (2011): Extant and fossil spiders (Araneae). – Beiträge zur Araneologie 6: 1–640.

Zahler, M., W. M. L. Hendrikx, A. Essig, H. Rinder & R. Gothe (2000): Species of the genus Psoroptes (Acari: Psoroptidae): A taxonomic consideration. – Experimental & Applied Acarology 24 (3): 213–225.

Zammit Maempel, G. (1985): Biology and ecology of Ghar Dalam Cave, Malta. – Atti Societa Toscana Scienze Naturali 92A: 351–374.

Zhang, Z-Q. (ed.) (2011): Animal biodiversity: An outline of higher-level classification and survey of taxonomic richness. Magnolia Press, Auckland, New Zealand: 237 pp.

Downloads

Published

2017-08-01

How to Cite

Pfliegler, W. P. ., Schönhofer, A. ., Niedbała, W. ., Vella †, P. ., Sciberras, A. ., & Vella, A. . (2017). New records of mites (Acari) and harvestmen (Opiliones) from Malta with a preliminary checklist of Maltese Arachnida. SOIL ORGANISMS, 89(2), 85–110. Retrieved from https://soil-organisms.org/index.php/SO/article/view/80

Issue

Section

ARTICLES