Gerd Alberti Knihy

Volume 160 of Zoologica presents the first comprehensive study of the anatomy and fine structure of Brevipalpus mites (Tenuipalpidae), known as false spider mites or flat mites, which are significant plant pests. Among over 200 described species, only three have been identified as vectors for several destructive plant viruses since 1940, leading to substantial crop losses. This monograph explores the mouthparts, digestive system, prosomal glands, and reproductive organs of Brevipalpus, while also addressing the nervous and tracheal systems. Introductory and concluding chapters provide an updated overview of the viruses transmitted by these mites and their vector relationships, revealing critical insights into virus transmission pathways. The study details the complex stylet apparatus that penetrates plant tissue, the food channel leading to the nearly lumen-less midgut, and the prosomal glands involved in virus transmission. Additionally, it sheds light on the reproductive system, highlighting unique structural features and the phenomenon of haploid parthenogenesis influenced by Cardinium bacteria. This volume is essential for researchers in plant parasitology, pest control, and virology, as well as biologists interested in arthropod structure and reproductive biology.

Diese 3. Auflage des 1. Teils der „Speziellen Zoologie“ wird weiterhin das maßgebende Lehrbuch der Systematischen Zoologie für Studierende der Biowissenschaften sein. Während die Systematisierung der eukaryotischen Einzeller umfangreiche Umstellungen erforderlich gemacht hat, erreicht die Großgliederung der Metazoa einen hohen Grad an Verlässlichkeit. Die wichtigsten Neuerungen sind die Auftrennung der Protostomia in die Spiralia (=Lophotrochozoa) und Ecdysozoa, die Herausnahme der Acoelomorpha aus den Plathelminthes und ihre Zusammenführung mit Xenoturbella als Xenacoelomorpha sowie die Auflösung der Articulata in Anneliden und Arthropoden mit der Neukonzeptierung der Annelida u. a. durch die Aufnahme auch der unsegmentierten Sipuncula. Auch alle übrigen Kapitel erhielten eine Überarbeitung durch ihre bisherigen Autoren bzw. durch neue Koautoren. Das Abbildungsmaterial wurde verbessert oder ergänzt, darunter die für dieses Lehrbuch charakteristischen Stammbaumschemata.

The authors provide a detailed and well-illustrated study of the fine structure of the feather mite Falculifer rostratus, focusing on its mouthparts from functional and comparative perspectives. First described in 1869 by Reinhold Buchholz, F. rostratus is the type species of the family Falculiferidae, which includes 14 genera and around 45 species that inhabit the plumage of columbiform birds. These mites are part of a larger group of over 2500 known feather mites, yet their biology and internal morphology remain largely unexplored. The study discusses the bimorphism of males in this species, particularly the heteromorphs with sickle-shaped chelicerae. For the first time, the fine structure of sensory organs in all gnathosomal parts is examined using advanced microscopy techniques, enhancing our understanding of the gnathosoma, a key feature of Acari. Additionally, the digestive tract is described in detail, revealing distinct parts and cell types, along with the discovery of microsporidian parasites in the midgut of a female mite. The research also thoroughly investigates the supracoxal glands, uncovering complex structures and functions. These findings are significant for biologists studying arthropod structure, particularly acarologists, arachnologists, parasitologists, microbiologists, ornithologists, and those interested in host-parasite coevolution.

While the integument of oribatid mites bears many interesting features and their nature and distribution is well known, primarily from studies by Grandjean conducted between 1928 and 1970 and acarologist following in his footsteps, the functions of the integument are still poorly understood Three contributions in this volume try to elucidate the integument. The first paper introduces the know types of integuments based on observations of the nature of the cuticular component and summarizes the distribution of cuticular component types among oribatid mite taxa. The second paper illustrates and discusses the fine structure of a selection of porose organs and their cellular components and presents a discussion of the function of porose organs comparing it to the more voluminous literature on cuticular structures of other insects and arachnids. Finally, the third paper synoptically interprets these data from an evolutionary perspective looking at the systematic value of and the ecological correlations between porose organs.