Global distribution and host range of the endoparasitic mite genus Locustacarus (Acari: Podapolipidae) with description of a new species from Iran parasitizing grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae).

Mites (Acari) represent important parasites for a diverse range of hosts. Within the Acari, the Prostigmata represent a diverse suborder of the order Trombidiformes with about 20 000 species, including parasitic forms on both vertebrates and invertebrates. Within the Prostigmata, the genus Locustacarus (Heterostigmata: Podapolipidae) is particularly known as an intratracheal parasite of bumblebees and grasshoppers. In a survey on prostigmatic mites (Acari: Trombidiformes: Prostigmata) associated with insects in the eastern parts of Iran, one new species of the endoparasitic Locustacarus was collected associated to the grasshopper Aiolopus thalassinus (Fabricius) (Orthoptera: Acrididae). This new species, Locustacarus aiolopi Rahmatzaei & Hajiqanbar n. sp., is described here and compared morphologically with other species of the genus. This new species represents the first record of a grasshopper-associated Locustacarus species in the Palearctic. We further provide a comprehensive review of the global distribution of this genus as well as its host range.

Two new species of Eutarsopolipus (Acari: Prostigmata: Podapolipidae) parasitizing Syntomus lateralis (Coleoptera: Carabidae) from Iran.

Two new species of the genus Eutarsopolipus Berlese (Acari: Heterostigmata: Podapolipidae), Eutarsopolipus gombrooni Hajiqanbar and Mortazavi sp. nov. and E. oconnori Hajiqanbar and Mortazavi sp. nov., are described from different localities in Iran. Both belong to the myzus species group and were found beneath the elytra of Syntomus lateralis (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Carabidae). The carabid genus Syntomus is a new host record for mites of the genus Eutarsopolipus.

Comprehensive phylogeny of acariform mites (Acariformes) provides insights on the origin of the four-legged mites (Eriophyoidea), a long branch.

Eriophyoid, or four-legged mites, represent a large and ancient radiation of exclusively phytophagous organisms known from the Triassic (230 Mya). Hypothesizing phylogenetic relatedness of Eriophyoidea among mites is a major challenge due to the absence of unambiguous morphological synapomorphies, resulting in ten published hypotheses placing eriophyoids in various places in the acariform tree of life. Here we test the evolutionary relationships of eriophyoids using six genes and a representative taxonomic sampling of acariform mites. The total evidence analysis places eriophyoids as the sister group of the deep soil-dwelling, vermiform family Nematalycidae (Endeostigmata). This arrangement was supported by the rDNA and CO1 partitions. In contrast, the nuclear protein partition (genes EF1-α, SRP54, HSP70) suggests that Eriophyoidea is sister to a lineage including Tydeidae, Ereynetidae, and Eupodidae (Eupodina: Trombidiformes). On both of these alternative topologies, eriophyoids appear as a long branch, probably involving the loss of basal diversity in early evolution. We analyze this result by using phylogenetically explicit hypothesis testing, investigating the phylogenetic signal from individual genes and rDNA stem and loop regions, and removing long branches and rogue taxa. Regardless of the two alternative placements, (i) the cheliceral morphology of eriophyoids, one of the traits deemed phylogenetically important, was likely derived directly from the plesiomorphic acariform chelicerae rather than from the modified chelicerae of some trombidiform lineages with a reduced fixed digit; and (ii) two potential synapomorphies of Eriophyoidea+Raphignathina (Trombidiformes) related to the reduction of genital papillae and to the terminal position of PS segment can be dismissed as result of convergent evolution. Our analyses substantially narrow the remaining available hypotheses on eriophyoid relationships and provide insights on the early evolution of acariform mites.

New species and records of the genera Scutacarus and Imparipes (Acari: Heterostigmatina: Scutacaridae) associated with Coleoptera and Hymenoptera (Arthropoda: Insecta) from Iran.

A survey was carried out to study scutacarid mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Scutacaridae) associated with insects in Borujerd city, western Iran. A new species and six species new to the mite fauna of Iran, and mostly new to Asia, were found. Scutacarus pseudoapodemi Navabi Hajiqanbar sp. nov. phoretic on the ant Camponotus oasium Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is described and illustrated. The new records of scutacarids associated with ants and beetles are: Scutacarus avarus Khaustov, 2008; Imparipes ignotus Khaustov Chydyrov, 2004; I. gagati Khaustov, 2008; I. malus Khaustov, 2008 and I. morosus Khaustov, 2008 associated with various ants, and I. moderatus Khaustov, 2008 associated with the beetle Drasterius bimaculatus (Rossi) (Coleoptera: Elateridae). New host records are documented and the world distribution of these mites is also reviewed.

Redescription of Eutarsopolipus elongatus Regenfuss, 1968 (Acari: Podapolipidae) parasitising carabid beetles, with first description of the male.

A species of mites of the genus Eutarsopolipus Berlese, 1911 (Acari: Prostigmata: Podapolipidae), Eutarsopolipus elongatus Regenfuss, 1968, belonging to the acanthomus species group, is found from northwestern Iran. This is first record of the species from Asia including Iran. Also, unknown male of this species is discovered. During a survey on mites associated with insects in northwestern Iran, three colonies of this ectoparasitic species were recovered from subelytral cavity of the carabid beetles (Amara aenea). Purposes of this article are to describe the male and to redescribe the larval and adult females of this species, with world key to male stage of the acanthomus species group of the genus Eutarsopolipus.

First record of the myzus species group (Acari: Podapolipidae: Eutarsopolipus Berlese, 1911) from Asia, with the description of two new species parasitising carabid beetles.

Two new species of Eutarsopolipus Berlese, 1911 (Acari: Heterostigmatina: Podapolipidae), belonging to the myzus species group, are described from the subelytra of carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in Iran. Eutarsopolipus anichtchenkoi n. sp. was found on Pterostichus sp. and E. terricolae n. sp. on Scarites terricola Bonelli. This is the first record of the myzus species group from Asia. A key to the adult females of this species group worldwide is provided, and the distribution and host range of all representatives of the group are discussed.

A new podapolipid species (Acari) on Scarabaeus (Scarabaeus) acuticollis (Insecta: Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) from Iran.

A new species of mites of the genus Tarsopolipus (Acari: Prostigmata: Podapolipidae) is described from southern Iran. Tarsopolipus husbandi Mortazavi and Hajiqanbar n. sp. is a sub-elytral ectoparasite of the scarabaeid beetle, Scarabaeus (Scarabaeus) acuticollis. The new species is closely related to Tarsopolipus corrugatus Berlese 1911, but is distinguished from it by the following characters. Adult female: presence of vestigial setae v(2) and shorter setae sc(2). Adult male: presence of setae v' on tibia IV and shorter setae sc(2) and c(2). Larval female: shorter cheliceral stylets and longer distance between setae v(1) and ch. Species of Tarsopolipus are currently distributed in Afro-tropical, Palaearctic, and Oriental regions and parasitize species in 3 genera of scarabaeid beetles, i.e., Scarabaeus , Kheper, and Drepanopodes, all belonging to the tribe Scarabaeini.