A new genus and species of edaphic mite (Acari: esostigmata: Eviphididae) from Iran.

The new genus Pedoniphis gen. nov. (Acari: Mesostigmata: Eviphididae) is described from soil detritus in Sabalan Mountains, northwest Iran, with P. persicus sp. nov. as type species. Among known eviphidid genera, the new genus is the most similar to Scamaphis Karg and Scarabacariphis Masán and it can be distinguished especially by the dorsal chaetotaxy (setae J2 absent, setae J5 rudimentary) and the specific form of the peritrematal-dorsal scutal complex (peritrematal shields reduced; peritremes well developed, fused to lateral margins of dorsal shield).

A new species of the genus Nothrholaspis Berlese (Acari: Macrochelidae) from Iran.

A new mite species of the genus Nothrholaspis Berlese, Nothrholaspis saboorii Babaeian & Joharchi sp. nov., is described and illustrated from specimens collected from soil in the Karaj region of Iran. An identification key for the known species of Nothrholaspis is presented.

Molecular phylogeny reveals Varroa mites are not a separate family but a subfamily of Laelapidae.

Varroa mites, notorious for parasitizing honeybees, are generally classified as Varroidae. Their extremely modified morphologies and behaviors have led to debates regarding their phylogenetic position and classification as an independent family. In this study, two different datasets were employed to reconstruct the phylogenies of Varroa mites and related Laelapidae species: (1) 9257 bp from the whole 13 mitochondrial protein-coding genes of 24 taxa, (2) 3158 bp from 113 taxa using Sanger sequencing of four nuclear loci. Both mitochondrial and nuclear analyses consistently place Varroa mites within the Laelapidae. Here we propose to place Varroa mites in the subfamily Varroinae stat. nov., which represents a highly morphologically adapted group within the Laelapidae. Ancestral state reconstructions reveal that bee-associated lifestyles evolved independently at least three times within Laelapidae, with most phoretic traits originating from free-living ancestors. Our revised classification and evolutionary analyses will provide new insight into understanding the Varroa mites.

Review of the genus Myrmozercon Berlese (Acari: Laelapidae), with description of two new species from Iran.

This paper reports on three species of mites of the genus Myrmozercon Berlese, 1902 associated with ants in Iran--Myrmozercon crinitus Joharchi sp. nov. from Pheidole pallidula (Nylander), Myrmozercon michaeli Joharchi sp. nov. from Messor sp. and Myrmozercon tauricus Trach & Khaustov from Crematogaster schmidti (Mayr) in the bark of grape vines. Myrmozercon is redefined, the distribution, and the host-specificity and host range of its constituent species are discussed. A key to species of Myrmozercon occurring in the Palaearctic Region is presented.

A new species and new records of Gymnolaelaps Berlese from Iran (Acari: Laelapidae), with a review of the species occurring in the Western Palaearctic Region.

This paper reports on five species of mites of the genus Gymnolaelaps associated with ants and soil in Iran--G. artavilensis sp. nov. from Pheidole pallidula, G. laevis (Michael) and G. myrmecophilus (Berlese) from Tetramorium caespitum, G. myrmophila (Michael) from Formica sp., and G obscuroides Costa from soil. Gymnolaelaps australicus Womersley and G. hospes (Berlese) have also been reported from Iran, in association with P. pallidula, but those records are incorrect. A key to the species of Gymnolaelaps occurring in the Western Palaearctic Region is presented. We review the related genus Laelaspisella Marais & Loots, and transfer Gymnolaelaps kabitae Bhattacharyya and G. canestrinii (Berlese) sensu Costa to Laelaspisella.

A new species of the genus Promacrolaelaps (Acari: Laelapidae) associated with Propomacrus bimucronatus (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in Iran.

We describe a new species of mite from Iran - Pronacrolaelaps propomacrus sp. nov. (Acari: Laelapidae). The new species was collected in association with the beetle Propomacrus bimucronatus (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Euchirinae) in holes in the trunk of oak trees. The genus Promacrolaelaps is redescribed and distinguished from the related genus Hypoaspis Canestrini sells. strict.

A new species and new record of Reticulolaelaps Costa (Acari: Laelapidae) from Iran.

We describe a new species of mite from Iran--Reticulolaelaps hallidayi Joharchi, Nemati & Babaeian sp. nov. (Acari: Laelapidae). The new species was collected in a nest of Tapinoma sp. (Hymnoptera: Formicidae) in Taleghan city, Alborz Province and in soil in Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran. Reticulolaelapsfaini is reported for the first time from Iran. The genus Reticulolaelaps is redescribed, and Reticulolaelaps lativentris Karg is transferred to Pseudoparasitus Oudemans.

The first record of the genus Julolaelaps Berlese (Acari, Mesostigmata, Laelapidae) in Republic of Korea and description of a new species on a captive giant African millipede (Spirostreptidae, Archispirostreptus).

This paper reports on a new species of mite of the genus Julolaelaps Berlese in Republic of Korea. Females and males of a new species, Julolaelapsgigassp. nov., were collected on a captive giant African millipede, Archispirostreptusgigas (Spirostreptida: Spirostreptidae). The new species is described and illustrated based on morphological characters of the adult females and males and compared with known congeners. This new species is the first record of Julolaelaps from Republic of Korea. In addition, an updated key to all known species of the genus is presented.

Ontogenetic instars of Lepidacarus maafushiensis sp. nov. from the Maldives, with remarks on morphological ontogeny of Lohmanniidae (Acari, Oribatida).

Although the juvenile instars of oribatid mite family Lohmanniidae are well known compared to the other families of the infraorder Enarthronota, information on morphological ontogeny most known species is still lacking. Herein, a new species of the genus Lepidacarus is proposed from soil-litter of the Maafushi Island, Maldives, based on all ontogenetic instars. A comparative analysis of ontogenetic instars of species belonging various genera of Lohmanniidae is given, and the major characteristics of juvenile instars of 21 species are presented. From this analysis, it can be generalized that the juvenile morphologies of lohmanniid genera are quite similar and uniform, there is no significant features separating different genera of Lohmanniidae, and the juveniles of various genera differ from one another in the same characteristics as the adults.

New species and new records of Cosmolaelaps Berlese (Acari: Laelapidae) from Russia, with a review of the Russian species of the genus.

This paper reports on six species of the genus Cosmolaelaps (Laelapidae) in Russia: Cosmolaelaps lutegiensis (Shcherbak) collected from soil-litter, C. chianensis (Gu) and C. rectangularis Sheals, 1962 from Myrmica sp. (Formicidae), and Cosmolaelaps lasiophilus Joharchi sp. nov., Cosmolaelaps latisetis Joharchi sp. nov., and Cosmolaelaps sejongi Keum et al. from Lasius spp. (Formicidae). Two new species are described and illustrated from adult females and supplementary descriptions of three other species are presented to facilitate species delimitation. In addition, an identification key to all known Russian species of the genus is presented.

Morphological ontogeny and complementary description of Neoseiulus subsolidus (Beglyarov) (Acari: Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae).

The morphological ontogeny of Neoseiulus subsolidus (Beglyarov) (Acari: Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) was studied based on the specimens collected from Salix sp. (Salicaceae) leaves in Tyumen region and Altai Republic, Russia. All active life stages including larva, protonymph, deutonymph, adult female and male were described and illustrated. The taxonomic challenges in recognizing species in the canadensis species group are discussed.

Review of some mites of the genus Ololaelaps Berlese (Acari, Laelapidae) in Russia, with description of a new species.

This study provides additional morphological information and new illustrations for three species of Ololaelaps Berlese described by Bregetova Koroleva (1964) from RussiaO. caucasicus, O. sellnicki and O. ussuriensisto supplement the original descriptions. Since holotypes for these three species were not designated, a lectotype is chosen from among the syntypes of each examined species. We describe the adult male and female of Ololaelaps altaiensis Joharchi sp. nov., from specimens collected from moss on the shore of the Teletskoye Lake, in Altai Mountains, Russia. The new species is distinguished from other Ololaelaps species by its short peritremes, ending near the middle of coxae II. The new species also has elongate paradactyli, extending well beyond the pretarsal claws; this feature appears to be correlated with the species semiaquatic habitat, and such correlation between tarsal morphology and ecology occurs in other species of Ololaelaps and of Gaeolaelaps with similar habitats.

World distribution and host range of Podapolipoides spp. (Acari: Heterostigmatina: Podapolipidae), with the description of a new species.

The ectoparasitic mite Podapolipoides anacridii n. sp. (Heterostigmatina: Podapolipidae), collected from the basal hindwings of Anacridium sp. (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in central Iran, is described. Podapolipoides Regenfuss, 1968 is defined, and the distribution, host-specificity and host range of its constituent species are discussed.

Two new species of Gaeolaelaps Evans amp; Till (Acari: Laelapidae) from the Andes Mountains, Peru.

Two new species of mites in the genus Gaeolaelaps (Laelapidae) are described from specimens collected from soil-litter in the Peruvian Andes G. acanthopedus sp. nov. and G. andensis sp. nov.. Both species are consistent with the current concept of the genus Gaeolaelaps Evans Till. The genus Gaeolaelaps is reported for the first time from Peru.

A new genus and species of Laelapidae Canestrini from Sri Lanka (Acari: Mesostigmata).

We describe a new monotypic genus in the mite family Laelapidae, Hyposternus gen. nov., to accommodate a new species, H. ceylonicus sp. nov., on the basis of female, male and protonymph specimens collected from soil-litter in Sri Lanka. The female of the new genus differs from other genera of Laelapidae by having a strongly desclerotised sternal shield, essentially represented by a narrow anterior and lateral sclerotised ridges. Other distinctive features of the new species include the absence of dorsal shield seta z3, an epistome projecting anteriorly, movable digit of the chelicera tapered apically, an elongate anal shield, thorn-like opisthogastric setae, an anteriorly widened hypostomal groove, and long dorsal macrosetae ad1 on femora IIIV.

A new genus and two new species of melicharid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) associated with wood-decaying fungi and mycophagous erotylid beetles (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) in Europe.

We describe a new genus in the mite family Melicharidae, Mycomelichares Masán Joharchi gen. nov., to accommodate two new species, Mycomelichares polypori Masán Joharchi sp. nov. and Mycomelichares reductus Masán Joharchi sp. nov. on the basis of specimens collected on wood-decaying fungi and/or mycophagous beetles of the genera Triplax Herbst and Tritoma Fabricius (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) in Slovakia and European part of Russia, respectively. Moreover, two previously described Proctolaelaps species-P. cyllodi Samsinák, 1960 and P. slovacus Masán, 1998 are transferred to the newly established genus. The new genus is characterized by specific characters in tritosternum (enlarged and brush-shaped, having their laciniae thickened, basaly fused and distally densely pilose), chelicerae (slightly dish-shaped digits with long, narrow and sharp denticles), ventral hypostome (setae h1 enlarged, thickened and distally flattened), setation (tendency towards placement of R series setae on soft integument, and reduction of some setae on idiosoma and legs), and unusual ecological specialisation on fungal substrates. Mycomelichares polypori sp. nov. is adapted to the life in sporophores of the basidiomycete bracket fungus, Polyporus squamosus (Polyporaceae). Mites of this species can be abundantly found on the lower fertile surface of the fungus, including large spore-bearing pores. Furthermore, keys to the melicharid genera reported from Palaearct, and the species of the genus are provided.

Two new species and a new record of emGaeolaelaps/em Evans amp; Till (Acari: Laelapidae) from Altai Mountains, Russia.

This paper reports on three species of mites of the genus Gaeolaelaps from Altai Mountains, Russia. Gaeolaelaps altaiensis sp. nov., G. lenis Vatankhah Nemati were collected from nests of Lasius sp. and Formica sp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), respectively, and G. euparadactylifer sp. nov. from moss on the shore of the Teletskoye Lake. The new species have the unusual character state of short peritremes, ending near the middle of coxae II. In G. euparadactylifer sp. nov., the pretarsal paradactyli on legs II-IV are strongly elongated, apically pointed and with their tips projecting well beyond the claws. Both new species are described based on morphological characters of the adults. In addition, the male of Gaeolaelaps lenis is described for the first time.

A new species of emTyphlodromus/em (Anthoseius) De Leon and redescription of emT. (A.)/em emmontanus/em Chant amp; Yoshida-Shaul from Russia.

Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) tetraporus sp. nov., collected on grasses in Crimea, is proposed as a new species for science. The new species can be separated from all known species of Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) by the combination of following characters; peritreme extending almost to level of setae j1, four pairs of solenostomes on dorsal shield, two pairs of setae on sternal shield, a sclerotised v-shaped plate posterior to sternal shield, four pairs of pre-anal setae, a pair of small rounded pre-anal solenostomes, differentiated and larger atrium of spermatheca and eight setae on genu II. In addition, T. (A.) montanus Chant Yoshida-Shaul (Acari: Phytoseiidae), a species only known based on its original description from Canada is reported for the first time in Russia. The new record is redescribed and illustrated based on female specimens collected from Prunus padus L. (Rosaceae) where it was associated with eriophyid mites in Pereval Seminskiy, Altai Republic. This species may be an important predator as a potential biological control agent of eriophyid mites.

A new species of the genus Proctogastrolaelaps McGraw amp; Farrier (Acari: Melicharidae) from the Far East of Russia, and contributions to knowledge of this genus.

We describe a new mite species from the Far East of RussiaProctogastrolaelaps subsolanus Joharchi Marchenko sp. nov. (Acari: Melicharidae). The new species was collected from soil-litter on the shores of the Tunaycha Lake and Sea of Okhotsk in Sakhalin Island. The important morphological characteristics of the genus Proctogastrolaelaps are revised.

Some free-living laelapid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) from Tristan da Cunha and Nightingale Islands, with description of a new species of Gaeolaelaps Evans amp; Till (Acari: Laelapidae) and the first afrotropical record of the genus Nidilaelaps Shaw.

This paper reports on four species of free-living mites of the family Laelapidae from Tristan da Cunha and Nightingale Islands: Cosmolaelaps claviger (Berlese), Gaeolaelaps aculeifer (Canestrini), G. furcatus sp. nov., and Nidilaelaps annectans (Womersley). The new species has the unique character states of the paradactyli on pretarsi IIIV being very elongated and the pulvillar lobe well developed in shape of a fork on ambulacra IIIV. The genus Nidilaelaps Shaw is here reported for the first time from Afrotropical realm.