New species and new records of mites of the family laelapidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) associated with coleoptera in Iran

Abstract

We report on a collection of mites in the family Laelapidae associated with scarabaeid beetles in Iran. Five known species are recorded from Iran for the first time: Coleolaelaps asiaticus Karg, 1999, Hypoaspis integer Berlese, 1911, Hypoaspis pentodoni Costa, 1971, Hypoaspis phyllognathi Costa, 1971, and Hypoaspis terrestris (Leonardi, 1899). Four new species are described: Coleolaelaps costai sp. nov., Hypoaspis larvicolus sp. nov., Hypoaspis maryamae sp. nov., and Hypoaspis melolonthae sp. nov. The ecological relationship between these mites and their beetle hosts has not been analysed in detail, but they probably do not play a major role as biological control agents of pest scarabs. ©2011 Magnolia Press.