Three new unusual beetle-associated species of the Genus Gaeolaelaps (Acari, Mesostigmata, Laelapidae) from Ukraine

Abstract

Three new species of mesostigmatic mites from Ukraine are described: Gaeolaelaps heteroceri Trach, sp. n. associated with Heterocerus sp. (Coleoptera, Heteroceridae) from Odessa, Mykolaiv and Kherson Regions; G. khaustovi Trach, sp. n., associated with Bembidion sp. (Coleoptera, Carabidae) from Crimea; G. sevastianovi Trach, sp. n. associated with Heterocerus sp. (Coleoptera, Heteroceridae) from Lugansk Region. These three species are characterised by a number of unique characters: very short peritremes and peritrematal shields, elongated dorsal shield, abnormal for Laelapidae leg chaetotaxy. A key to the species of Gaeolaelaps with extra short peritremes is presented.