Persian Journal of Acarology

Abstract The identification of Hyalomma is a challenging issue in the systematics of ixodid ticks. Here, we examined 960 adult males of Hyalomma tick from 10 provinces of Iran using morphological and molecular methods. PCR was carried out on 60 samples to amplify an ITS2 fragment of nuclear and a COI fragment of mitochondrial genomes. Nine species, namely H. aegyptium, H. anatolicum, H. asiaticum, H. scupense, H. dromedarii, H. excavatum, H. marginatum, H. rufipes and H. schulzei were identified. The validity of H. rufipes and H. excavatum can be challenged. We concluded that these species should be regarded as H. marginatum and H. anatolicum complexes, respectively. Furthermore, the taxonomic status of the two closely related H. anatolicum and H. asiaticum was confirmed as distinct species.

Abstract We provide new records of five oribatid and 10 mesostigmatic mite species for Georgia. As a result, the number of oribatid mites registered for Georgia increased to 548 and the preliminary number of Mesostigmata species to 136. For each record, diagnostic characters, coordinate data, habitat and information about regional and world distribution are provided. 

Abstract A new species of the genus Africasia (Hydrachnidia: Athienemanniidae), A. iranica sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on females and males collected from a spring in Khuzestan province in Iran. This is the first report of the family Athienemanniidae from Iran.

Abstract Larvae of water mite Hydrachna skorikowi Piersig, 1900 (Acari, Hydrachnidae) were collected on water boatmen species Corixa punctata (Illiger, 1807) and Sigara sp. (Corixidae) from, Guilan provine, Iran captured by light trap. The redescription of the larva was made based on specimens collected from Guilan province, northern Iran. This is the first record of the larva of H. skorikowi from Iran.

Abstract In a study on insect-associated heterostigmatic mites (Acari: Trombidiformes: Prostigmata) carried out in Mazandaran province, northern Iran, during spring and summer 2016–2017, a total of 13 species from 11 genera of six families were identified. Among them, three species Imparipes sevastianovi Khaustov, 2008, Scutacarus hystrichocentrus Sevastianov, 1983 (Scutacaridae), and Petalomium kurosai Khaustov, 2014 (Neopygmephoridae) are new records for mite fauna of Iran. The S. hystrichocentrus is also new for Asian mite fauna. Eight new host records are documented and the distributions of the mites are revised. Beetles of the family Cerambycidae are recorded as host of the mite families Microdispidae and Scutacaridae for the first time.

Abstract The genus and species Leitneria pugio (Karg) was identified in garlic growing areas in Kastamonu which is located Northeastern part of Turkey. This species and genus findings are new records for Turkey. The species were previously only recorded in Europe and Iran. Leitneria pugio was collected during vegetation period from the weed plants (wild oat) with attached soil. Extraction was provided by Berlese funnel system and individuals were stored in 70% ethanol, cleared in lacto phenol solutions and mounted in Hoyer’s medium on microscopic slides. The samples were collected during the surveys conducted for a project (TUBITAK─114O416) on identification of the mite species on garlic growing plantations during 2016.

Abstract In this research, one female specimen of A. (A.) pannonicus Willmann, 1951 was found from under elytra of an unknown species of Harpalus Latreille (Carabidae) collected in Naharkhoran Forest, Golestan Province, northern Iran. This is the first record of this species for mite fauna of Iran.