Persian Journal of Acarology

Abstract We studied oribatid mite diversity in two sites of virgin Pleistocene forests in Borjom-Kharagauli National Park in Georgia. The aim was to explore the effects of microhabitat and tree species on the composition and the relative abundance of oribatid mites. Investigations revealed high species richness (96 species in total) with community composition varying according to the microhabitat type. Carabodes tenuis Forsslund, 1953 was registered for the first time for Caucasian fauna. Soil and canopy (twig)-dwelling oribatid communities comprises rather distinctive groups unlike moss and litter. No difference was observed between moss and litter dweller mites. One species, Camisia horrida (Hermann, 1804), was found only in canopy samples, but was very rare. Poroliodes farinosus (C.L. Koch, 1840), Carabodes labyrinthicus (Michael, 1879) and Phauloppia rauschensis (Sellnick, 1908) were found frequently in canopy habitats, with P. rauschensis abundant on tree twigs and almost absent from forest floor. The presence of beech trees (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) was correlated with the number of species per site. The results showed that geographic distance between sites is an important determinant in oribatid community composition and can have stronger effects than a microhabitat type.

Abstract A survey to study of mites associated with pomegranate in Mahvelat region, Khorasan Razavi province, northeastern Iran, in 2013 led to find three species of the superfamily Pygmephoroidea (Acari: Prostigmata: Heterostigmata) new to mite fauna of Asia. The materials have been collected from soil samples. These three species belong to three families of the mentioned superfamily as follows: Premicrodispus longicaudus Khaustov, 2006 (Microdispidae), Kerdabania variabilis Khaustov, 2009 (Neopygme-phoridae), Neositeroptes opacus Livshits, Mitrovanov & Sharonov, 1986 (Pygmephor-idae). A key to Iranian Pygmephoroidea (excluding Scutacaridae) recovered from soil samples is provided.

Abstract In order to study the species richness of oribatid mites in rangelands of West Azerbaijan Province (Northwestern Iran), soil samples were taken in eight different sites of rangelands including Ghooshchi (1600–1750 and 1750–2000 m a.s.l), Ghasemloo (1300–1450, 1450–1600 and 1600–1750 m a.s.l) Roze-Chai (1450–1600 m a.s.l), Marmisho (1750–2000 m a.s.l) and Ordooshahi (1300–1450 m a.s.l) areas at three different times (mid-May, mid-August and mid-October) of the year 2012. In total, 71 species belonging to 49 genera, 32 families and 20 superfamilies were collected and identified. The oribatid species richness was calculated for all the samples with the Ecological Methodology 6.0 software. One-way ANOVA revealed significant differences (P< 0.01) in oribatid species richness among sites (P< 0.01). Ghasemloo­ 2 (44 species) had the highest species and Ordooshahi­ (14 species), Ghooshchi 1 (19 species) and Roze-Chai (24 species) had the lowest species richness, respectively. Also, there were significant differences (P< 0.01) in species richness at different altitudes. In this regard, Ghooshchi­ 2 and Marmisho (1750−2000 m a.s.l) had the highest species richness among the studied areas.

Abstract This paper represents the first redescription of Hemileius suramericanus (Hammer, 1958) (Oribatida, Scheloribatidae). Morphological and chaetotactic details are added to original Hammer''''''''''''''''s description. The species is compared with others Neotropical species of Hemileius and two new synonyms, H. laticlava and H. confundatus sensu Hammer, are proposed.

Abstract A new species of the genus Favognathus Luxton is described from Iran, namely: F. naghii Hassanzadeh, Khanjani & SafarAlizadeh sp. nov., collected from soil and litter under Cydonia oblonga Mill. (Rosaceae), Sardasht vicinity, Western Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Also, a key to all known species of the genus Favognathus is presented here.

Abstract Two new eriophyoid species belonging to subfamily Phyllocoptinae, namely Tegonotus larii sp. nov. and Tetra iranica sp. nov. from Phoenix dactylifera L. (Arecaceae) in Lar city, Fars Province, southern Iran, are described and illustrated. Detailed morphological characteristics are given based on adult females. Both new species described herein are vagrants on their host plants. No symptoms were observed.