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Leptus (Leptus) mahtabaesp. nov. (Acari: Erythraeidae), collected as an ectoparasite of Mesobuthus rakhshanii (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Sistan and Baluchestan province, southeast Iran, is described and illustrated based on the morphological characteristics of the larvae. The position of solenidia on Ti II of Charletonia damavandica Karimi Irvanlou, Kamali & Talebi, 2002, is corrected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides information on the genus Erythraeus and its subgenera, specifically focusing on the larval stage. It discusses the subgenus Erythraeus, which is divided into two groups based on the number of basifemoralae, and Erythraeus phalangoides is classified in the first group. The article presents new data on larval specimens of E. phalangoides and transfers Erythraeus walii to the subgenus Erythraeus. It includes measurements and setae counts for E. phalangoides and compares E. walii to other species within the Erythraeus genus. The authors express gratitude to the South Australian Museum for allowing them to study type specimens and provide a list of references for further reading. [Extracted from the article]

Atractothrombium joharchii sp. nov. ectoparasitic on an unknown Tachinidae (Insecta: Diptera) is described from Alborz province, Iran. A re-definition of the genus Atractothrombium is presented. A key to the larval genera of Microtrombidiinae of the world with two median scuta and anterior scutum with longitudinal striations is given. Leg setal formula of two species of Fissitrombium described by Southcott (1994) are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of the genus Leptus, L. (L.) brevitarsus sp. n., is described and illustrated from ectoparasitic larvae collected from grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in Australia. The new species belongs to the phalangii species group and torresianus species subgroup. An updated key to species of torresianus species subgroup is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of the subgenus Leptus (Amaroptus), L. (A.) sivasensissp. n., is described and illustrated from an ectoparasitic larva collected from Cerceris sabulosa (Panzer, 1799) (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) in İmranlı district of Sivas province, Türkiye. The holotype and paratypes of Leptus (Amaroptus) vuki are studied and some corrections to the original description are presented. Also, new metric data and host records are given for L. (L.) tridentatus and L. (L.) rosellae, and intraspecific differences of both species are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Persian Journal of Acarology is the property of Acarological Society of Iran and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The iolinid mite Coccalicus clavatus Willmann, 1952 was collected during a survey from the soil of Gilanegharb, Kermanshah, Iran in 2022. This species was first described in the family Alycidae by Willmann in 1952 and then André and Uusitalo transferred it to the family Iolinidae in 2006, accompanied by transferring species from the genus Paratydaeolus to the genus Coccalicus. Some challenges about species characters of this mite are discussed in this paper and the synonymy of C. lukoschusi and C. clavatus is proposed. The genus consists of 12 species with clavate trichobothria, and is related to various habitats like soil, stored products, under barks, on leaves of different plants, and on birds. They have been reported from Europe, Antarctica and North America and this is the first record of the Coccalicus mites from Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nothrotrombidium sadeghii Noei and Kohansal sp. nov. (Acari: Trombidiformes: Trombellidae) ectoparasitic on Erebidae, Noctuidae, Geometridae, Plutellidae (Lepidoptera) and Tettigoniidae (Orthoptera) in Hotel Kouhestan and Band-e dareh regions, Chahardeh, Chahkand, Chahkandan, Esfahrood, Giuk, Noferest, Rach and Razg villages, Birjand city, South Khorasan province, Iran, is described and illustrated. A key to world larval species of Nothrotrombidium is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Leptus, L. baspinarisp. nov., is described and illustrated from larvae collected via pitfall traps (off-host) from Akçaova (Seferler) reservoir, Gökbel mountain, Aydin Province, Türkiye. The new species belongs to phalangii species group and killingtoni species subgroup. Leptus dubius Paoli and L. pouryayevalii Hakimitabar, Saboori & Fadaei are reported for the first time from Türkiye, and L. dubius Paoli is redescribed and illustrated based on Turkish specimens. New metric data are given for L. pouryayevalii. Keys to killingtoni, torresianus, dubius, and hospeticus species subgroups are presented, and definitions of dubius, bogoriacus and pasopaicus species subgroups are corrected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mites and insects have different kinds of relationships with each other, which is very important to be studied. One of these relationships is parasitism, which is seen between larvae of terrestrial Parasitengona mites (Acari: Trombidiformes) and different active stages of insects. This study aimed to determine parasitic mites associated with the solitary wasps of the family Crabronidae. The presence of mites was investigated on 3247 wasp individuals belonging to 250 species from 53 genera. Among them, 32 specimens representing 23 species were parasitized by Leptus Latreille mite larvae. As a result, a total of 58 mite larvae were detected and two species, Leptus rosellae Haitlinger, 1999 and L. tridentatus Saboori, Hakimitabar & Khademi, 2018, were identified. The latter one has been reported for the first time from Türkiye and all mite-parasitized wasp species are new host records of both mite species. This study is the first record of the parasite-host relationship between the family Crabronidae and the genus Leptus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study reports the results of surveys carried out over a period of two years (2018 and 2020) in four provinces of Iran: Guilan, Razavi Khorasan, Mazandaran, and Sistan and Baluchestan. Twenty-three species from eight genera of Phytoseiidae have been collected, of which two species were newly recorded for Iran, namely: Euseius gallicus and Proprioseiopsis lineatus. Three species, namely Neoseiulus agrestis, Amblyseius obtusus, Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) haiastanius are new records for the Guilan Province. Neoseiulus californicus and Amblyseius swirskii are new records for the Mazandaran Province while Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) haiastanius is a new record for the Razavi Khorasan Province. All species collected in Sistan and Baluchestan are new records for this province. The worldwide distribution and plant hosts of all collected phytoseiids during this study are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leptus (Leptus) pouryayevalii sp. nov. (Acari: Erythraeidae), collected by shaking the leaves of weeds on white tray (off host) from Koushk Bala village, Chalous road, Alborz Province, Iran, is described and illustrated based on larva. This species belongs to the sudanensis species group and hospeticus species subgroup which can be identified based on the following characters: TFe I without solenidion, Ge I with two solenidia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, larva of Abrolophus bochkovisp. nov. collected from Qazvin province is described and illustrated. A key to larval species of Abrolophus of the world with a comb-like seta on the palpal tarsus is presented. Moreover, A. karamani Haitlinger & Šundić, is considered as a junior synonym of A. aitapensis (Southcott 1948). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One new phyllocoptine species and two eriophyine species collected in Norther-West Iran are described and illustrated: Aculops shalchii Lotfollahi sp. nov. (Phyllocoptinae) from Sweet Clover, Melilotus indicus (L.) All. (Fabaceae), Eriophyes euphorbiae (Nalepa, 1891) from Euphorbia boissieriana (Woronow) Prokh. (Euphorbiaceae) and Aceria rubiae (Canestrini, 1897) from Rubia tinctorum L. (Rubiaceae). Our supplementary data on morphology of A. rubiae and E. euphorpbiae indicate that they both have a thin translucent supracapitular plate situated below the frontal lobe of the prodorsal shield. Data from literature suggest A. rubiae and E. euphorbiae to be gall-forming species, however no visible damages causing by these mites were found in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The larva, deutonymph and adult of Calyptostoma seemani Masoumi & Saboori sp. nov. (Trombidiformes: Calyptostomatidae) are described from the Kandovan region, Alborz province, Iran. Larvae were reared from eggs laid by adults kept at room temperature in plastic pots. A key to larval and post-larval species of Calyptostoma of the world and corrections in the description of C. gorganica are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity is an important factor in soil quality and functionality. Physical and chemical changes during agricultural operations influence on soil biodiversity. Tillage and irrigation significantly change the life of soil microorganisms. The current study was conducted in Khodabandeh County during the wheat growing season. The effect of the first treatment (two tillage systems: conventional and no-tillage systems) and the second treatment (months) in two years on the biodiversity of oribatid mites, were investigated in irrigated and rain-fed wheat farms. Twelve samples were collected randomly per each sampling time during 21 April, 5 June and 30 July 2014 and 10 May, 12 June and 31 July 2015 coinciding with tillering stage, stem elongation and harvesting. Twelve species from eight families and 12 genera were identified. Among them, Opiella nova with 24.4% relative abundance was the abundant species in 2014 and Rhinopia bipectinata with 27.5% was the abundant species in 2015. The highest value of the Shannon-Wiener diversity index was observed in the irrigated no-tillage (I-NT) system. The statistical results of the ANOVA test showed a significant difference in the Shannon-Wiener diversity index among the four systems. Shannon-Wiener diversity index in the I-NT system had a significant difference with the I-CT system (irrigated-conventional tillage). There were no significant differences between I-CT and I-NT in terms of species richness index while differences between I-NT and R-CT systems and between R-NT and R-CT systems were significant. Also, results showed that species richness index at the time of tillering stage was significantly higher than that of stem elongation. The interaction between two treatments did not show a significant difference. There was no significant difference between the two years, so the results of the two years were merged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Torrenticola Piersig, 1896 is a common water mite group in the running waters in all biogeographical regions except Antarctica and Australasia. In the present study we used an integrative taxonomic approach by applying partial COI sequences (DNA-barcodes) to describe a new species of the genus Torrenticola, T. dowlingi Pešić sp. nov. from Iran. Morphologically, the new species is most similar to T. laskai Di Sabatino, 2009 from which it differs by the larger dimensions of idiosoma and genital field. The K2P distance that separated the new species from T. laskai was amounted to 3.98%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species Empitrombium prasadi Saberi-Riseh & Saboori n. sp. (Acari: Microtrombidiidae) is described and illustrated based on larvae extracted from soil, i.e. off their host. A key to the five species based on larvae is provided and the formula of dorsal idiosomal setae of E. pesici is corrected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Biskratrombium (Trombidiformes: Microtrombidiidae), B. persicumn. sp. is described and illustrated, from Fars province, southern Iran. Biskratrombium persicum larvae are ectoparasites of the adults of Phlebotomus (Paraphlebotomus) alexandri (Sinton, 1928), P. (Phlebotomus) papatasi (Scopoli, 1786) and Sergentomyia (Sergentomyia) mervynae (Pringle, 1953) (Diptera: Psychodidae). Fars province is considered as a significant focus of leishmaniasis, a disease which is mostly associated with rural areas; these areas offer favorable habitats to the phlebotomine sandflies due to limited sanitation. This study was performed to identify the natural enemies of sandflies (as leishmania disease vectors) in this region. In this research, B. persicum larvae were removed from their sandfly hosts collected from foci of leishmaniasis (e.g., sheep and goat keeping locations) using sticky traps. Also, the abundance of sandflies infested with the parasitic mite was calculated. Some morphological abnormalities in the species are noted and world parasitengone mites parasitizing phlebotomine sandflies are reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Leptus (larvae) is revised based on type specimens and other specimens from species and locations worldwide. A total of 220 species were identified and divided into 8 morpho-groups, and 40 subgroups of species; the following synonymies were also made: Leptus (Leptus) eslamizadehi as a junior synonym of L. (L.) trimaculatus, L. (L.) ilzae as a junior synonym of L. (L.) kyushuensis, L. (L.) laplandicus as a junior synonym of L. (L.) clethrionomydis, L. (L.) alopecurus as a junior synonym of L. (L.) alvimordax, L. (L.) annikae as a junior synonym of L. (L.) cercopius, L. (L.) welbourni as a junior synonym of L. (L.) ghiradellae, L. (L.) laviniacus as a junior synonym of L. (L.) agenori, L. (L.) machilidis as a junior synonym of L. (L.) albertensis, L. (L.) gyas as a junior synonym of L. (L.) meloidarum, L. (L.) coloanensis as a junior synonym of L. (L.) astrubali, and L. (L.) sidorchukae as a junior synonym of L. (L.) maldonadoicus. In addition, tibial and tarsal chaetotactic maps are shown, leg chaetotaxy is discussed, and keys to species groups, subgroups, and species are included. We amended and provided new morphological data for 109 species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water mites of the Hygrobates fluviatilis complex are common in Palaearctic inhabiting mainly running and slowly flowing waters. In this study, we examined the specimens collected in a stream in Golestan Province of Iran which is currently the easternmost distribution limit of the latter species complex. We used a fragment of the mtDNA COI gene and the D2 region of 28S rDNA to test the genetic structure. Molecular analyses revealed presence of two new well-supported species with a mean genetic divergence of 12.80% and 14.66% COI, respectively, from their closest relatives. Phylogenetic analysis based on COI and nuclear DNA data placed H. grabowskiisp. nov. as the sister species of H. persicus, and H. uliisp. nov. as the sister species of H. turcicus. Discriminant statistical analysis revealed that the two newly discovered species could be separated on the basis of morphometric characters, but robust morphological differences were not found. Yet we were able to show that diversity in water mites is underestimated and that species delimitation requires an integrative approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of chigger mite, Odontacarus scorpionivorus Stekolnikov and Saboori sp. nov., is described from a scorpion Mesobuthus eupeus (Koch) in the West Azerbaijan Province of Iran. It is the tenth known case of a chigger parasitizing an arthropod. The new species is similar to Odontacarus paradoxus (André) described from a scorpion host in Greece and to a group of Odontacarus species from Transcaucasia, Middle Asia, and China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oribatid mites are one of the dominant soil microarthropods. These mites have an important role in increasing soil fertility through organic materials decomposition. Oribatid mite communities (Acari: Oribatida) were investigated in orchards of five regions (Ahar, Kaleibar, Varzaghan, Heris and Horand) in East Azerbaijan province, Iran. The oribatid mites were studied in each orchard (apple orchards with size of approximately 0.4 ha were selected) by collecting 12 samples taken from a maximum depth of 20 cm. Sampling was performed for six months in 2015. The oribatid species diversity (Shannon-Wiener index), Species richness (Rarefaction and Jackknife methods), Evenness by Shannon's index and similarity (Sorensen index) were calculated with Ecological Methodology 6.0 software for all the regions. A total of 75 species belonging to 57 genera and 38 families of oribatid mites were collected and identified. The highest number of species (54 spp.) was found in the orchards of Kaleibar, while the studied orchards of Varzaghan had the lowest number of species (21 spp.). One-way ANOVA analysis showed that the Shannon- Wiener species diversity was highest in Kaleibar (H = 3.409) and Ahar (H = 3.419). Also, Kaleibar and Ahar had the highest species richness (Kaleibar: 79.8 species, Ahar: 70.7 species). Among studied regions, Kaleibar and Ahar had the highest species richness and species diversity but Varzaghan showed the lowest values, apparently because of geographical and climate differences between these regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Members of the family Podapolipidae (Acari: Trombidiformes: Prostigmata) are highly specialized obligate parasites of various insects particularly Coleoptera and usually live in the subelytral cavity of host beetles. These mites exhibit a degree of host specificity at the family level. However, a remarkable exception is the genus Podapolipus, members of which parasitize three families of Coleoptera, some Orthoptera and a few Blattaria. In a survey on parasitic mites associated with insects in southern parts of Iran (Fars province), colonies of a new species of this genus were found. The mite Podapolipus laricus Majidi and Hajiqanbar sp. n. is described and illustrated. Colonies of mites were separated from under elytra and terminal abdominal segments of tenebrionid beetles, Trachyderma hispida Forskål, 1775 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pimeliinae). The new species is compared with closely related species, Podapolipus khorasanicus Hajiqanbar, 2013 and P. luzoni Husband and Corpus-Raros, 1989. The beetle genus Trachyderma is a new host record for mites of the genus Podapolipus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stigmaeid mites parasitizing phlebotomine sandflies were collected in Fars province, Southern Iran, during 2016–2017. The present study has revealed records of four species of stigmaeid mites, namely, Eustigmaeus johnstoni, Stigmaeus furcatus, Stigmaeus sinai, and Stigmaeus youngi. Among them, two species S. furcatus and S. youngi are recognized as new records for fauna of Iran. Meanwhile, S. furcatus is new report for mite fauna associated with sandflies in the world (S. furcatus is collected from sandflies for the first time in the world). Also, prevalence of stigmaeid mites on sandflies is evaluated. These parasitic mites were collected from phlebotomine sandflies comprising Phlebotomus (Paraphlebotomus) alexandri (Sinton), P. (Phlebotomus) papatasi (Scopoli), Sergentomyia (Sintonius) clydei (Sinton), Se. (Se.) sintoni Pringle, and Se. (Se.) theodori (Parrot). Moreover, wound scars resulting from mites' activities have been observed on abdomen of infested sandflies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Ceuthothrombium Robaux, Webb & Campbell, 1976 is redefined based on data of the original description and a new species from Jahrom, Iran. The discovery of a new species from Iran showed a variation between characters considered for the genus and some new features were considered as well. Also,Ceuthothrombium scolopendraesp. nov. (Acari: Trombidiformes: Neothrombiidae) is described and illustrated, as an ectoparasite of the centipede Scolopendra canidens Newport (Scolopendromorpha: Scolopendridae) from Jahrom, southern Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Persian Journal of Acarology is the property of Acarological Society of Iran and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Leptus (Leptus) darvishi Saboori, Hakimitabar & Khademi n. sp. (Acari: Erythraeidae) is described and illustrated from larval stage. It was collected ectoparasitic on undetermined grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) and undetermined beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae and Tenebrionidae) from the vicinity of Komaijan and Mahallat cities, Markazi Province, the centre of Iran. It belongs to a group of species of Leptus (Leptus) with one palpal femoral seta, two palpal genual setae, more than four setae between coxae II & III, and more than two sternal setae between coxae II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lasioerythraeus saboorii Khanjani, Raisi & Izadi was described and illustrated based on larvae ectoparasitic on Aphis punicae (Passerini) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) from Boshrouyeh, Ferdows city, South Khorasan Province, Iran. In this paper, additional specimens were collected on unknown species of Chloropidae (Diptera) as host from Mahvelat City, Khorasan Razavi Province and additional metric data are provided. A revised key to world larval species of Lasioerythraeus is presented. Chloropidae is reported as a new host for the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collemboerythraeus izadpanahi sp. nov. (Acariformes: Erythraeidae) is described and illustrated from larvae ectoparasitic on unidentified springtails (unfortunately hosts got lost and therefore could not be identified) (Hexapoda: Collembola: Sminthuridae), from Simkan region, Jahrom city, Fars province, Iran. The generic diagnosis of the genus Collemboerythraeus and key to world genera of larval Erythraeinae are amended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Neobonzia, N. panahiae Paktinat-Saeij, Bagheri & Castro sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on the female and tritonymph from soil and humus on citrus tree in the Mazandaran province, Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of the genus Sphaerotarsus Womersley, 1936, S. quercus sp. nov., is described from larvae collected in an Oak ( Quercus spp.) forest in Shiraz, Iran. This is only the third species of Sphaerotarsus known as larvae and is the first time the genus is reported from outside of Australia. A key is given to the world species of larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Momorangia binaloudensis Noei and Saboori sp. nov. (Acari: Trombidiformes: Erythraeidae) is described and illustrated from larvae, ectoparasitic on a moth, Apamea impedita (Christoph) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) from Iran. A key to larval species of the genus Momorangia is provided and the generic diagnosis is amended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Paraneognathus, P. iranicus sp. nov. is described based on females and a deutonymph collected from soil and leaf litter under citrus trees in Mazandaran province. A key to all known species of the genus Paraneognathus is provided. Also Eustigmaeus plumifer (Halbert, 1923) collected from soil of apple orchards in East Azerbaijan province, is re-described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Charletonia behshahriensis Hakimitabar and Saboori sp. nov. (Acari: Erythraeidae) is described from Behshahr city, Mazandaran province, Iran. A key to larval species of Charletonia with two intercoxalae II and III is presented. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C4860435-1673-4CC0-A24F-AF0247C5E84C [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of the genus Favognathus, F. farshchiani sp. nov., is described and illustrated, and Eryngiopus affinis Barilo, 1987 is recorded for the first time from Iran and re-described. Favognathus farshchiani sp. nov., were collected from soil under the trees of berry ( Morus alba), apricot ( Prunus armeniaca) and elm ( Ulmus sp.)in various orchards and fields. Eryngiopus affinis were collected from the soil of berry orchards, Isfahan province, Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hexabdella persiaensisPaktinat Saeej and Bagherisp. nov.is described and illustrated from Amol city, Mazandaran province, Iran. This is the first species of this genus described from Asia. An updated key to all species of the genusHexabdellais also presented. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3BA520C7-E2D7-4387-80CB-E2BA17590B3F [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Erythraeus ( Zaracarus) hafezi Saboori, Hakimitabar & Mahmoudi sp. nov. is described and illustrated from larvae ectoparasitic on various insects collected in Shiraz city, Fars Province, Iran. A key to world species of Erythraeus ( Zaracarus) larvae is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of the family Stigmaeidae namely,Stigmaeus isfahaniensissp. nov.andCheylostigmaeus sepasgosarianisp. nov.collected from soil and leaf litter underPinussp. (Pinaceae) andArmenian bulgur(Itch) are illustrated and described. LSIDurn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:CEB7D976-DE97-4A94-9B07-BAC0326BCC04 [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The original description, particularly the leg chaetotaxy, was imperfect so we redescribe Caraboacarus krczali Eidelberg, 1994 (Acari: Heterostigmata: Caraboacaridae) associated with Calosoma auropunctatum Gebler, 1833 (Coleoptera: Carabidae). This is the first record of the species from Iran and Senegal. The host specificity and distribution of this species are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of the genus Coptocheles Summers and Schlinger 1955 (Acari: Caligonellidae), Coptocheles farsiensis, from Iran is described. A key to all the species in the genus is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pteridopus alivaensis n. sp. (Acari: Chyzeriidae) is described and illustrated from larvae ectoparasitic on adults of Paradrymadusa sp. (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae), which is a new host, from Naviz village, Aliva area, Taleghan city, Tehran Province, Iran. A key to the species of Pteridopus of the world (larva) is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Charletonia behbahanensis sp.n. and C. bojnordensis sp.n., larval erythraeids, are described from Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A comprehensive molecular phylogeny of Parasitengona (water mites, terrestrial mites, including chiggers) is inferred. • This phylogeny recovered a new high-level clade, Trombelloidae, including four families (Trombellidae, Neotrombidiidae, Johnstonianidae, Chyzeriidae). • For the terrestrial Parasitengona, we propose a new, seven-superfamily classification reconciling previous findings from the literature. • The ancestral Parasitengona is recovered as terrestrial, suggesting that its aquatic lineages are secondarily aquatic. • The lack of the typical heteromorphic metamorphosis in the family Allotanaupodoidea is interpreted as a reversal. Parasitengona (velvet mites, chiggers and water mites) is a highly diverse and globally distributed mite lineage encompassing over 11,000 described species, inhabiting terrestrial, freshwater and marine habitats. Certain species, such as chiggers (Trombiculidae), have a great medical and veterinary importance as they feed on their vertebrate hosts and vector pathogens. Despite extensive previous research, the classification of Parasitengona is still contentious, particularly regarding the boundaries between superfamilies and families, exacerbated by the absence of a comprehensive phylogeny. The ontogeny of most Parasitengona is distinct by the presence of striking metamorphosis, with parasitic larvae being heteromorphic compared to the predatory free-living deutonymphs and adults. The enigmatic superfamily Allotanaupodoidea is an exception, with larvae and active post-larval stages being morphologically similar, suggesting that the absence of metamorphosis may be either an ancestral state or a secondary reversal. Furthermore, there is disagreement in the literature on whether Parasitengona had freshwater or terrestrial origin. Here, we inferred phylogenetic relationships of Parasitengona (89 species, 36 families) and 307 outgroups using five genes (7,838 nt aligned). This phylogeny suggests a terrestrial origin of Parasitengona and a secondary loss of metamorphosis in Allotanaoupodoidea. We recovered the superfamily Trombidioidea (Trombidioidea sensu lato) as a large, well-supported, higher-level clade including 10 sampled families. We propose a new classification for the terrestrial Parasitengona with three new major divisions (epifamilies) of the superfamily Trombidioidea: Trombelloidae (families Audyanidae, Trombellidae, Neotrombidiidae, Johnstonianidae, Chyzeriidae); Trombidioidae (Microtrombidiidae, Neothrombiidae, Achaemenothrombiidae, Trombidiidae, Podothrombiidae); and Trombiculoidae (=Trombiculidae sensu lato). Adding them to previously recognized superfamilies Allotanaupodoidea, Amphotrombioidea, Calyptostomatoidea, Erythraeoidea, Tanaupodoidae and Yurebilloidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]