A new genus and species of larval mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Microtrombidiidae) from Iran

Abstract

Persianthrombium farajii Sedghi, Saboori & Hakimitabar gen. et sp. nov. (Acari: Microtrombidiidae) is described and illustrated from larvae ectoparasitic on undetermined Locusta (Orthoptera: Acrididae) from Jahrom, Fars Province, Iran. A key to larval genera of Microtrombidiidae with three dorsal scuta is presented.

The first description of a microtrombidiid mite (Actinotrichida: Prostigmata, Microtrombidiidae) from Baltic amber, with notes on related extant genera and species

“…Porttrombidium Haitlinger, 2000 , originally placed in Trombidiidae, was excluded from the nominate family by Mąkol ( 2007 ). Sedghi et al ( 2010 ) placed the genus in Microtrombidiidae, and Mąkol and Wohltmann ( 2012 ) treated it as taxon incertae sedis within Microtrombidiinae. Six of the microtrombidiid genera ( Cercothrombium Methlagl, 1928 , Keramotrombium Southcott, 1994 , Persianthrombium Sedghi, Saboori and Hakimitabar, 2010, Porttrombidium Haitlinger, 2000 (= Montenegtrombium Saboori and Pešić, 2006 syn.…”

“…Six of the microtrombidiid genera ( Cercothrombium Methlagl, 1928 , Keramotrombium Southcott, 1994 , Persianthrombium Sedghi, Saboori and Hakimitabar, 2010, Porttrombidium Haitlinger, 2000 (= Montenegtrombium Saboori and Pešić, 2006 syn. nov.), Shibadania Southcott, 1994 , Workandella Southcott, 1994 ) have the third, postscutal shield, located medially on the idiosoma dorsum and encompassing the bases of the d 1 setae (Haitlinger 2000 ; Methlagl 1928 ; Saboori and Pešić 2006 ; Sedghi et al 2010 ; Southcott 1994 ). Another genus, Crinitrombium Southcott, 1994 , having d 1 plates fused, was synonymised with Microtrombidium by Gabryś and Wohltmann ( 2001 ).…”

“…Persianthrombium has been hitherto known to parasitize Locusta sp. (Orthoptera: Acrididae) (Sedghi et al 2010 ), whereas the host of Keramotrombium remains unknown (Bruyant 1912 ). Larvae of Achaemenothrombiidae parasitize Lepidoptera and Orthoptera (Saboori et al 2010 , 2013 ).…”