On Androlaelaps elegantulus (Berlese) and Gaeolaelaps brevipilis (Hirschmann, Bernhard, Greim & Götz) with a key to the Gaeolaelaps mites of Iran

ABSTRACT

A reanalysis of the type material of Laelaps elegantulus demonstrates that this species belongs to the Androlaelaps genus. Previously, this species was incorrectly considered to be synonymous with Gaeolaelaps brevipilis (Hirschmann, Bernhard, Greim & Götz) and G. franzi (Van Aswegen & Loots). A redescription of Gaeolaelaps brevipilis and a key to Gaeolaelaps species of Iran are presented.

KEYWORDS:

• Mites
• Mesostigmata
• taxonomy
• synonymy
• type material

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank our friends Stefan Friedrich and Dr. Roland Melzer from Zoologische Staatssammlung München and also Dr. Roberto Nannelli and Dr. Sauro Simoni from Istituto Sperimentale per la Zoologia Agraria in Firenze, for making the type material available and Dr. Stephen Coulson  (University Centre in Svalbard) for English editing of manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Iran National Science Foundation and Ministry of Science and Higher Education in Poland.