New species and records of the genus Caesarodispus (Acari: Prostigmata: Microdispidae) associated with ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Iran

ABSTRACT

In a survey on heterostigmatic mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Heterostigmata) associated with insects in Lorestan province, western Iran, three species of the genus Caesarodispus (Heterostigmata: Microdispidae) were collected as associates of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). One of them is new to science, Caesarodispus dilatasetus Navabi & Hajiqanbar sp. nov. associated with Pheidole sp., and characterized by dilated setae 1a and 2a with a median vein, and subequal setae 2a and 2b (27–30 long). Two other species are C. minutus (Sevastianov, 1981) associated with an undetermined Myrmicinae (Formicidae) and C brevipes Mahunka, 1981 associated with Tetramorium sp. The latter species is new to mite fauna of Iran. The host range of the genus Caesarodispus is also reviewed and discussed.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:108586DF-2DF8-486A-A7DB-14AB9CA7BD0C

KEYWORDS:

• Mite
• Heterostigmata
• Pheidole
• Tetramorium
• phoretic

Acknowledgments

Authors would like to thank Dr. Bernhard Seifert (Department of Entomology, Senckenberg Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany) for help to identify the host ants.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Tarbiat Modares University.