Research Article |
Corresponding author: Alireza Nemati ( alireza.nemat@ymail.com ) Academic editor: Farid Faraji
© 2016 Alireza Nemati, Dariusz J. Gwiazdowicz.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Nemati A, Gwiazdowicz DJ (2016) A new genus and species of Laelapidae from Iran with notes on Gymnolaelaps Berlese and Laelaspisella Marais & Loots (Acari, Mesostigmata). ZooKeys 549: 23-49. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.549.6891
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Pogonolaelaps gen. n. a new genus of Laelapidae Berlese is erected and described based on P. canestrinii (Berlese), comb. n. as well as on specimens which were collected from soil and ant nests in different parts of Iran. Also, a new species Pogonolaelaps beaulieui sp. n. is described based on specimens collected from soil, litter and ant nests in various parts of Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province, Iran. The genus Gymnolaelaps is revised considering species with some morphological deviations. Gymnolaelaps reniculus (Karg, 1981) and Gymnolaelaps triquetrus (Karg, 2003) are removed from this genus and placed in their original genus Pseudoparasitus. The characters of Laelaspisella Marais & Loots, 1969 are discussed in a detail along with a proposal of a new definition.
Taxonomy, Pogonolaelaps gen. n., ant nest, Gymnolaelaps , Laelaspisella
The Laelapidae Berlese comprises a multitude of morphologically and behaviorally diverse mite groups that are free-living or associated with arthropods, mammals and birds (e.g.
Gymnolaelaps was considered at different taxonomic levels: as a subgenus of Hypoaspis sensu lato (
Laelaspisella was erected by
During our survey on Mesostigmata mites inhabiting soil and litter, Pogonolaelaps canestrinii (Berlese), comb. n. from different habitats and localities was discovered. Based on that species, a new genus, Pogonolaelaps gen. n. is proposed and described. Also, a new species of Pogonolaelaps found in Iran is described. Redescription of Pogonolaelaps canestrinii comb. n. is given along with additional information on the specimens of this species in Berlese collection. The definition of Laelaspisella is also revised.
Mites were collected from soil and litter samples from different parts of Iran. Mites were extracted using Berlese funnels, placed in lactic acid at 55 °C for clearing and then mounted in Hoyer’s medium on permanent microslides. Line drawings were made by the use of a drawing tube and figures were elaborated with Corel X-draw software, based on the scanned line drawings. All measurements are given in micrometers (μm). The dorsal setae notation, leg and palp chaetotaxy follows that of
Laelaps canestrinii Berlese, 1903, by original designation.
Female with a three-tined palp tarsal claw; the dorsal seta of the chelicerae present, epistome smooth, corniculi horn-like, internal malae free medially and densely fringed with very elongate hairs, in addition possess two detachments of densely and very elongate hairs at basal part of each internal mala; st4 absent; genital shield large, abutting anal shield, with st5 on shield and three pairs of setae adjacent to the lateral edges; scimitar-shaped dorsal setae with small knob at their base, dorsal shield with holotrichous status on podonotal and hypertrichous on opisthonotal part, plus 0-3 unpaired setae between J series and 7-9 pairs of long tick setae on latero-posterior part of opisthonotal region; genu and tibia I with normal chaetotaxy (2 3/2 3/1 2), and genu IV with ten setae including two ventral setae (av and pv). Male with separate anal shield and strong spine-like seta on femur II.
Idiosomal dorsum. Dorsal shield oval shaped, well sclerotized, nearly wraps around and overlaps onto the ventral idiosoma, podonotal part with holotrichous and opisthonotal with hypertrichous condition, shield with 51-55 pairs of setae, 28-32 pairs on opisthonotal region, plus 0-3 Jx setae between J series (usually with 3), rx seta present on podonotal part, setae increasing in length from anterior to posterior and from dorso-central to dorso-lateral part, latero-posterior part of opisthonotal region with 7-9 pairs of long, thick, barbed setae (Figs
Idiosomal venter. Tritosternum with columnar base and paired free pilose laciniae; pre-sternal plates weakly sclerotized and ornamented with transverse lines (Figs
Genital shield broad, abutting anal shield, with one pair of setae (st5) on shield and three pairs of setae adjacent to lateral edges (Figs
Gnathosoma. Deutosternal groove with six rows of denticles, corniculi horn-like, internal malae free medially and densely fringed, in addition possess two detachments of densely and very elongate hairs at basal part of each internal mala; labrum elongate, densely pubescent (Figs
Legs. Tarsi I–IV with claws and ambulacra (Figs
The name of the new genus is derived from the Greek word pogon (beard), and refers to the unusually long internal malae (gender masculine).
This subfamily contains seven genera: Ololaelaps, Androlaelaps, Ondatralaelaps, Laelaps, Hyperlaelaps, Pseudoparasitus and Hypoaspis sensu lato with nine subgenera for the latter like: Hypoaspis (Hypoaspis), H. (Alloparasitus), H. (Stratiolaelaps), H. (Cosmolaelaps), H. (Penumolaelaps), H. (Gymnolaelaps), H. (Holostaspis), H. (Laelaspis) and H. (Gaeolaelaps), which are considered as full generic status presently (
Members of Pogonolaelaps gen. n. in general appearance may be similar to those genera of Laelapinaesensu Evans & Till (1966), which possess a broad epigynal shield such as Laelaspis, Gymnolaelaps, Pseudoparasitus, and due to the absence of st4 and presence of hypertrichy on dorsal shield to Laelaspisella (was considered in this subfamily by
Pogonolaelaps may be similar to Laelaspis but it can be distinguished readily by the following characters. In Laelaspis palptarsal claw is two-tined (three tined in Pogonolaelaps); genital shield in Laelaspis with characteristic ornamentation including two distinct Λ-shaped lines; with two pairs of setae on extreme edges of shield in addition to st5 (in Pogonolaelaps without this special ornamentation and with only one pair of setae on the shield margin); Laelaspis usually lacks pre-sternal shield (present in Pogonolaelaps, but not markedly sclerotized). Laelaspis genu IV with nine setae including one ventral seta (Pogonolaelaps with ten setae including two ventral setae: av and pv); male of Laelaspis with holoventral shield (Pogonolaelaps with separate sub-triangular anal shield); dorsal shield in Laelaspis lacks hypertrichy (Pogonolaelaps with hypertrichy on opisthonotal part); Laelaspis members with st4 and pore-like iv3 on integument posterior to sternal shield (Pogonolaelaps lacks st4 and iv3 located on posterolateral extension of sternal shield near st3).
Pseudoparasitus and Gymnolaelaps members have st4 and pore-like iv3 on integument posterior to sternal shield, conspicuous denticulate epistome, genu IV with one ventral seta (av), and holotrichous dorsal shield with acicular setae; known males have holoventral shield and lack large spine or spur-like setae on femur II. Pseudoparasitushas large genital shield with 4–5 pairs of setae including two pairs on the shield surface; however, all of those in Gymnolaelaps are located on the lateral margin of shield. Pogonolaelaps lacks st4 and iv3 located on posterolateral extension of sternal shield near st3, with smooth sub-triangular epistome, large genital shield with only one pair of setae (st5) on the lateral margin, genu IV with two ventral seta (av and pv), dorsal shield possesses setae with small knob at their base, opisthonotal part with hypertrichous condition, males have separate anal shield and have large spine-like seta (pv) on femur II.
Laelaspisella (L. macrodorsalis and L. epigynialis) (
Comparison among Pogonolaelaps gen. n. and other related laelapid genera.
Laelaspis | Gymnolaelaps | Pseudoparasitus | Laelaspisella | Cosmolaelaps | Pogonolaelaps | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Type species | Laelaps astronomicus Koch,1839 | Laelaps myrmecophilus Berlese, 1892 | Laelaps meridionalis G & R Canestrini, 1882 | Laelaspisella epigynialis Marais & Loots, 1969 | Laelaps claviger Berlese, 1883 | Laelaps canestrinii Berlese, 1903 |
Palp tarsal claw | two-tined | three tined, third tine occasionally reduced, rarely absent | three-tined, posterior tine small | two-tined | two-tined | three-tined |
Two distinct Λ-shaped lines on genital shield | present | absent | absent | absent | absent | absent |
Posterior margin of genital shield | rounded | straight | straight | nearly rounded or tapered | usually rounded | rounded |
Setae on genital shield | all on edges of shield | all on edges of shield | at least two pairs well inside edges of shield | with only st5 on the margin of shield | with only st5 on the margin of shield | all on edges of shield |
Pre-sternal plates | absent | present | present | present | usually present | present and not so discernable |
Podal plates behind coxae IV | present | usually present | present | medium size, rounded | absent | medium size, rounded |
Epistome | nearly always smooth | denticulate | denticulate | smooth | denticulate | smooth |
Hypertrichy of dorsal shield | absent | absent | absent | present on whole dorsum | absent | present only on opisthonotal part |
Dorsal shield setae | nearly always scimitar-shaped with small knob at their bases | acicular | acicular | acicular | with different shaped but never acicular | with small knob at their bases |
Setae av and pv on genu IV | only with av | only with av | only with av | with av and pv | only with av | with av and pv |
Seta pd3 on tibia I | present | present | present | absent | present | present |
Male holoventral shield | present | present | present | ? | nearly always present | absent, with separate sub-triangular anal shield |
Large spine or spur-like seta(e) on male leg II | absent | absent | absent | ? | absent | present |
Seta st4 | present | present | present | absent | present | absent |
Spatulate elongate Jv5 and Zv5 | absent | absent | absent | present | absent | absent |
Cheliceral dorsal seta | present | present | present | absent | present | present |
Internal malae with elongate densely hairs | absent | absent | absent | present | absent | present |
Laelaps canestrinii Berlese, 1892: LXIX, 1.
Laelaps (Eulaelaps) canestrinii Berlese, 1903: 13.
Hypoaspis canestrinii. —
Laelaspis (Hypoaspis) canestrinii. —
Gymnolaelaps canestrinii. —
Laelaps canestrinii. —
Hypoaspis (Gymnolaelaps) canestrinii. —
Pseudoparasitus (Gymnolaelaps) canestrinii. —
Hypoaspis (Cosmolaelaps) canestrinii. —
Laelaspisella canestrinii. —
Khuzestan province: Ahwaz (31°19'22"N, 48°40'50"E, H: 16 m), nest of unknown ant, two females, coll. A. Nemati, 2012; Baghmalek (31°31'22"N, 49°53'8"E, H: 707m), soil, one female and one male, coll. A. Nemati, 2012; Ghaletol (31°37'55"N, 49°53'20"E, H: 885 m), soil and nest materials of unknown ant, one female, coll. A. Nemati, 2012; Izeh (31°49'52"N, 49°52'9"E, H: 845 m), soil, two females, coll. A. Nemati, 2012 and Masjed-Soleiman (31°56'11"N, 49°18'14"E, H: 251 m), soil, one female, coll. A. Nemati, 2011. Chaharmahal Va Bakhtiari province: Shahrekord (32°19'39"N, 50°51'35"E, H: 2206 m), soil, three females, coll. A. Nemati, 2009, Lordegan (31°30'30"N, 50°49'39"E, H: 1594 m), soil, three females and two males, coll. A. Nemati, 2012; Naghan (31°56'19"N, 50°44'54"E, H: 2219 m), soil, one female, coll. M. Mohseni, 2010. Ben (32°32'32"N, 50°43'48"E, H: 2203 m), soil, four females and one male, coll. A. Nemati, 2011. Esfahan province: Esfahan (32°39'37"N, 51°41'22"E, H: 1608 m), soil, coll. A. Nemati, 2011. Kashan, soil, five females, coll. M. Fahiminezhad, 2006. Shahreza, soil, one female (32°07'N, 51°55'E, alt. 1725 m), 22 August 2010; one female (32°01'N, 51°53'E, alt. 1800 m), 20 March 2011; one female (32°01'N, 51°53'E, alt. 1806 m), 4 April 2011; three females (32°02'N, 51°51'E, alt. 1827 m), 11 June 2011; five females and two males (31°39'N, 51°55'E, alt. 2220 m), 9 July 2011; one female and one male (32°00'20"N, 51°52'54"E, alt. 1823 m), 17 July 2011; two females (31°56'N, 51°44'E, alt. 1963 m), 4 August 2011. Microslides were deposited in APAS.
Explanation concerning Berlese’ specimens were cited in the following text under notes on the male of Pogonolaelaps canestrinii.
Podonotal region with 23 pairs of thin small setae with small knobs at their base (except for j1 and z1); opisthonotal region with 32 pairs of setae, three unpaired setae between J series and seven pairs of long barbed setae; pre-sternal area with a pair of indistinct poorly sclerotized plates; iv1-3 slit-like and located on the sternal shield surface; peritremes long, extending to coxa I anteriorly; internal malae densely fringed. Epistome with smooth anterior margin. Palp apotele three-tined; genu IV with 10 setae, including two ventral setae (av and pv).
(n = 7). Figures
Dorsal idiosoma. Dorsal shield oval-shaped, length 624–723, width at level of setae r3 425-465; reticulation more distinct on opisthonotal part; podonotal region with 23 pairs of thin small setae with small knobs at their base (except for j1 and z1); opisthonotal region with 32 pairs of setae, three unpaired setae between J series and seven pairs of long barbed setae (Fig.
Ventral idiosoma (Figs
Gnathosoma. Hypostome (Fig.
Legs. Tarsi I–IV with claws and ambulacra. Legs I (559–580) and IV (587–605), longer than legs II (429–450) and III (429–455). Genu IV (Figs
(n = 5). Figures
Dorsal idiosoma (Fig.
Ventral idiosoma (Fig.
Gnathosoma. As in female (Fig.
Legs. Tarsi I-IV with claws and ambulacra. leg I (490–556), leg II (354–400), leg III (387–411), leg IV (569–577), legs I and IV longer than legs II and III. Structure and chaetotaxy as in female, except femur II, which bears a spine-like pv1 seta.
The described males of Gymnolaelaps have a holoventral shield. Some confusion about the state of the male ventral shields in Pogonolaelaps canestrinii (Berlese), comb. n. exist as
Slide 4 Myrm./45 labeled Laelaps canestrinii Berl., 1 female, type, nidi formiche, Portici; (nests of ant, Portici: a locality near the city of Naples, Italy); Slide 4 Myrm./46 labelled Laelaps canestrinii Berl., 1 female, nidi formiche, Portici; Slide 4 Myrm./47 labelled Laelaps canestrinii Berl., 3 females, type, nidi formiche, Portici; Slide 4 Myrm./48 labelled Laelaps canestrinii Berl., 1 male, type, nidi formiche, (without locality of collection) (perhaps Portici); Slide 221/31 labelled Hypoaspis (Gymnolaelaps) canestrinii Berl., female, Spalato, libero nell’humus; (free, vacant in humus); The specimens are in poor condition but it is possible to see that the female’s dorsal shield has short setae, plus seven long thickened posterior setae, very similar to that shown in Figures
Holotype, female, Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province, Shahrekord (32°19'39"N, 50°51'35"E, H: 2206 m), soil, 2009; coll. A. Nemati; Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province, Saamaan, Cham-Khalifeh (32°30'35"N, 50°52'12"E, H: 1875 m), Walnut rooting wood, 13 June 2012, three females, coll. A. Nemati; Saamaan (32°30'36"N, 50°53'13"E, H: 1873 m), rooting wood, three females and two males, 27 May 2012, coll. A. Nemati; Shahrekord, Shahrekord University, nest materials of unknown ant, one female and one male, 31 August 2007, coll. A. Nemati; Shahrekord, Shahrekord University, nest materials of unknown ant, two females, August 2006, coll. H. Maleki.
iv3 slit-like located posterior to st3 on postero-lateral corners of sternal shield, with large crescent-shaped podal shield posterior to coxa IV; dorsal shield with 23 pairs of setae on podonotal (rx seta present on podonotal part), and 28 pairs on opisthonotal part, plus 1-3 unpaired setae between J series; 7–9 pairs of thickened, elongated, and barbed opisthonotal setae; genu I with normal chaetotaxy (2 3/2 3/1 2), and genu IV with ten setae including two ventral setae (av and pv).
(n = 7). Figures
Dorsal idiosoma (Fig.
Ventral idiosoma (Fig.
Gnathosoma. Hypostome with three pairs of smooth simple setae: h1, h3 (70–75), h2 (23–26). Palpcoxal setae 36–39. Deutosternal groove with six rows of denticles, each bearing 7–9 small teeth except first row with three larger teeth; corniculi normal, horn-like, reaching beyond of mid-level of palp femur; internal malae free medially and densely fringed with elongate threads (Fig.
Legs. Tarsi I–IV with claws and ambulacra. Legs I (595–647) and IV (699–704), longer than legs II (455–486) and III (478–509) (excluding pre-tarsus). Leg chaetotaxy as follows: leg I: (Fig.
Insemination structures. Not seen, apparently unsclerotised.
(n = 3). Figures
Dorsal idiosoma. Dorsal shield length 585–606 long, width 457–470, dorsal chaetotaxy as for female, except setae which are slightly shorter.
Ventral idiosoma (Fig.
Gnathosoma. As in female; chelicerae (Fig.
Legs. Tarsi I-IV with claws and ambulacra. Leg I (510–525), leg II (390–401), leg III (438–445), leg IV (582–603), legs I and IV longer than legs II and III. Structure and chaetotaxy as in female, except for femur II, which bears a spine-like and thickened pv1 seta (Fig.
This species is named in honor of Dr. Frederic Beaulieu (Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Canada).
Pogonolaelaps beaulieui gen. n., sp. n. is similar to P. canestrinii comb. n. and can be readily distinguished from it by the presence of 28 pairs of setae on opisthonotal region plus 1–3 unpaired setae (32 pairs in P. canestrinii plus 3 unpaired setae between J series); the dorsal setae of P. beaulieui gen. n., sp. n. are much longer than those of P. canestrinii comb. n. (see text), and the genital shield in P. beaulieui gen. n., sp. n. [377–395 long, 208–226 wide at level of st5 and widest (260–273) near setae Zv1] is longer and wider than that of P. canestrinii comb. n. [346-374 long, and 177-195 wide at level of st5 and widest (239-260 μm) near setae Zv1].
The generic definition of Gymnolaelaps does not apply for all species that are assigned to this genus nowadays, as there are several characters not taken into account and excluded by the diagnosis of
Gymnolaelaps shealsi Hunter & Costa, 1971 has a genito-ventral shield that does not extend to the anal shied, lacks an expanded podal plate behind coxa IV and the epistome is triangular with smooth margins. Gymnolaelaps viennensis Sellnick is similar to G. shealsi in the shape of genital shield. Gymnolaelaps krantzi (Hunter, 1967) has a two-tined apotele and the epistome has a smooth rounded anterior margin. Gymnolaelaps unospinosus (Karg, 1978) has thickened seta on femur II (not included in the diagnosis of
Pseudoparasitus (Gymnolaelaps) reniculus Karg, 1981 has four pairs of setae on genital shield, of which Jv1-2 inserted away from the shield margins and lacks the holotrichous condition on dorsal shield (slightly hypertrichous) on the opisthonotal part. According to our definition of Gymnolaelaps and the difference between Gymnolaelaps and Pseudoparasitus genera, we consider this species in its original genus Pseudoparasitus not in Gymnolaelaps as proposed by
Pseudoparasitus (Gymnolaelaps) triquetrus was described by
Laelaspisella was originally described by
The new species here (P. beaulieui), has hypertrichous dorsal shield (but in opisthonotal part), absent metasternal setae and genu IV with two ventral setae, which in accordance with the idea of
First, Laelaspisella (L. macrodorsalis and L. epigynialis) (
Second, the sternal shield of Laelaspisella has two pairs of poroids or lyrifissures, iv1 and iv2. The metasternal pores iv3 apparently are absent (
Third,
Fourth, the genito-ventral shield in Laelaspisella (L. macrodorsalis and L. epigynialis) (
Fifth, setae Jv5 and Zv5 are spatulate and pilose in Laelaspisella (L. macrodorsalis and L. epigynialis) (
Sixth, in species of Laelaspisella (L. macrodorsalis and L. epigynialis), and some species of Gymnolaelaps like, G. krantzi (Hunter) and G. obscuroides (Costa) the palp apotele has two tines. In Gymnolaelaps, there is a variation of the palp apotele and most species have the apotele 3-tined, but in a few species the third tine is reduced or lost. Maybe this represents a secondary loss of the third tine in some species. In P. canestrinii, and P. beaulieui gen. n., sp. n. it is 3-tined.
Seventh, Laelaspisella species (L. macrodorsalis and L. epigynialis) lacks dorsal seta of chelicerae, but Gymnolaelaps members and also P. beaulieui gen. n., sp. n. and P. canestrinii have this seta.
Eighth, the anterior margin of the epistome is smooth and sharply mucronated in L. macrodorsalis and L. epigynialis. In P. canestrinii, and P. beaulieui gen. n., sp. n. the anterior margin is smooth and pointed but not as sharply mucronate as in former. The most species of Gymnolaelaps have denticulate epistome.
Ninth, species of Laelaspisella (L. macrodorsalis and L. epigynialis) have the dorsal shield hypertrichous in both the podonotal and opisthonotal region with very small and acicular setae. Hypertrichous condition can be seen in the other laelapid mites like genus Reticulolaelaps (on whole dorsal shield), some species of Pneumolaelaps, and Gaeolaelaps ciconia (Karg, 1982): with this character in opisthonotal and opisthogastric regions, Gaeolaelaps ardoris (Karg, 1993): on both podonotal and opisthonotal parts. In P. canestrinii, and P. beaulieui gen. n., sp. n. dorsal shield is hypertrichous only in the opisthonotal region and dorsal setae possess small knob at their base. The podonotal region with holotrichous situation and rx located on the shield. Gymnolaelaps species have holotrichous condition with acicular setae pointed distally, and lack rx on the shield.
Tenth, in Laelaspisella species (L. macrodorsalis and L. epigynialis) the setation of genu I is deficient in one postero-dorsal seta (2 3/2 2/1 2). According to the
Eleventh, in Laelaspisella species (L. macrodorsalis and L. epigynialis) the chaetotaxy of genu IV deviates from the normal (2 2/1 3/0 1) due to the presence of a postero-ventral seta (2 2/1 3/1 1).
Laelaspisella can be defined as laelapid mites with the following characters:
There are two pairs of pores on the sternal shield, iv3 apparently absent; the metasternal setae are absent; the genital shield slightly widened behind the genital setae and is rounded or somewhat tapered posteriorly, but never touching the anal shield; setae Jv5 and Zv5 are spatulated and pilose; the palptarsal claw two tined; chelicerae lacks dorsal seta; the anterior margin of the epistome is smooth and sharply mucronated; the whole dorsal shield with hypertrichous condition; the setation of genu I is deficient for one postero-dorsal seta (2 3/2 2/1 2); the chaetotaxy of genu IV deviates from the normal (2 2/1 3/0 1) due to the presence of a postro-ventral seta (2 2/1 3/1 1). Finally, according to the explanations above the genus Laelaspisella comprises two species L. macrodorsalis and L. epigynialis at present.
Pseudoparasitus (Gymnolaelaps) tonsilis Karg, 1989: 335.
Gymnolaelaps tonsilis. — Farrier and Hennessey 1993: 74;
Pseudoparasitus tonsilis Karg, 1989, Chel. Nr. 3947♂, paratypus,
Gymnolaelaps kabitae Bhattacharyya, 1968: 537.
Pseudoparasitus (Gymnolaelaps) kabitae. —
Laelaspisella kabitae. —
Ghaletol, Khuzestan province, nest materials of unknown ant, two females and two males, 2012-2013, coll. A. Nemati; Shahrekord, Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province, nest materials of unknown ant, one female, 2014, coll. A. Nemati; Izeh,, Khuzestan province, nest of Pheidole pallidula (Hym., Formicidae), two females, one male, coll. A. Nemati. All specimens were deposited in APAS.
Psedoparasitus (Gymnolaelaps) tonsilis Karg, 1989 and Gymnolaelaps kabitae Bhattacharyya, 1968 possess denticulate epistome, two tined apotele, internal malae normal and lack very elongate setae and barbed, chelicera with dorsal seta, sternal shield with iv1-3, lack st4, genital shield rounded posteriorly and bear one pair of setae, ventral setae acicular, with hypertrichous condition in whole dorsal shield (based on personal observation of first author on type materials of G. tonsilis and in spite of its original description in
This research was supported by grants no. 89003738 sponsored by the Iran National Science Foundation (INSF). We sincerely thank to INSF for their financial support. We are very grateful to an anonymous reviewer and Dr. Farid Faraji for their constructive comments on earlier version of manuscript, to Dr. Roberto Nanelli (Italy) for his valuable help with specimens of Pogonolaelaps canestrinii in Berlese’s collection, to Dr. Fred Beaulieu and Dr. Bruce Halliday for their valuable comments and advice on Laelaspisella and Gymnolaelaps genera. We are very grateful to Elham Riahi, Esmaeil Babaeian, Mastaneh Mohseni and Mohammad Ameri for their helping out in some figures preparation. We also thank Arsalan Khalili-Moghadam, Mahdiyeh Fahiminezhad and Hosein Maleki (Shahrekord University, Shahrekord) for helping the first author during field sampling. Our gratitude goes to Dr. Jason A. Dunlop (Museum für Naturkude, Berlin, Germany) providing facilities to study the type materials of some laelapid mites.