| Rediscovery of the genus Geophilophagus Goux, 1950 (Acari: Neopygmephoridae): Second global record from western Iran |
| Paper ID : 1101-IPCA5 (R1) |
| Authors |
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fardin faizi *1, Alexander A. Khaustov2, Hamidreza Hajiqanbar3, Ali Asghar talebi3, Alireza Saboori4, Mohammad Mehrabadi3 1Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, 14115-336 Tehran; Iran 2Institute of Environmental and Agricultural Biology (X-BIO), Tyumen State University, Tyumen, Russia 3Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, 14115-336 Tehran; Iran. 4Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran |
| Abstract |
| So far, 319 species of Heterostigmata (Acari: Prostigmata), 178 species of the superfamily Pygmephoroidea, and 43 species of the family Neopygmephoridae have been reported from Iran. Among these, 14 species of Heterostigmata and 1 species of the family Neopygmephoridae have been reported from Kurdistan Province. Members of this family, similar to most families within the superfamily Pygmephoroidea, are free-living and commonly inhabit decomposing organic matter, soil, humus, animal manure, bird nests, and small mammal burrows. They are frequently associated with various insect groups and occasionally with other arthropods through phoretic relationships. Most species within this family exhibit a fungivorous feeding behavior. During extensive field surveys conducted in 2022 and 2023 in Kurdistan Province, western Iran, several specimens of mites belonging to the family Neopygmephoridae were collected in association with centipedes (Chilopoda Latreille, 1817). Sampling was carried out manually by lifting stones during April of both years, ensuring minimal disturbance to the natural habitat. Morphological examinations, performed using light microscopy and standardized taxonomic protocols, revealed that the collected mites belong to the genus Geophilophagus Goux, 1950. This study represents the second global record of the genus Geophilophagus, following its original description from France in 1950, and marks the first documentation of this taxon in Asia.The morphological characteristics of this genus can be summarized as follows: empodia on tarsi II and III are large, nearly rectangular in outline; setae of the posterior sternal plate are slightly or distinctly thickened at the base; leg I is usually subequal to leg II; and trochanter IV is distinctly constricted at the midsection. Based on detailed morphological analysis, two new species are described herein, each displaying distinct diagnostic features that contribute to the current understanding of neopygmephorid systematics. These findings underscore the limited knowledge of neopygmephorid diversity and highlight the urgent need for continued exploration of arthropod-associated mite fauna, particularly in underexplored regions such as western Iran. Moreover, this study significantly expands the known geographical distribution of the genus Geophilophagus and provides critical morphological data that may inform future taxonomic, phylogenetic, and ecological research on Neopygmephoridae. The results strongly suggest that Iran may harbor a rich, yet largely undocumented, diversity of neopygmephorid mites, emphasizing the importance of systematic biodiversity surveys in this region. |
| Keywords |
| second record, Geophilophagus, Neopygmephoridae, new species, centipede, Kurdistan |
| Status: Abstract Accepted |
