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Abstract
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In a study the palaeosomatid mites (Oribatida: Palaeosomata) in the Marand region of East Azerbaijan Province, Iran, samples were taken from three upper soil horizons – I (0 to 18-36 cm depth), II (10-29 to 25-54 cm depth) and III (40 to 75 cm depth) – in wheat and sunflower fields, gardens and grasslands, during 2014. Representatives of two families, five genera, five species and five subspecies were identified. Among them: four species were from horizon I: nymphs and adults of Aphelacarus acarinus acarinus (Berlese, 1910) in wheat and sunflower fields, gardens and grasslands; adults of A. acarinus ssp. in wheat field, garden and grassland; adults of Beklemishevia hispaniola Perez-Inigo, 1997 in wheat field; adult of Ctenacarus araneola (Grandjean, 1932) in grassland; adults of Gilarovella demetrii Lange, 1974 in sunflower field). Two species were from horizon II: nymph and adults of A. acarinus acarinus in wheat field, garden and grassland; adults of A. acarinus ssp. in wheat fields; adult of C. araneola in grassland). Three species were from horizon III: adults and nymph of Adelphacarus reticulatus n. sp. in grassland; adults of A. acarinus acarinus in grassland; adults of A. acarinus ssp. in grassland; adult of C. araneola in grasslands). Adelphacarus has been monotypic since its proposal, and A. reticulatus n. sp. represents the first generic record from Asia. This species is easily distinguishable from A. sellnicki Grandjean, 1952 by several characters relating to body ornamentation, form of the sensillus, and length of body setae. Aphelacarus acarinus acarinus is newly recorded from East Azerbaijan Province and B. hispaniola is new for the mite fauna of Iran.
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