First species record of Schizogyniidae (Acari: Mesostigmata: Trigynaspida) from Asia

In addition to the female genital structures, the most Trigynaspida is diagnosed by the following combination of characters in the adults: presence of eight setae on femora IV, absence of an unpaired postanal seta, presence of the setae av4 and pv4 on tarsi IV, presence of four anterolateral setae ( al ) on tarsi II–IV, absence of salivary styli in gnathosoma and presence of hypopharyngeal styli in gnathosoma (Kethley 1977; Kim 2004). So far seven species belonging to six trigynaspid families have been reported from Iran: Asternoseiidae, Antennophoridae, Celaenopsidae, Cercomegistidae, Diplogyniidae and Schizogyniidae (Kazemi and Rajaei 2013, Kazemi and Paktinat Saeej 2013, Nemati et al. 2014). The Schizogyniidae Tragardh, 1950 a poorly known family (Ryke 1957; Kinn 1966; Karg 1977) was recorded for the first time from Palearctic region by Nemati et al. (2014). This family includes only six genera and eleven species (Ryke 1957; Kinn 1966; Trach and Seeman 2014) with the following morphological characters: usually having latigynial plates fused with ventral shield (except in Mixogynium) ; ventral shield broadest posterior to coxae IV; metasternal shields separate, fused with sternal shield or fused together into a single plate; anal plate free or fused with ventral plate; metapodal plates usually represented by large shields (except in Mixogynium), free or fused with peritremal plate (Kinn 1966; Trach and Seeman 2014). In this survey mites were separated around mouth parts of carabid beetles , Scarites sp. (Coleoptera: Carabidae) that have been deposited in Entomological Collection, Plant Protection Department, Agricultural College, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz in 1998. Mites were cleaned in Lacto-phenol, mounted in Hoyer’s medium and deposited in Acarological laboratory, Plant Protection Department, Agricultural College, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord (APAS). Study was done using Olympus microscope equipped with phase-contrast and digital camera. Measurements are given in micrometers (µm).