A new species and new records of Gymnolaelaps Berlese from Iran (Acari: Laelapidae), with a review of the species occurring in the Western Palaearctic Region.

This paper reports on five species of mites of the genus Gymnolaelaps associated with ants and soil in Iran--G. artavilensis sp. nov. from Pheidole pallidula, G. laevis (Michael) and G. myrmecophilus (Berlese) from Tetramorium caespitum, G. myrmophila (Michael) from Formica sp., and G obscuroides Costa from soil. Gymnolaelaps australicus Womersley and G. hospes (Berlese) have also been reported from Iran, in association with P. pallidula, but those records are incorrect. A key to the species of Gymnolaelaps occurring in the Western Palaearctic Region is presented. We review the related genus Laelaspisella Marais & Loots, and transfer Gymnolaelaps kabitae Bhattacharyya and G. canestrinii (Berlese) sensu Costa to Laelaspisella.