First species of Taranakia Southcott (Acari: Erythraeidae) from Asia
Paper ID : 1123-IPCA4 (R3)
Authors:
Hamid Khadem Safdarkhani *1, Hamidreza Hajiqanbar1, Mohammad Mehrabadi2, Alireza Saboori3
1Department of Entomology Faculty of Agriculture Tarbiat Modares University 14115-336, Tehran IRAN
2Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
3Dept. Plant Protection, Col. Aric., Univ. Tehran
Abstract:
Erythraeidae (Acari: Prostigmata) is a large family of parasitengone mites which its larvae are ectoparasites of various arthropods, whereas postlarval forms are free-living predators. This family is comprised of seven subfamilies (Abrolophinae, Balaustiinae, Callidosomatinae, Erythraeinae, Leptinae, Myrmicotrombiinae, and Phanolophinae). Taranakia is one of the genera of the subfamily Erythraeinae reported only from New Zealand. The specific characteristics of this genus are as follows: scutum with two pairs of scutalae, each trochanter and basifemur of legs with two and three setae, respectively and palpal tibial claw bifurcate. To date, just one species is reported from this genus, Taranakia lambi Southcott, 1988 on Ichneutica mutans (Walker) (= Melanchra mutans) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). During 2019–2021 in a faunistic survey on prostigmatic mites of Bahabad, Yazd province, Iran, leaf and twig samples were taken and examined under a stereomicroscope, mites were separated, and cleared in lactic acid and mounted in Hoyerʼs medium. Among the identified species of Erythraeidae, a new species of Taranakia was collected ectoparasitic on Thrips sp. (Thripidae) which is the first report of the genus for the Asian mite fauna with a new host record for the genus. This species is under description and its host is under identification.
Keywords:
New host, new record, Iran, terrestrial Parasitengona, Yazd province
Status : Abstract Accepted (Poster Presentation)