The genus DolichocybeKrantz, 1957 (Acari: Heterostigmatina: Dolichocybidae) is redefined and two new species associated with beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera) are described from Iran: Dolichocybe silvani Rahiminejad & Hajiqanbar n. sp. associated with Silvanus sp. (Coleoptera: Silvanidae) and Dolichocybe varkana Rahiminejad & Hajiqanbar n. sp. associated with Corticeus unicolor Piller & Mitterpacher, 1783 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). It is first record of the association between beetles of the family Silvanidae and Tenebrionidae and mites of the family Dolichocybidae. Also, it is first record of phoresy in the genus Dolichocybe. Chaetotaxy of tarsus I of the genus is discussed, host associations of the dolichocybids with insects are reviewed, and keys to the genera of the family and species of the genus Dolichocybe are presented.

Gorgan, is a city in northern Iran where its moderate and humid climate and fertile soil provides an appropriate condition for various arthropods and crops. Although, species diversity is relatively lower in agricultural systems than pristine ecosystems, several soil mite populations are successfully adapted to both tilled and untilled lands. Following a faunistic study of heterostigmatic mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Heterostigmatina) in dry rice cultivations in some areas of Gorgan, eight species from six genera of five families were collected and identified. For the first time we report six species for Iranian arthropod fauna as well as several new host associations. Finally, we reviewed the world distribution of the recovered mites and further provided a key to Heterostigmatina of dry rice cultivations in Gorgan city.

Complicated ecological interactions among numerous species could drive ecosystems towards more stability. Scarabaeoid beetles render a profound contribution to ecological processes through establishing symbiotic relationships with a variety of fungivorous mites. Such interactions with mites play important roles in forest conservation and biodiversity. In this study, we aimed to peruse the scarabaeoid-mite associations by alpha diversity tools. We investigated species diversity, richness and host range of heterostigmatic mites (Trombidiformes: Prostigmata) associated with scarabaeoid beetles. A total of 1113 individual mites belonging to 20 species were recorded from 870 adult individuals of Scarabaeidae (six species), 540 Lucanidae (two species) and 360 Geotrupidae (one species). Attachment site of the mites on the hosts were examined and discussed; that indicated they have most and least safety status on Lucanidae and Scarabaeidae, respectively. Spatulaphorus gorganica (Pygmephoridae) was the most frequent mite species, and Premicrodispus spinosus, P. brevisetus and Paramicrodispus scarabidophilus (Microdispidae) relatively common, whereas the other mites occurred occasionally. The host family Scarabaeidae showed to be more diverse than two other families, associated with highest number of mite species. The results of phoresy and host-range of heterostigmatic mites have been discussed.

The mite Paramicrodispus scarabidophilus Hajiqanbar and Rahiminejad sp. nov. (Acari: Prostigmata: Microdispidae) is described and illustrated based on phoretic females recovered from Oryctes nasicornis L. (Col.: Scarabaeidae) hosts, which were collected from forests in northern Iran. It is the first record of the genus Paramicrodispus for the mite fauna of Iran. We also found Paramicrodispus crenulatus (Savulkina, 1978) associated with Lucanus ibericus Motschulsky (Col.: Lucanidae), the first report of association between beetles of the family Lucanidae and the mite family Microdispidae. Moreover, for the first time we report an association between beetles of the family Scarabaeidae and Paramicrodispus mites.

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