Abstract
This paper reports on a new species of mites of the genus Myrmozercon Berlese, 1902 associated with arboreal ants in Iran — Myrmozercon brachytrichos n. sp. was collected in association with Crematogaster inermis Mayr (Formicidae) in Alborz province, Iran. This new species is described and illustrations provided.
Highlights
Many species Laelapidae have been reported from ants or their nests, but the genus Myrmozercon Berlese, has a more intimate association with ants
The new species differs from M. tauricus by having: opisthonotal shield with 14 pairs of setae and Z5 in soft skin posterior to shield, all setae on shield minute and uniform in length; epistome triangular, irregularly denticulate, sternal shield not eroded between st1–st1, setal counts for trochanter I–III and for genu IV
The new species differs from M. eidmanni by having no seta on coxa IV and all dorsal shield setae minute and uniform in length; it differs from M. liguricus by the slightly reduced fixed cheliceral digit; and it differs from Myrmozercon minor by having fewer setae on the dorsal shield (34 pairs in M. brachyserose; approximately 31 pairs in M. minor)
Summary
Many species Laelapidae have been reported from ants or their nests, but the genus Myrmozercon Berlese, has a more intimate association with ants. Type species Myrmozercon acuminatus Berlese, 1903, by original designation (synonymy by Shaw and Seeman 2009).
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