taxonID	type	description	language	source
03B5B96CDB2CBC4DFF06FF67A019FA7E.taxon	materials_examined	Type species: Laelaps aculeifer G. Canestrini, 1884, by original designation The short diagnosis below was modified from the genus diagnosis in Beaulieu (2009). The subsequent detailed diagnosis is similar to the genus description in Beaulieu (2009), but excludes several characters of lesser significance at the genus level. Short diagnosis. Hypoaspidine laelapid mites with the following combination of characters: dorsal shield usually bearing 39 pairs of simple, short to moderately elongate setae, sometimes with 0 – 3 additional unpaired median setae; adult female sternal shield longer than broad (rarely broader than long), presternal area weakly sclerotised, usually lineate and granulate; epigynal shield tongue-shaped or flask-shaped, not markedly broadened posteriorly, bearing a pair of setae, and usually well separated from, and never touching, the subtriangular or pearshaped anal shield; opisthogastric cuticle usually with 7 – 9 pairs of simple setae (rarely more); epistome margin rounded or subtriangular, denticulate; six (rarely five or seven) deutosternal rows with at least five denticles each (rarely 1 – 4); chelicerae strong, chelate-dentate, pilus dentilis setiform; leg setation normal for Laelapidae, including nine setae on genu IV (pl 2 absent); av on femur II, ventral setae on genu and tibia II-IV, and subapical setae of tarsi II – IV usually slightly thickened to spine-like. However, there are numerous exceptions within the genus (see detailed diagnosis below, and genus description in Beaulieu, 2009). Detailed diagnosis 1. Dorsal shield partly or completely covering dorsal idiosoma, not extending ventrally, suboval to strongly tapered from level of setae r 3 – 4, oval in several cockroach, carabid and scarab beetle associates (Strong & Halliday, 1994; Faraji & Halliday, 2009). 2. Dorsal shield usually bearing 39 pairs of simple, short to moderately elongate setae, including Px 2 – 3 (occasionally absent, including in some arthropod associates), and 0 – 3 unpaired median setae (Jx); z 3 occasionally absent, and rarely a few others; setae, especially J 4 – 5, Z 5, sometimes inconspicuously barbed, rarely other setae, e. g. all dorsal setae except j 1 and z 1 barbed in G. jondishapouri. 3. Lateral soft cuticle with 1 – 8 pairs of marginal (r – R) and 0 to few UR setae, rarely more, with at least 18 pairs of setae in G. millipedus Rosario (1981) and G. angustiscutatus (Willmann, 1951), and 32 – 37 in the carabid associate G. carabidophilus Trach (2012). 4. Dorsal shield with 16 pairs of poroids (five podonotal and 11 opisthonotal) and 4 – 6 gland pores (2 – 3 podonotal, gd 2 sometimes absent, gd 4 usually absent; 2 – 3 opisthonotal, gd 6 sometimes absent; see discussion); gd 4 present in some specimens of G. oreithyiae (Walter & Oliver, 1989) (Kazemi, personal observation). 5. Presternal region weakly sclerotised and granulate and / or lineate, rarely with a pair of well sclerotised platelets, e. g. in G. orbiculatus Nemati & Mohseni (2013). 6. Sternal shield longer than wide; rarely broader than long, mostly in arthropod associates, sternal shield length 0.9 x width in free-living G. jondishapouri. 7. Posterior margin of sternal shield straight, or slightly convex or concave; rarely deeply indented, e. g. in the cockroach associate G. concavus (Faraji & Halliday, 2009). 8. Sternal shield bearing three pairs of simple setae and two pairs of poroids; rarely setae st 1 off shield, e. g. G. aculeiferoides (Teng, 1982), G. debilis (Ma, 1996), G. krantzi (Arutunian, 1993), or borne on paired anterior extensions of shield in G. jondishapouri; rarely poroids iv 3 captured by sternal shield e. g. in G. carabidophilus. 9. Setae st 4 on soft cuticle, rarely on separate platelets; in some cases, e. g. G. minor (Costa, 1968), st 4 may wrongly appear to be inserted on the endopodal platelet, probably due to the soft cuticle bearing st 4 being folded over the platelet (Kazemi, personal observation). 10. Epigynal shield tongue- or flask-shaped, not markedly broadened posteriorly, bearing one pair of simple setae, and not touching anal shield; ornamented with two slightly curved diagonal lines that typically join medially (as such forming an inversed V, or joined by a transverse line) and enclose posteriorly a reticulated area comprising several cells, posterior area without typical reticulation in the following species: smooth in G. minor and G. negevi (Costa, 1969) (considered to be a junior synonym of G. gracilis (Meledzhaeva, 1963) by Bregetova, 1977); with eight long narrow cells in G. schusteri (Hirschmann, 1966 sensu Costa 1974), and G.	en	Kazemi, Shahrooz, Rajaei, Asma, Beaulieu, Frédéric (2014): Two new species of Gaeolaelaps (Acari: Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) from Iran, with a revised generic concept and notes on significant morphological characters in the genus. Zootaxa 3861 (6): 501-530, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3861.6.1
03B5B96CDB2BBC40FF06FA20A499FA0A.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis (modified from Nemati & Kavianpour, 2013). Female with dorsal shield abruptly tapering from level of S 4 setae, bearing 39 pairs of moderately long setae, more or less reaching base of next seta in opisthosomal region, each seta with 1 – 4 small barbs; gland pores gd 2 and gd 6 present; seven marginal (r - R) setae, born on soft cuticle, with relatively thick sclerotised rings around alveoli. Sternal shield slightly wider than long, ratio of length / width ≈ 0.9; reticulate in its anterior third, smooth posteriorly, slightly concave posteriorly, with setae st 1 on pointed edge of two anterior extensions of shield. Presternal region lightly sclerotised, lineate. Epigynal shield flask-shaped, slightly widened posteriorly, ratio of widths at level of broadest point / level of st 5 ≈ 1.2, smooth except for an inversely Y-shaped line. Eight pairs of opisthogastric setae on relatively thick sclerotised rings around alveoli. Peritremes relatively short, anteriorly reaching posterior margin of acetabulum I. Epistome with anterior margin subtriangular. Deutosternum with six rows of 1 – 5 denticles. Fixed cheliceral digit with 5 – 7, rarely eight, teeth on its anterior half. Internal malae with long median projections and two additional pairs of lateral projections of similar length. Palp apotele with three tines, including a minute basal tine. Leg setae simple and mostly slender; ventral setae usually thicker than lateral and dorsal setae; av of femur II not spur-like; seta av on genu IV, setae av, pv and pl 2 on tibia IV and setae md, pv 2, pl 2 and pd 2 on tarsus IV thickened; setae pd 2 and pv 2 on tarsus IV inserted well proximal to ad 2 and av 2, respectively. Male with holoventral shield relatively narrow posteriorly, poorly developed behind coxae IV. Spermatodactyl short, curved and slightly extending beyond movable digit (male characters based on illustrations in Nemati & Kavianpour, 2013).	en	Kazemi, Shahrooz, Rajaei, Asma, Beaulieu, Frédéric (2014): Two new species of Gaeolaelaps (Acari: Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) from Iran, with a revised generic concept and notes on significant morphological characters in the genus. Zootaxa 3861 (6): 501-530, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3861.6.1
03B5B96CDB2BBC40FF06FA20A499FA0A.taxon	description	Redescription (Figs 1 – 12). Female (n = 5, excluding holotype). Dorsal idiosoma (Figs 1, 11). Idiosoma 545 – 568 [573] long, 288 – 311 [291] wide. Dorsal shield 504 – 526 [562 (543 – 550)] long, 238 – 267 [276 (270 – 340)] wide, reticulate throughout except for smooth anteromedian region extending from behind j 6 setae to anterior shield apex, covering most of dorsal idiosoma but leaving an exposed band of soft lateral cuticle; shield slightly tapering after humeral region from level of r 3 to level of S 4, where it then sharply tapers into a V-shape, and ends in a rounded posterior apex; shield with 39 pairs of setae of almost uniform length, relatively short and usually not reaching base of following setae. Dorsal shield setae j 1 (39 – 42) [41] and z 1 (16 – 18) [16 (17 – 19)] smooth; J 5 (39 – 43) [39], Z 4 (44 – 56) [58 (50 – 60)], S 4 (48 – 52) [53], and S 5 (53 – 59) [54] with 2 – 3 barbs; Z 5 (57 – 61) [52] with 3 – 4 barbs; and all other setae (30 – 44) [33 – 47] usually with one small barb on distal half (Fig. 2); without unpaired setae. Shield with 16 pairs of discernible poroids (oval-shaped symbols) and six pairs of gland pores (circular symbols), including gd 2 (posterolaterad of setae j 4) and gd 6 (posteromediad of z 6). Setae r 6 (24 – 27) [24 (34 – 36)], R 1 – 6 (26 – 56) [28 – 57 (25 – 70] and one UR (33 – 34) [34] inserted on soft cuticle laterad of dorsal shield, with relatively thick sclerotised rings around alveoli (Figs 1, 11). Sigillae consistent across individuals, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Ventral idiosoma (Fig. 5). Tritosternum with narrow columnar base, 24 – 34 [34 (44 – 49)] long, 14 – 17 [17] wide at base, 7 – 9 [7] at apex, and two sparsely pilose laciniae 109 – 114 [111 (119 – 139)] long, and fused basally for 5 – 7 [6] µm. Presternal area weakly sclerotised, lineate and very slightly granulate. Soft integument behind coxae I with three pairs of gland openings flanked by two minute valves. Sternal shield 108 – 114 [115 (120 – 138)] long, 117 – 121 [122 (130 – 145)] wide, finely reticulated anterolaterally, otherwise smooth; anterior and posterior margin of shield moderately concave, anterolateral corners narrowly extending between coxae I – II, distally bearing gland pores gvb; endopodal elements between coxae II and III fused with shield; shield bearing three pairs of smooth setae st 1 (37 – 41) [41], st 2 (38 – 42) [40] and st 3 (35 – 38) [38], and two pairs of slit-like poroids, iv 1 and iv 2, their axes oriented transversely; vestige of gland pores gv 1 apparently present on posterior margin of sternal shield (Fig. 12). Metasternal setae (33 – 35) [34 (30 – 34)] and poroids iv 3 on soft cuticle flanked by narrow endopodal elements between coxae III / IV. Epigynal shield flask-shaped, 196 – 209 [216 (180 – 213)] long, 99 – 108 [109] from setae st 5 level to posterior margin, 77 – 93 [94] wide, slightly broadened past st 5; anterior hyaline margin of shield irregularly convex and usually slightly covering posterior margin of sternal shield, with an inverse Y – shaped ornamentation, otherwise smooth; epigynal shield separated from anal shield by almost length of anal shield; setae st 5 (31 – 33) [33 (30 – 33)] inserted on lateral margins of shield, approximately at level of posterior edge of coxae IV. Poroids iv 5 inserted on soft cuticle, at level of tip of st 5. A strip-like postgenital sclerite (sometimes divided into 2 – 4 narrow strips) closely bordering posterior margin of epigynal shield. Anal shield subtriangular, 92 – 98 [107 (99 – 103)] long, 87 – 95 [94 (94 – 96)] wide, with lineate-reticulate ornamentation, anterior margin of shield slightly convex, circumanal setae smooth, postanal seta (33 – 39) [38 (33 – 36)] longer than para-anal setae (26 – 30) [28 (27 – 30)]; cribrum well developed, with two single files of denticles each extending from cribrum to near base of para-anal setae; anal opening located at mid-level of shield; pair of glands gv 3 inserted on shield lateral margins, at level between para-anal setae and posterior edge of anus. Peritrematal shields weakly developed posteriorly beyond stigmata, almost reaching level of coxae IV posterior margin, extending anteriorly and fused to dorsal shield at base of seta z 1 level; bearing three gland pores (gp) and three poroids (ip): two of these poroids and one of these pores located on short, narrow post-stigmatic plate, one pore located near anterior extremity of peritreme (Fig. 6). Peritremes somewhat short (218 – 228 [221]), extending from stigmata to posterior margin of coxae I (Fig. 6). Exopodal and parapodal platelets narrow, divided into sclerotised strips along coxae II-IV; gland pore gv 2 present anteromediad of parapodal platelet. One pair of minute paragenital platelets anterior to setae ZV 1. Primary (most lateral) metapodal platelets suboval, with irregular margin, and secondary (more median) pair tiny, oriented more or less transversely. Opisthogaster with five pairs of poroids (four ivo; ivp) and three pairs of smooth ventral setae JV 1 (30 – 34) [34 (30 – 32)], JV 2 (32 – 36) [32 (30 – 32)] and ZV 1 (25 – 29) [28 (30 – 33)], and five pairs of setae with 1 – 2 barbs: JV 3 (35 – 37) [38 (30 – 32)], JV 4 (40 – 43) [44 (39 – 41)], ZV 2 (32 – 37) [38 (30 – 33)], ZV 3 (25 – 29) [31 (30 – 33)] and ZV 4 (39 – 42) [42 (30 – 33)]; JV 5 (58 – 60) [60 (57 – 60)] with 3 – 4 barbs. Gnathosoma (Figs 3 – 4, 7 – 8). Anterior margin of epistome subtriangular and more or less rounded apically, denticulate, with about 50 small denticles (Fig. 3). Corniculi horn-like, 42 – 47 [46] long. Salivary stylets narrow and apically pointed. Internal malae fringed, with a pair of thick, contiguous median projections, and two pairs of thinner lateral projections, the inner pair shortest. Labrum considerably longer than corniculi. Hypostomal setae smooth, h 1 (43 – 47 [(31 – 37)]> h 3 (37 – 39 [(27 – 30)])> h 2 (27 – 30 [28 (24 – 30)]), capitular (pc) setae smooth (39 – 43 [(36 – 41)]). Deutosternal groove with six rows of denticles, each row with 2 – 4 and more rarely 1 – 5 denticles (holotype has most deutosternal rows with two denticles close to each of lateral margins of deutosternum); lateral margins of deutosternum subparallel (Fig. 7). First (basal) segment of chelicerae 64 – 76 [67] long, second segment 175 – 191 [186 (240 – 245)] long, including fixed digit, 54 – 56 wide; fixed digit of chelicera 57 – 63 [63] long, bearing 5 – 7, rarely eight, teeth on its anterior half, including subapical offset tooth (gabelzhan); pilus dentilis short and setiform (Fig. 8). Movable digit of chelicera 72 – 77 [79 (75 - 84)] long, bidentate (Fig. 8). Palp chaetotaxy normal for Laelapidae; all setae smooth, al 1 and al 2 of palpgenu and al of palpfemur slightly thickened, palptarsus apotele with two main tines, and an additional, very short basal tine (Fig. 4). Legs (Figs 9 – 10). Leg chaetotaxy normal for Laelapidae (sensu Evans and Till, 1965). All legs with ambulacrum, lengths of legs I-IV 549 – 562 [572 (539 – 549)], 416 – 428 [429 (444 – 452)], 386 – 405 [424 (418 – 422)] and 608 – 634 [621 (623 – 628)], respectively. Lengths of femora I 94 – 106 [113 (123 – 126)], II 78 – 87 [(80 – 84)], III 72 – 76 [76 (71 – 77)], IV 97 – 109 [124 (130 – 135)]; genua I 81 – 85 [80 (87 – 95)], II 61 – 66 [63 (65 – 70)], III 56 – 60 [59 (58 – 62)], IV 78 – 83 [78 (80 – 85)]; tibiae I 88 – 95 [85 (36 – 39)], II 64 – 70 [66 (73 – 77)], III 59 – 62 [63 (60 – 65)], IV 90 – 96 [89 (95 – 100)]; tarsi I 158 – 164 [163 (155 – 161)], II 118 – 130 [127 (129 – 136)], III 124 – 135 [123 (129 – 136)], IV 194 – 199 [200 (200 – 208)]. Leg setae mostly simple, needle-like; tarsi II-IV with al 1, pl 1, av 1, and pv 1 relatively thick; leg I without conspicuously thickened seta; trochanter II with al short and thickened; trochanter IV with ad slightly thickened; femur IV with ad 2 short and slightly thickened; leg IV with the following setae considerably thickened or spine-like: av on genu; av, pv and pl 2 on tibia; md, av 2, pv 2, pl 2 and pd 2 on tarsus. Coxa I each bearing two gland pores (gc) (Fig. 5).	en	Kazemi, Shahrooz, Rajaei, Asma, Beaulieu, Frédéric (2014): Two new species of Gaeolaelaps (Acari: Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) from Iran, with a revised generic concept and notes on significant morphological characters in the genus. Zootaxa 3861 (6): 501-530, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3861.6.1
03B5B96CDB2BBC40FF06FA20A499FA0A.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Gaeolaelaps jondishapouri can be distinguished from any other Gaeolaelaps species by two distinctive, if not exceptional, characters among known members of the genus: (1) a dorsal shield abruptly tapering from the level of setae S 4; (2) setae st 1 inserted relatively far anteriorly from poroids iv 1, on the apex of two pointed extensions of the sternal shield (making the anterior margin appear bilobed, see Figs 2, 12). Whereas the original description shows a sternal shield with a straight anterior margin, without extensions, leaving st 1 completely off the shield, the re-illustration of the sternal shield by Kavianpour & Nemati (2014) is similar to ours. Other notable discrepancies that we noticed between the original description and the specimens we examined (including the holotype) are: (1) denticulate rows of deutosternal groove usually with 2 – 4 denticles [rows appear smooth in the original illustration, and there is no mention of denticles in the text]; (2) palp apotele with a small basal tine, in addition to the two main tines; (3) 16 poroids and six gland pores on the dorsal shield [only 18 porelike structures in the original description, missing gland pore behind j 4, and poroids near s 3, behind s 6, and laterad of Z 4; Nemati & Kavianpour had acknowledged in the text that they could have overlooked some pores or poroids]; (4) peritrematal shields anteriorly fused to dorsal shield, each bearing one gland pore [in the original description, peritremes appear without shielding anteriorly and therefore free from the dorsal shield]; (5) coxae I and surrounding soft integument with five gland openings; (6) cribrum with two files of denticles extending anteriorly to near the base of para-anal setae [not illustrated nor mentioned in the original description]; (7) setae h 1 (43 – 47) and h 3 (37 – 39) moderately longer [31 – 37 and 27 – 30, respectively, in the original description]. A few other measurements do not overlap between the original description and ours (e. g. dorsal shield; see notes in the redescription above), but these differences may at least in part be due to differences among populations; (8) most leg setae are needle-like, i. e. rather straight and with a relatively constant thickness through most of their length (not finely tapering as many setae in Nemati & Kavianpour, 2013); setae of leg I and of coxa-tibia II are thin and needle-like, except thickened al 1 on coxa and ventral setae on tibia (in contrast to the original illustrations showing most setae of legs I-II thickened or spine-like). Although this is a relatively inconspicuous feature, G. jondishapouri also has all dorsal setae with one or more barbs, with the exception of j 1 and z 1. The specimens of G. jondishapouri that we examined also differ from Nemati & Kavianpour’s (2013) description by the shape of the posterior region of the dorsal shield. We would rather describe this region as Vshaped, or even subtriangular, with a rounded apex, instead of bell-shaped, as indicated in their species key (examination of the holotype shows a dorsal shield that may appear as ‘ bell-shaped’ because the shield is bent posteriorly on that specimen). With such a distinctive tapering of the dorsal shield, we believe that G. jondishapouri is closely related to G. changlingensis (Ma, 2000), with the minor difference that the shield of G. changlingensis abruptly tapers from the level of S 3 instead of S 4 as in G. jondishapouri. Based on its description, G. changlingensis also differs from G. jondishapouri by its narrower sternal shield (Li-Ming Ma pers. comm.), st 2 inserted more posteriorly, and possibly longer idiosomal setae (however, some of these apparent differences may be due to inaccurate illustrations). Nemati & Kavianpour (2013) placed G. jondishapouri in the G. angusta species group (sensu Karg, 1979) based on the tapering posterior region of the dorsal shield. However, we do not concur that G. jondishapouri can be placed in the G. angusta group, because the four species originally placed in this species group have dorsal shields that taper much more anteriorly than that of G. jondishapouri, and consequently are quite narrower posteriorly. Based on Karg’s hypothesis (1979), the dorsal shield of species in the angusta group is wedge-shaped, characterised by ‘ shoulders’ (typically near the level of r 3 – 4), from which the shield gradually tapers to a relatively narrow apex (see, for example, the redescription of G. queenslandicus (Womersley, 1956) by Costa, 1966). The dorsal shield of G. jondishapouri is therefore quite distinct from that of members of the angusta species group, and the same applies to the putatively close relative G. changlingensis. Such shape of the dorsal shield is strongly reminiscent of that of Stratiolaelaps scimitus (Womersley), which differs from congenerics by a shield abruptly tapering at level of S 1 – 2 (Walter & Campbell, 2003). Very few species of Gaeolaelaps have a deutosternum with fewer than five denticles per row. Gaeolaelaps jondishapouri is among the exceptions, as is G. spiniseta, which has a deutosternum with 3 – 4 denticles per row (Barilo, 1991). However, G. jondishapouri can easily be distinguished from G. spiniseta by several characters, including its posteriorly tapered dorsal shield (rounded in G. spiniseta), which bears 39 pairs of moderately long setae (38 in G. spiniseta, with setae longer, usually reaching the base of next setae), flanked by seven pairs of marginal setae (only one pair in G. spiniseta); its sternal shield bearing st 1 on anterior extensions of the sternal shield (st 1 inserted closer to iv 1 and well behind the anterior margin of the shield in G. spiniseta); and by its rounded epistome (subtriangular or pointed in G. spiniseta, according to the illustration in Barilo, 1991).	en	Kazemi, Shahrooz, Rajaei, Asma, Beaulieu, Frédéric (2014): Two new species of Gaeolaelaps (Acari: Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) from Iran, with a revised generic concept and notes on significant morphological characters in the genus. Zootaxa 3861 (6): 501-530, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3861.6.1
03B5B96CDB2BBC40FF06FA20A499FA0A.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Holotype female: Southwestern Iran, Ahwaz, Khuzestan Province, 2010, coll. M. Kavianpour. Paratypes: 10 females: southeastern Iran, Kerman Province, Jiroft County (28 ˚ 51 ' 29 " N; 57 ˚ 71 ' 92 " E), altitude 589 m above sea level, from cow manure in a citrus orchard, 4 Jan 2011, coll. A. Rajaei, deposited in ACISTE. One female with same data, deposited in ACJAZUT. One female with same data, deposited in CNC. Five females: collected from soil and litter, in the same orchard as above, same date and collector, deposited in ACISTE.	en	Kazemi, Shahrooz, Rajaei, Asma, Beaulieu, Frédéric (2014): Two new species of Gaeolaelaps (Acari: Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) from Iran, with a revised generic concept and notes on significant morphological characters in the genus. Zootaxa 3861 (6): 501-530, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3861.6.1
03B5B96CDB26BC44FF06F9D2A239FA0A.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis (based on adult female). Dorsal shield clearly broadest at level of setae r 3 (ratio of widths at r 3 / S 3 level ≈ 1.5), progressively tapering until s 6, subparallel from s 6 to level of S 4, rounded posteriorly; with 39 pairs of mostly smooth and moderately long setae; an additional, median unpaired seta may be present between J 4 – 5; gland pores gd 2 and gd 6 absent; three pairs of marginal setae present on lateral soft cuticle. Sternal shield longer than wide (ratio of length / width ≈ 1.3), reticulate throughout, its anterior margin with or without a small median invagination; posterior margin slightly convex, with two minute projections. Epigynal shield tongue-shaped, very slightly broadened posteriorly. Anal shield subtriangular, with two single files of denticles reaching level of paraanal setae; anal shield separated from epigynal by about length of anal shield. Peritremes relatively short, anteriorly reaching mid-level of coxae II. Post-stigmatic area of peritrematal shield narrowly extended to posterior edge of coxae IV. Opisthogastric and dorsolateral soft integument bearing seven and three pairs of setae, respectively. Deutosternal groove with six rows of 10 – 17 denticles. Internal malae with a pair of long median projections and a pair of shorter lateral projections. Palp apotele 2 - tined. Fixed digit of chelicera with 10 – 13 teeth, including a serrated row of 6 – 9 small teeth posterior to pilus dentilis. Leg setae simple and slender, except following setae thickened and / or spine-like: ad 3 (only slightly thickened) on femur I; av on femur II; pd on femur IV; all ventral setae on genua and tibiae II-IV (some only slightly thickened), and pl 1 on tibia IV; md, av 1 – 2, mv and pv 1 – pv 2 on tarsus II; al 1, av 1 – 2, pv 1 – 2, pl 1 (slightly thickened), md and mv on tarsus III; pl 2 (slightly thickened), av 2, pv 2 and mv on tarsus IV; pd 2 – 3 on tarsus IV slender and elongate.	en	Kazemi, Shahrooz, Rajaei, Asma, Beaulieu, Frédéric (2014): Two new species of Gaeolaelaps (Acari: Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) from Iran, with a revised generic concept and notes on significant morphological characters in the genus. Zootaxa 3861 (6): 501-530, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3861.6.1
03B5B96CDB26BC44FF06F9D2A239FA0A.taxon	description	Description. Female (n = 3). Dorsal idiosoma (Fig. 13). Idiosoma length 541 – 552, width 301 – 307. Dorsal shield 489 – 522 long, 203 – 213 wide at j 6 level, covering most of dorsal idiosoma, 248 – 253 wide at level of r 3 and 163 – 170 at level of S 3; reticulate throughout except anteromedially; with 39 pairs of needle-like setae of which some of the most posterior pairs (e. g. J 4 – 5, Z 5, Jx) have a few minute barbs; 0 – 1 unpaired median seta Jx between setae J 4 - J 5. Dorsal shield setae j 1 – 5 32 – 36, j 6 28 – 31, z 1 23 – 28, z 2 31 – 32, z 3 33 – 34, z 4 34 – 38, z 5 34 – 36, z 6 28 – 30, s 1 22 – 23, s 2 24 – 27, s 3 35 – 40, s 4 29 – 35, s 5 28 – 31, s 6 29 – 36, r 2 31 – 35, r 3 38 – 45, r 4 31 – 34, r 5 29 – 34, J 1 – 5 27 – 31, Jx 28 – 30, Z 1 28 – 31, Z 2 – 3 24 – 29, Z 4 28 – 30, Z 5 38 – 44, S 1 – 4 29 – 34, S 5 33 – 39 long. Setae R 1 (29 – 31), R 4 (30 – 33) and R 5 (34 – 38), and a pair of poroids (idR 3) on lateral soft integument. Dorsal shield with 16 pairs of poroids and only four pairs of gland pores (gd 2 and gd 6 pores absent). Ventral idiosoma (Figs 14, 16 – 17). Tritosternum with a narrow columnar base, 32 – 36 long, 14 – 17 wide at base, 7 – 9 wide at apex, and two sparsely pilose laciniae, length free for 90 – 95 and fused basally for 2 – 4 µm. Presternal area lightly sclerotised and punctate, with a few transverse lines. Sternal shield 154 – 160 long, 114 – 118 wide, reticulate throughout; anterolateral corners narrowly extending between coxae I-II; anterior margin irregularly straight, with or without a small median invagination; posterior margin slightly convex, with two minute projections near medial axis, which may represent vestiges of gland pore gv 1 (Figs 16 – 17); shield bearing three pairs of smooth setae st 1 (38 – 39), st 2 (37 – 38) and st 3 (34 – 36), and two pairs of poroids, lyrifissures iv 1 slitlike and oriented obliquely, iv 2 suboval. Metasternal setae (27 – 30) and poroids iv 3 on soft cuticle. Endopodal elements between coxae III – IV narrow, anteriorly free from sternal shield. Epigynal shield 185 – 190 long, 92 – 95 from st 5 level to posterior margin, 69 – 71 wide, 58 – 62 wide at narrowest point (near coxae IV level), and 81 – 83 at broadest point past setae st 5; anterior hyaline margin irregular, not covering posterior area of sternal shield; surface reticulated with an inverse Y – shaped pattern, with the Y posteriorly embracing eight large cells; setae st 5 (27 – 29) inserted on lateral margins of shield at level of posterior margin of coxae IV, and poroids iv 5 inserted laterad of st 5. Anal shield subtriangular, anteriorly rounded, 74 – 80 long, 74 – 80 wide, anterior margin gently rounded, and surface lineate-reticulate; circumanal setae smooth, postanal seta (35 – 38) longer than para-anal setae (29 – 31), cribrum well developed, narrowly extending laterally to level of adanal setae; anus located slightly posterior to mid-level of shield; pair of glands gv 3 inserted on lateral margins of shield at level of anterior margin of anus. Peritrematal shields well developed anteriorly and fused narrowly to dorsal shield at level of z 1, with a narrow strip of granular cuticle parallel to anterior edge of shield; between stigmata and coxa II, shield almost limited to a relatively narrow band of cuticle at level between coxae II and III, bearing a poroids and a gland pore; post-stigmatic region of shield narrowly extending to posterior level of coxae IV, bearing two and one gland pore; an additional pore located on peritrematal shield at level of seta s 1. Peritremes relatively short (178 – 182) and narrow, extending from stigmata to mid-level of coxae II. Three exopodal platelets between coxae I-II, II-III and III-IV present, anterior two platelets small and subtriangular, those between coxae III-IV slightly extending posteriorly; parapodal platelets strip-like, bearing gland pore gv 2. Opisthogastric integument with two pairs of small, narrow paragenital platelets between st 5 and ZV 1, and two pairs of narrow metapodal platelets, the smallest at or above level of ZV 1 and the largest one near level of JV 1; seven pairs of ventral opisthogastric setae JV 1 (19 – 23), JV 2 (18 – 22), JV 3 (24 – 26), ZV 1 (23 – 28) and ZV 2 (27 – 31) smooth; JV 4 (28 – 32), JV 5 (44 – 49) with 1 – 2 minute barbs; and five pairs of poroids. Gnathosoma (Figs 20 – 24). Anterior margin of epistome convex and finely denticulate, with about 30 denticles (Fig. 20). Corniculi horn-like (58 – 64). Internal malae fringed, slightly longer than corniculi, with a pair of long median projections and a pair of shorter lateral projections. Labrum acuminate, considerably longer than internal malae. Hypostomal and capitular setae smooth, h 1 (50 – 51)> h 3 (35 – 38)> h 2 (34 – 35) ≈ pc (32 – 35). Deutosternal groove with six rows of denticles, progressively broader from posterior to anterior, each with 9 – 17 denticles; anteriormost row angled medially. First cheliceral segment 58 – 67 long, second segment 190 – 196 long and 54 – 56 wide; fixed digit 73 – 75 long, with 10 – 13 teeth, including (from distal to proximal) a subapical large offset tooth (gabelzhan) followed by two other teeth, one small and one large, anterior to the short, setiform pilus dentilis, and 6 – 9 smaller, tightly aligned teeth followed posteriorly by a larger tooth; movable digit of chelicera 85 – 87 long, bidentate; dorsal cheliceral seta short and setiform (Fig. 22). Palp chaetotaxy normal for Laelapidae, all setae smooth; palpgenu setae al 1 and al 2 slightly thick and spatulate, palpfemur al slightly thick and spine-like; palp apotele 2 - tined (Figs 23 – 24). Legs (Figs 25 – 28). All legs with ambulacrum, that of leg I longer (35 – 36) than those of legs II-IV (24 – 26) (Figs 18 – 19), lengths of legs I-IV as follows: 591 – 597, 425 – 451, 384 – 392, 582 – 605, respectively. Lengths of femora I 104 – 111, II 85 – 96, III 75 – 77, IV 117 – 123; genua I 83 – 87, II 69 – 70, III 50 – 53, IV 89 – 92; tibiae I 95 – 97, II 66 – 67, III 51 – 53, IV 96 – 98; tarsi I 156 – 163, II 108 – 115, III 105 – 110, IV 156 – 160. Leg chaetotaxy normal for Laelapidae (sensu Evans & Till, 1965) and Gaeolaelaps (see Beaulieu, 2009). Most setae simple, needle-like and of similar length, except a few shortened, elongate or thickened setae: trochanter I with al short and slightly thickened; trochanter II with al 1 thickened; trochanter IV with pv 1 slightly thickened; femur I with ad 3 slightly thickened, femur II with av somewhat spine-like and al 2 very short, slightly thickened; femur IV with pd spinelike, ad 2 slightly thickened, and pl short and thin; genu II with av short and spine-like, and genua III-IV with ventrals slightly thickened; tibia II with av 1 spine-like, pv 1 thickened; tibia III and IV with pv spine-like, av slightly thickened; pl also spine-like on tibia IV; tarsus II with av 1 – 2, md, mv, and pv 1 – 2 spine-like; tarsus III with md and mv spine-like, and av 1 – 2, pv 1 – 2 slightly thickened; tarsus IV with pl 2 slightly thickened, mv, av 2 and pv 2 thickened, and pd 2 and pd 3 slender and elongate with pd 2 longer than half the length of tarsus. Coxa I bearing two gland pores (gc) (Fig. 14).	en	Kazemi, Shahrooz, Rajaei, Asma, Beaulieu, Frédéric (2014): Two new species of Gaeolaelaps (Acari: Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) from Iran, with a revised generic concept and notes on significant morphological characters in the genus. Zootaxa 3861 (6): 501-530, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3861.6.1
03B5B96CDB26BC44FF06F9D2A239FA0A.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Holotype: female southern Iran, Kerman Province, Baft County (28 ˚ 39 ' 46 " N; 56 ˚ 45 ' 37 " E), altitude 1044 m above sea level, from soil and litter at an alfalfa farm, 2 April 2012, coll. A. Rajaei, deposited in ACISTE. One paratype female with same collection data, deposited in ACISTE; another paratype female with same collection data, deposited in CNC.	en	Kazemi, Shahrooz, Rajaei, Asma, Beaulieu, Frédéric (2014): Two new species of Gaeolaelaps (Acari: Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) from Iran, with a revised generic concept and notes on significant morphological characters in the genus. Zootaxa 3861 (6): 501-530, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3861.6.1
03B5B96CDB26BC44FF06F9D2A239FA0A.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species is named in honour of the famous Persian poet, Khajooi-e Kermani.	en	Kazemi, Shahrooz, Rajaei, Asma, Beaulieu, Frédéric (2014): Two new species of Gaeolaelaps (Acari: Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) from Iran, with a revised generic concept and notes on significant morphological characters in the genus. Zootaxa 3861 (6): 501-530, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3861.6.1
03B5B96CDB26BC44FF06F9D2A239FA0A.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The new species can be placed in the similisetae species group (sensu Karg, 1979) based on its short peritremes reaching only the mid-level of coxae II, and differs from other species of the group by the shape of the dorsal shield, which is clearly widest at the level of setae r 3 and tapers posteriorly. This shape is reminiscent of the G. angusta species group, but differs from most members of that group by its dorsal shield with almost parallel sides in the opisthonotal region (from S 1 to S 4). The species most similar to G. khajooii is G. zhoumanshuae (Ma, 1997), which, justifiably, was classified in the angusta species group by Nemati & Kavianpour (2013). In addition to the very similar shape of their dorsal shield, G. zhoumanshuae and G. khajooi both have peritremes shortened anteriorly, ending before the anterior margin of coxae II, seven opisthogastric setae (six in G. zhoumanshuae, but JV 5 may have been illustrated dorsally), three dorsomarginal (R) setae (four in G. zhoumanshuae, perhaps including JV 5 dorsally), and have a cheliceral fixed digit with a serrated row of small teeth proximally to the pilus dentilis (based on figures in Ma, 1997). Gaeolaelaps khajooii differs from it at least by having 39 pairs of setae on the dorsal shield, including Px 2 – 3, which are absent in G. zhoumanshuae. The new species also resembles Hypoaspis (sensu lato) atomarius Berlese, 1917 (sensu Van Aswegen & Loots, 1970), which has a similar dorsal shield albeit posteriorly wider, but it can be easily distinguished from H. atomarius by having one ventral setae on genu IV (two ventrals in G. atomarius) and 39 setae on dorsal shield (38 in G. atomarius, with z 3 absent). The two minute projections on the posterior margin of the sternal shield are unusual, but also occur in other Gaeolaelaps species, including G. jondishapouri, G. nolli (Karg, 1962), G. praesternalis (Willmann, 1949) and G. farajii, and an undescribed species that have dorsal shield shaped similarly to G. khajooii. It is possible that these minute projections represent the vestiges of gland pores gv 1.	en	Kazemi, Shahrooz, Rajaei, Asma, Beaulieu, Frédéric (2014): Two new species of Gaeolaelaps (Acari: Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) from Iran, with a revised generic concept and notes on significant morphological characters in the genus. Zootaxa 3861 (6): 501-530, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3861.6.1
03B5B96CDB22BC46FF06F9C8A3CBF855.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis (based on adult female). Dorsal shield suboval, reticulated throughout, covering almost all dorsal idiosoma, leaving exposed a narrow lateral band of soft cuticle which bears four pairs of marginal setae (R 1 – R 2, R 4 – 5); shield with 37 pairs of short, needle-like dorsal setae, setae Px 2 – 3 and unpaired setae Jx absent, with 21 pairs of pore-like structures, including six pairs of gland pores (gd 2 and gd 6 present). Sternal shield longer than wide (length / width ratio ≈ 1.35), reticulate throughout except for a narrow smooth area posteriorly; anterolateral arms of shield broadly fused to endopodals between coxae I – II, and posterior margin of shield slightly convex. Epigynal shield tongue-shaped, only slightly widened posteriorly, with eight cells surrounded by a Λ-shaped line, with cell borders sinuous. Post-stigmatic region of peritrematal shield short, extending slightly beyond level of mid-coxa IV. Soft opisthogastric cuticle with ten pairs of short setae, with alveoli surrounded by relatively thick sclerotised rings. Anal shield somewhat pear-shaped, broadly rounded anteriorly; anal opening almost entirely on anterior half of shield; cribrum spicules not extending significantly anteriorly. Peritremes long, reaching anterior margin of coxae I. Epistome margin rounded, with variously sized denticles. Deutosternum with six rows of 17 – 20 denticles. Fixed digit of chelicera with seven teeth. Internal malae with two pairs of lateral fringed projections in addition to the pair of long median projections. Palp apotele 2 - tined. Femur II with av seta thickened, tarsi II-IV with most subapical setae thickened or spine-like; setae av 1, pv 1 on tarsus II, pl 2 – 3 on tarsus IV, and pl 1 on tibia IV apically blunt, spur-like; tarsus IV with pd 2 slightly longer than other setae, otherwise without significantly elongate setae, ad 3 and pd 3 very short; most dorsal setae of genu IV and tibia IV short.	en	Kazemi, Shahrooz, Rajaei, Asma, Beaulieu, Frédéric (2014): Two new species of Gaeolaelaps (Acari: Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) from Iran, with a revised generic concept and notes on significant morphological characters in the genus. Zootaxa 3861 (6): 501-530, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3861.6.1
03B5B96CDB22BC46FF06F9C8A3CBF855.taxon	description	Description. Female (n = 2). Dorsal idiosoma (Fig. 29). Idiosoma 486 – 494 long, 266 – 271 wide. Dorsal shield 486 – 494 long, 247 – 252 wide, suboval, reticulate throughout, more distinctly on opisthonotal region, and with cells more elongate between setae j 5 and j 6; shield broadest at level of setae r 3, ratio of widths at the level of r 3 / S 3 = 1.2; shield covering most of dorsal idiosoma, leaving exposed a narrow marginal band of soft cuticle. Dorsal shield with 37 pairs of short setae, setae Px 2 – 3 absent, setae j 2 – 4, z 4, s 3, r 2 – 3, Z 5 longest (20 – 25), z 1 shortest (6 – 8), other setae 12 – 17 long; Z 5 usually with 1 – 2 minute barbs. Setae R 1 – R 2 (12 – 14), R 4 (14 – 15), R 5 (11 – 12) and one pair of poroids (idR 3) on soft lateral cuticle. Dorsal shield with 16 pairs of discernible poroids (oval-shaped symbols) and six pairs of gland pores (circular symbols). Ventral idiosoma (Fig. 30). Tritosternum with a narrow columnar base, 32 – 33 long, 10 – 11 wide at base, 7 – 8 wide at apex, and two free pilose laciniae (68 – 71). Presternal area weakly sclerotised, granulate-lineate. Sternal shield 146 – 150 long, 109 – 111 wide, distinctly reticulate throughout except for a narrow smooth area posteriorly; anterior margin of shield straight, posterior margin slightly convex with a small median depression; anterolateral corners broadly fused to endopodal platelets between coxae I-II, bearing gland pores gvb; shield bearing three pairs of smooth setae st 1 (24 – 25), st 2 (26 – 27) and st 3 (26 – 28), and two pairs of poroids, iv 1 slit-like and iv 2 sub-oval. Metasternal setae (26 – 28) and poroids iv 3 on soft cuticle (iv 3 asymmetrically captured by sternal shield in one specimen). Epigynal shield tongue-shape, very slightly broadened posteriorly, 166 – 169 long, and 81 – 83 from st 5 to posterior margin, 70 – 72 wide; anterior hyaline margin slightly convex, irregular, covering posterior smooth area of sternal shield; epigynal shield with a Λ – shape line delimiting posteriorly eight cells with sinuous borders; setae st 5 (20 – 21) on lateral margins of shield, almost at level of posterior edge of coxae IV. Paragenital poroids iv 5 on soft cuticle, near level of coxae IV posterior edges. Anal shield somewhat pear-shaped, anterior margin of shield broadly rounded, 67 – 70 long, 56 – 58 wide, lineate-reticulate anteriorly and laterally; circumanal setae smooth, postanal seta (20 – 22) longer than para-anal setae (15 – 16); cribrum well developed, with three rows of spicules (four medially), the two anteriormost rows only slightly extending anteriorly of postanal seta; anal opening located almost entirely on anterior half of shield; para-anal gland pores gv 3 on lateral shield margins at level of the posterior edge of anal opening. Peritrematal shields relatively well developed throughout, anteriorly fused to dorsal shield behind setae z 1, bearing one pair of gland pores near external margin of shield at level of anterior edge of coxae III and one pair of poroids at level of posterior edge of coxae II; poststigmatic region with a longitudinal line from stigmata to shield apex, and with two pairs of poroids and one pair of gland pores. Peritremes long (236 – 243), reaching anterior margin of coxae I. Exopodal platelet between coxae II-III well developed, exopodal between coxae III-IV fused to parapodal. Opisthogastric soft integument with pair of primary metapodal platelets moderately small, narrow, laterad of ZV 1 – 2; 2 – 3 additional pair (s) of minute metapodal platelets anterior to and inbetween ZV 1 and primary metapodals; paragenital platelets minute, at level of ZV 1; five pairs of poroids and 10 pairs of short, needle-like setae JV 1 – 5, ZV 1 – 5, 14 – 20 long. Gnathosoma (Figs 31 – 34). Anterior margin of epistome somewhat rounded, with about 17 variously sized teeth (Fig. 31). Corniculi horn-like, 45 – 47 long. Salivary stylets narrow and apically pointed, aligned beneath corniculi. Internal malae fringed, with a pair of adjacent median pilose projections, flanked by two pairs of shorter and thinner lateral projections. Labrum acuminate, pilose, considerably longer than corniculi. Hypostomal and capitular setae smooth, h 3 (46 – 49)> h 1 (34 – 37)> pc (26 – 27)> h 2 (19 – 21). Deutosternal groove with six rows of 17 – 20 denticles each; lateral margins of deutosternum subparallel (Fig. 32). Basal segment of chelicerae 50 – 52 long, second segment 140 – 143 long, 46 – 48 wide; fixed digit of chelicera 40 – 42 long, with seven teeth, including subapical offset tooth (gabelzhan), followed by two small teeth, and four larger teeth proximal to the short and setiform pilus dentilis; dorsal seta short and setiform. Movable digit of chelicera 48 – 50 long, bidentate (Fig. 33). Palp 146 – 149 long, palp chaetotaxy normal for Laelapidae; all setae smooth, al 1 and al 2 on palpgenu and al on palpfemur thick and subspatulate, ad on palpfemur slightly thickened, somewhat spine-like; palptarsus apotele 2 - tined, anterior tine with spatulate hyaline margin (Fig. 34). Legs (Figs 35 – 40). Leg chaetotaxy normal for Laelapidae (sensu Evans & Till, 1965). Legs II – III with largest claws and pulvillus, and broadest ambulacral stalk; leg I with narrowest stalk, claws and pulvillus; lengths of legs I- IV 435 – 438, 335 – 341, 289 – 292 and 432 – 440, respectively. Lengths of femora I 70 – 73, II 57 – 59, III 56 – 59, IV 89 – 92; genua I 62 – 65, II 62 – 63, III 38, IV 62 – 67; tibiae I 70 – 72, II 51 – 54, III 38, IV 62; tarsi I 116 – 119, II 73 – 76, III 83 – 86, IV 113 – 121. Leg setae mostly thin and moderately long, except: trochanter I with al and ad short and slightly thickened; trochanter II with al slightly thickened; trochanter IV with pv 1 slightly thickened; femur II with av and pd 1 slightly thickened, ad 3 and al 2 short; femur III with al and ad 1 thickened, ad 2, pd and pl short; femur IV with ad 1 and av slightly thickened, ad 2, pd and pl short; genu II with pd 2 slightly thickened, and genua III-IV with ventrals slightly thickened; tibiae II-III with pv thickened; tibia IV with av and pv thickened, pl 1 thick, somewhat spur-like, pd 2 – 3 very short; tarsus II with al 2 – 3 and pl 2 – 3 slightly thickened, av 1 and pv 1 stout, spurlike (apically blunt), al 1, pl 1 and md stout and spine-like, mv, av 2 and pv 2 thick; tarsus III with pl 2 – 3 slightly thickened, ad 2, pd 2, pv 2 and al 3 thickened, av 1 – 2, pv 1 – 2, al 1 – 2, mv and pl 1 thickened, somewhat spine-like, md stout, spine-like; tarsus IV with most setae thickened and of moderate length, and pl 2 – 3 somewhat spur-like, pl 3 half as long as pl 2, pd 2 slightly longer than other setae, ad 3 and pd 3 short and thin. Coxa I bearing two gland pores (gc) (Fig. 30).	en	Kazemi, Shahrooz, Rajaei, Asma, Beaulieu, Frédéric (2014): Two new species of Gaeolaelaps (Acari: Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) from Iran, with a revised generic concept and notes on significant morphological characters in the genus. Zootaxa 3861 (6): 501-530, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3861.6.1
03B5B96CDB22BC46FF06F9C8A3CBF855.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Holotype: female, northern Iran, Mazandaran Province, Tonekabon County, Tirom Forest (40 ˚ 62 ' 69 " N; 47 ˚ 11 ' 26 " E), 1465 m above sea level, from decayed wood of Beech trees, 2 June 2010, coll. Y. Ahangaran, deposited in ACISTE. One paratype female with same collection data, deposited in ACISTE.	en	Kazemi, Shahrooz, Rajaei, Asma, Beaulieu, Frédéric (2014): Two new species of Gaeolaelaps (Acari: Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) from Iran, with a revised generic concept and notes on significant morphological characters in the genus. Zootaxa 3861 (6): 501-530, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3861.6.1
03B5B96CDB22BC46FF06F9C8A3CBF855.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species is named in honour of Yazdanfar Ahangaran (General Office of Natural Resources of Mazandaran Province, Nowshahr, Iran), for his help in collecting these mites.	en	Kazemi, Shahrooz, Rajaei, Asma, Beaulieu, Frédéric (2014): Two new species of Gaeolaelaps (Acari: Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) from Iran, with a revised generic concept and notes on significant morphological characters in the genus. Zootaxa 3861 (6): 501-530, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3861.6.1
03B5B96CDB22BC46FF06F9C8A3CBF855.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Gaeolaelaps ahangarani can most readily be distinguished from all other species in the genus by the following combination of characters: very short dorsal setae, particularly so in the opisthonotal region; the absence of Px 2 – 3; only three pairs of marginal setae on soft lateral cuticle; epigynal shield with posterior cells with sinuous borders; an anal shield broadly rounded anteriorly, with the anus almost entirely in the anterior half of shield; and modified leg setae, such as pl 2 – 3 of tarsus IV and pl 1 of tibia IV spur-like, and ad 3, pd 3 very short. Many other Gaeolaelaps have short dorsal setae, but the large majority of them possess Px 2 – 3 setae, rarely have the anal opening positioned as anteriorly as in the new species (based on species descriptions), and have other distinctive characters. For instance, G. tenuisetus Rosario (1981) has short setae, but seems to possess Px 2 – 3 (at least on one side; the illustration is difficult to interpret), and has an epigynal shield considerably expanded posteriorly (nearly parallel-sided in G. ahangarani), and a subtriangular anal shield that is relatively flat anteriorly. Gaeolaelaps analis (Karg, 1982) has a broader, more oval dorsal shield, Px 2 present, and a broader anal shield with anus located on its posterior half. Gaeolaelaps gleba Karg, 1979 (= G. glabra Karg, 1978) has Px 2 – 3 setae as well as shortened peritremes. The few Gaeolaelaps species lacking Px 2 – 3 setae that we are aware of are distinguished from G. ahangarani by at least a few characters. Gaeolaelaps queenslandicus and G. angustus (Karg, 1965) have a posteriorly tapered dorsal shield, longer dorsal setae, a three-tined palp apotele, and a deutosternum narrowing posteriorly (based on Costa, 1966). Based on the illustrations, Gaeolaelaps tengi (Gu & Bai, 1991) may appear similar to the new species, but it has longer setae, a broader, subtriangular anal shield that is flatter anteriorly, a sternal shield truncate posteriorly, with st 3 setae near the edge, a post-stigmatic region of peritrematal shield almost reaching the posterior margin of coxae IV (shorter in G. ahangarani), and a narrower deutosternal groove. Gaeolaelaps wufengensis (Liu & Ma, 2003) also has relatively short setae, but possesses an epigynal shield ornamented by circular lines posteriorly, seven rows of deutosternal denticles, and an acuminate epistome. Gaeolaelaps barbarae (Strong 1995), associated with funnel-web spiders, has a more oval dorsal shield, and much longer setae, and a subtriangular epistome. Other arthropod associates also lack Px 2 – 3 (e. g. G. disjuncta Hunter & Yeh, 1969, G. circularis, G. ruggi, and G. rarosae Rosario, 1981), but have fewer setae on the dorsal shield (<37), longer setae, and often a more oval dorsal shield, a shorter, more compact sternal shield, and / or an epigynal shield with distinct ornamentation. Gaeolaelaps ahangarani shares characters with G. aculeifer and relatives (see Discussion), such as the spinelike setae on tarsi, especially of legs II-III, the deutosternal groove with numerous denticles per row, and similarly shaped and ornamented dorsal, sternal, and epigynal shields (although these shields are similar in several other Gaeolaelaps species). Like G. aculeifer, it also has internal malae with two pairs of short lateral projections. However, it differs from G. aculeifer and relatives by lacking Px 2 – 3 setae, and having only three marginal setae laterad of the dorsal shield, a fixed cheliceral digit with fewer teeth proximal to the pilus dentilis, and shortened leg setae (see Diagnosis). At first glance, the sinuous borders of the cells of the epigynal shield appear as a fairly unique character of G. ahangarani. However, we suspect that such ornamentation occurs in other species, which we may have overlooked, or that are still undescribed.	en	Kazemi, Shahrooz, Rajaei, Asma, Beaulieu, Frédéric (2014): Two new species of Gaeolaelaps (Acari: Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) from Iran, with a revised generic concept and notes on significant morphological characters in the genus. Zootaxa 3861 (6): 501-530, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3861.6.1
