Determination of terrestrial Parasitengona (Acari: Trombidiformes) mite fauna in Aydın (Türkiye) and its surroundings

This study was conducted to identify terrestrial Parasitengona (Acari: Trombidiformes) mite species in Aydın province and its surrounding areas between June 2022 and October 2023. Sampling of mites associated with arthropods was carried out weekly and monthly in public places such as parks, cemeteries and natural areas containing water sources like rivers and reservoir lakes. As a result of this study, a total of 19 species belonging to the genera Abalakeus, Allothrombium, Balaustium, Charletonia, Diplothrombium, Empitrombium, Enemothrombium, Erythraeus, Eutrombidium, Iberochyzeria, Leptus and Trichotrombidium were identified. Additionally, some specimens of the genus Smaris were diagnosed at the genus level. A new species of the genus Leptus, Leptus baspinari Kapankaya, Saboori, and Cakmak, 2023, was described from the larval stage. Eleven species including Abalakeus gonabadensis Ahmadi, Hajiqanbar ve Saboori, 2012, Empitrombium prasadi Saberi-Riseh ve Saboori, 2020, Enemothrombium wohltmanni Saboori, Shojaei ve Hakimitabar, 2009, Eutrombidium sorbasiensis Mayoral ve Barranco, 2004, Leptus darvishi Saboori, Hakimitabar, and Khademi, 2018, Leptus dubius Paoli, 1937, L. pouryayevalii Hakimitabar, Saboori, and Fadaei, 2021, Charletonia damavandica Karimi Iravanlou, Kamali, and Talebi, 2002, Charletonia nazeleae Karimi Irvanlou, Kamali, and Talebi, 2002, Diplothrombium sahragardi Noei, Saboori, and Hajizadeh, 2014 and Iberochyzeria fornielesi Mayoral, Welbourn, and Barranco, 2018 were reported as new records for the Turkish fauna. Iberochyzeria fornielesi was reported as the second record of the genus. Leptus dubius has been redescribed and illustrated. Abalakeus gonabadensis Ahmadi, Hajiqanbar and Saboori 2012 was redescribed based on type specimens from Iran and mite specimens collected from different grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae, Tettigoniidae) in Türkiye.