Fauna and species diversity of edaphic mesostigmatic mites of superfamilies Eviphidoidea and Ascoidea (Acari: Mesostigmata) in Khorramabad County, Lorestan Province

The fauna of edaphic mesostigmatic mites in Khorramabad County, South Western Iran, was examined during 2012–2013. The abundance and species diversity of collected species were also evaluated in five habitats including oak forests, fields, orchards, manure and ant nests from eight regions were evaluated. In this research, 18 species were collected and identified of which 14 species are new records for Lorestan mite fauna. The estimated Shannon-Wiener’s diversity index and Margalef index showed the significant difference among studied districts and habitats. The highest and lowest values of Shannon-Wiener’s diversity index and Margalef index were calculated for Bisheh and Makhmalkoh regions, respectively. Also among different habitats, oak forests with 2.36 and 3.03 and ant nests with 2.36 and 3.03, respectively for Shannon-Wiener’s diversity index and Margalef index showed greatest and lowest values. According to the findings of this study Onchodellus karawaiewi (Berlese, 1920) (25%), Alliphis halleri (G. & R. Canestrini, 1884) (18%), Pachylaelaps pectinifer (G. & R. Canestrini, 1881) 12%) and Macrocheles scutatus (Berlese, 1904) (8%) were the most abundant species.