Fauna of Predatory Mites of Mesostigmata and Prostigmata (Acari: Mesostigmata, Trombidiformes) Associated with Stored Food Products in Mashhad, Iran

To identify the mite species associated with food products in Mashhad, a variety of stored food products were visited and sampled during years 2011 and 2012. Storage mites were extracted by means of Berlese-Tullgreen funnel. Mite specimens were cleared using Lactic acid or Nesbit’s fluid. Using Hoyer’s medium, cleared specimens were mounted as permanent microscopic slides. Specimens were identified or confirmed by the relevant specialist. As a result, a total of 21 species, belonging to 15 genera of 11 families from 2 orders including Mesostigmata and Trombidiformes were identified. Among the identified species, those flagged with one and two asterisks are new records for the study area and Iran, respectively. Voucher specimens are deposited in the Acarology collection of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran. The list of identified species is as follows: I- Order Trombidiformes- Bdellidae: Spinibdella cronini Baker & Balock, Spinibdella? sp. **, Caligonellidae: Molothrognathus mehrnejadi Liang & Zhang*, Paraneognathus oblongus (Soliman)*. Cheyletidae: Acaropsellina sollers)Kuzin), Cheyletus eruditus (Schrank)*, Cheyletus malaccensis Oudemans, Cheyletus trouessarti Oudemans*, Lepidocheyla gracilis Volgin*, Neoucheyla iranica Fain & Ardeshir*. Cunaxidae: Cunaxa capreolus Berlese*, Cunaxa setirostris Hermann. Raphignathidae: Raphignathus hecmatanaensis Khanjani & Ueckermann*, Raphignathus gracilis Rack*, Stigmaeidae: Stigmaeus elongates Berlese, Storchia robustus Oudemans*. II- O. Mesostigmata- Ameroseiidae: Ameroseius pavidus Koch*, Ameroseius delicatus Berlese**. Ascidae: Arctoseius cetratus Sellnick*, Arctoseius sp., Laelapidae: Haemolaelaps fenilis Megnin*, H. casalis Berlese*. Macrochelidae: Macrocheles muscaedomesticae (Scopoli)*, Macrocheles merdarius (Berlese). Mellicaridae: Proctolaelapsventrianalis Karg*, P. pygmaeus (Müller)*.