Biodiversity of mesostigmatic soil mite fauna (Acari: Mesostigmata) of a city park located in Tehran, Iran

Mites are one of the largest and most diverse subclasses of Arachnida with a worldwide distribution. The order includes 456 families and more than 56,000 species.
In this study, mesostigmatic soil mite fauna was studied as indicators of biodiversity in the 52-hectare Police park of the city of Tehran, Iran. The area of the park was divided into 7 sections in terms of their vegetational and geographical properties. Soil samplings were conducted through theyear and a total of 6167 mite specimens of 80 species were collected. Species diversity was calculated using Simpsons index of diversity and Shannon-Wiener index. Species richness was estimated using Menhinicks index and Margalefs diversity index and species evenness calculation was based on Peet and Hill.
Cheiroseius sp., Halolaelaps sp., Oplitis sp., Asca sp., Androlaelaps aegypticus, Pergamasus falculiger, Gamasiphis pulchellus, Cosmolaelaps lutegiensis, Macrocheles insignitus, Euandrolaelaps karawaiewi, Lasioseius youcefi, Proctolaelaps pygmaeus, Macrocheles peniculatus, Iphidozercon gibbus, Antennoseius masoviae, Pergamasus crassipes and Neogamasus cervicornis are reported here from Tehran for the first time. Uroseius (Apinoseius) sp. is new to Iran.