A survey on bees (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Apoidea) and their associated mites in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province of Iran

In this study 46 species of bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) and their 17 associated mite species from Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province reigns with some specimens collected from Yasouj and Dezful have been examined. Four species of mites were new for Iran: Sennertia zhelochovtsevi Zachvatkin, Vidia lineata Oudemans, Sennertionyx manicati (Giard) and Crabrovidia oudemansi Fain. These mites were found on bees’ families of Halictidae, Megachilidae, Apidae and Andrenidae. The identified mites were belonging to families of Neopygmephoridae, Scutacaridae, Chaetodactylidae, Anoetidae, Acaridae, Saproglyphidae and Winterschmidtiidae. Among bees’ families, the most association was observed on Halictidae and the lowest was on Andrenidae. Bee species of Halictus (Halictus) resurgens Nurse, 1903 had the highest percentage of association. All specimens are deposited in the Iranian Pollinator Insects Museum of Yasouj University. Herein a list of mite species associated with bees and bees’ species list are provided. Some specimens belong to genera of Imparipes Berlese, 1903 (n=12 specimens) and Chaetodactylus Rondani, 1866 (n=11 specimens) were new for science which would be described in a subsequent paper.