Introducion and identification key for eight macrochelid species (Acari:Macrochelidae) in Guilan Province, northern Iran

The predatory mites of family Macrochelidae live in different edaphic habitats and can play an important role in soil biodiversity. A faunistic survey was carried out to identify the mite of the family Macrochelidae in Guilan Province, northern Iran, during two years of 2007 and 2008. An identification key was also provided for Guilan Province machrochelid mites. Eight species from two genera were identified totally. The lists of identified species are as follows. One and two asterisks above the species name mark the species which have been recorded for the first time from Guilan Province and Iran, respectively: Holostaspella bifoliate*, Macrocheles recki**, M. merdiarus, M. peniculatus**, M. muscaedomesticae*, M. peniciliger*, M. robustulus* and M. glaber*.