# Bdellid mites of the southern Caspian Sea coast with description of a new species of Cyta (Acari: Trombidiformes: Prostigmata: Bdellidae)

Saeid Paktinat-Saeij, Shahrooz Kazemi

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Saeid Paktinat-Saeij, Shahrooz Kazemi. Bdellid mites of the southern Caspian Sea coast with description of a new species of Cyta (Acari: Trombidiformes: Prostigmata: Bdellidae). Acarologia, 2025, 65 (4), pp.1188-1198. 10.24349/1p9c-gbnw. hal-05387161

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Submitted on 28 Nov 2025

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Acarologia

Open Science
in Acarology

# Bdellid mites of the southern Caspian Sea coast with description of a new species of *Cyta* (Acari: Trombidiformes: Prostigmata: Bdellidae)

Saeid Paktinat-Saeij IDª, Shahrooz Kazemi IDᵇ,ᶜ

## Original research

### ABSTRACT

Four species of the family Bdellidae were collected from the southern coast of the Caspian Sea in Gilan and Mazandaran provinces, including *Cyta latirostris* (Hermann), *Odontoscirus kazeruni* (Ostovan & Kamali), and *Spinibdella cronini* (Baker & Balock), together with a new species of the genus *Cyta* von Heyden. The new species, *C. akhyanii n. sp.*, is described based on male, female, tritonymph and deutonymph specimens collected from Anzali and Babolsar counties, as well as the Miankaleh Peninsula in northern Iran. This species can be distinguished by the following combination of characters: prodorsal setae *at*, *lps*, and *mps* not aligned, forming the vertices of a triangle; seta DHS present; palp basifemur with four setae; and absence of trichobothria on tibiae and tarsi of legs.

**Keywords** taxonomy; biodiversity; littoral mites; Cytinae; predatory mites; Trichobothria

**Zoobank** http://zoobank.org/AAB49429-D807-464C-8239-CC2EEF06D36E

### Introduction

Predatory mites of the family Bdellidae Dugès (Acari: Bdelloidea) are commonly found in soil and litter across a wide range of habitats, ranging from arid deserts to cool, moist forests (Walter and Krantz 2009). According to the most recent classification, Bdellidae comprises five subfamilies and 11 genera. The genus *Cyta* was originally established by von Heyden in 1826, with *C. latirostris* (Hermann, 1804) designated as the type species. *Cyta* can be distinguished from other bdellid genera by the presence of two pairs of ventral setae on hypostome, absence of trichobothrium on tarsus IV, cheliceral bases normal or inflated, integument striated and usually unsclerotized, and a usually present unpaired median eye (Hernandes et al. 2016).

The genus *Cyta* currently comprises 19 species worldwide (Hernandes et al. 2016; Barbar & Ueckermann 2017). Prior to the present study, six species of *Cyta* had been recorded from Iran: *C. coerulipes* (Dugès, 1834); *C. latirostris* (Hermann, 1804); *Cyta longiseta* (Wallace & Mahon, 1972); *C. leiliae* Eghbalian, Khanjani & Ueckermann, 2014; *C. kurdistanicus* Eghbalian, Khanjani & Ueckermann, 2014; and *C. kreiteri* Barbar & Ueckermann, 2017 (Kamali et al. 2001; Abbaszadeh-Rad et al. 2010; Beyzavi et al. 2011; Eghbalian et al. 2014; Khosravinejad et al. 2020).

Wallace and Mahon (1972) recognized three species groups within the genus *Cyta*, based on the number of trichobothria on leg segments: (1) species with three trichobothria (on

Received 13 October 2025
Accepted 19 November 2025
Published 26 November 2025

Corresponding author
Saeid Paktinat-Saeij ID:
saeedpaktinat@yahoo.com

Academic editor
Akashi Hernandes, Fabio

https://doi.org/10.24349/1p9c-gbnw

ISSN 0044-586X (print)
ISSN 2107-7207 (electronic)

<figure><img src="image_2.png" /></figure>

Paktinat-Saeij S. and Kazemi S.

Licensed under
Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0

OPEN ACCESS

<footnote>ª Plant Protection Research Department, Semnan (Shahrood) Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Shahrood, Iran.</footnote>

<footnote>ᵇ Department of Biodiversity, Institute of Science and High Technology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran.</footnote>

<footnote>ᶜ Acarology Collection, Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43212, USA.</footnote>
tibia I, IV and tarsus III); (2) species with one trichobothrium (on tibia IV), and (3) species lacking trichobothria entirely. Most known species fall into the first group. Three species—*C. latirostris*, *C. kurdistanicus* and *C. kreiteri*—are included in the second group, each bearing a single trichobothrium on tibiae IV. In the present study, based on mite specimens collected from the southern coasts of the Caspian Sea, we describe *C. akhyanii* n. sp. the first known species of *Cyta* in which trichobothria are completely absent from all legs.

## Materials and methods

Mites were extracted from coastal soil samples collected in the southern Caspian Sea region (Gilan and Mazandaran provinces, northern Iran) using Tullgren's funnels, cleared in Nesbitt's fluid or lactophenol solution, and mounted on microscope slides using Hoyer's medium. Morphological observations, measurements and illustrations were made using a compound microscope equipped with differential interference contrast and phase contrast optical systems and a drawing tube (Olympus BX51). Initial pencil line drawings were then scanned and cleaned using Adobe Illustrator CS6. The body length of all specimens was measured from the apex of hypostome to posterior margin of idiosoma and body width at the level of setae $c_2$; setae were measured from their insertion to their tips. Legs were measured from the ventral insertion of coxea to the base of pretarsi. All measurements are given in micrometers (µm) and variations of leg setal number in parentheses. Measurements of the paratypes are given in brackets following that of the holotype. The dorsal and ventral setal nomenclature follows Fisher *et al.* (2011) and Paktinat-Saeej *et al.* (2015), legs setal notation follows Den Heyer (1981). The abbreviations of setal names are as follows: Prodorsal setae: anterior trichobothria (*at*), posterior trichobothria (*pt*), lateral proterosomal setae (*lps*), median proterosomal setae (*mps*). Hysterosomal setae: internal humerals (*c*₁), external humerals (*c*₂), internal dorsals (*d*₁), internal lumbals (*e*₁), internal sacral (*f*₁), external sacral (*f*₂), internal clunals (*h*₁), external clunals (*h*₂). Anal region: postanals (*ps*), anal setae (*ad*); Genital region: aggenital setae (*ag*), genital setae (*g*). Ventral hypostomal setae (*vh*₁⁻₆), dorsal hypostomal setae (*DHS*). Leg setae: attenuate (sharply) solenidion (*asl*), blunt-pointed rod-like solenidion (*bsl*), peg-like seta (*pe*), trichobothria (*T*), simple tactile seta (*sts*), unpaired median seta (*ums*). Palp setae: solenidion (*s*), dorsal end seta (*DES*), and ventral end seta (*VES*).

## Family Bdellidae Dugès, 1834

### Subfamily Cytinae Grandjean, 1938

### Genus Cyta von Heyden, 1826

Type species: *Scirus latirostris* Hermann, 1804 (Original designation)

*Cyta latirostris* (Hermann, 1804); Von Heyden (1826)

#### Cyta akhyanii n. sp.

Zoobank: 42B159BE-04CB-4612-A91A-037492450D93

#### Diagnosis

Prodorsal setae *at*, *lps*, and *mps* not aligned and these setae forming the vertices of a triangle; seta DHS present; palp basifemur with four setae; trichobothria absent on tibiae and tarsi; setal formula of *ag* setae on periphery of amphioid sclerites 4-3-1.

#### Description

**Male (Figures 1–2) (n=5)** — Dimensions: Length of body (including gnathosoma) 743 (762–855), length of gnathosoma 205 (168–230), width 390 (451–550); leg lengths: I 502 (490–565), II 500 (483–563), III 562 (493–600), IV 650 (625–713).
<figure><img src="image_3.png" /></figure>

**Figure 1** *Cyta akhyanii n. sp.*, A – dorsal view of idiosoma (male); B – seta $c_l$ (male); C – ventral view of idiosoma (male); D – Amphioid sclerite (male); E – subcapitulum (male); F – chelicera (male); G – palp (male); H – ovipositor (female).
**Dorsum** – (Figures 1A, 1B) – Color dark red in life. Dorsal idiosoma with finely broken striae, at and pt slender and minutely pilose. Prodorsal setae at, lps, and mps not aligned and these setae forming the vertices of a triangle (Fig. 1A). Center of propodosoma with longitudinal striations; prodorsum with five eyes, with transvers to oblique striations between them, unpaired median eye 19 (17–21) between at and two pairs of eyes posterolateral to pt with transverse striae, anterior lateral eye 31 (28–31), and posterior lateral eye 26 (23–25). Dorsal striae of hysterosoma with finely broken striae (Figure 1); all dorsal setae barbed plumose (Figure 1B). Three pairs of cupules (ia, im and ip) at level of setae *d*₁, *e*₁ and *f*₂. Lengths of dorsal setae: at 88 (90–92), pt 88 (83–93), lps 45 (50–55), mps 46 (45–50), c₁ 42 (40–50), c₂ 43 (40–51), *d*₁ 40 (40–45), *e*₁ 46 (40–48), *f*₁ 45 (44–53), *f*₂ 50 (56–60), *h*₁ 45 (48–53), *h*₂ 48 (50–53), *h*₃ 38 (37–40). Distances between dorsal setae: at–at 95 (98–108), pt–pt 238 (225–288), lps–lps 215 (200–268), mps–mps 80 (80–100), c₁–c₁ 110 (100–128), c₁–c₂ 83 (75–100), c₂–c₂ 273 (263–310), c₁–d₁ 80 (65–81), d₁–d₁ 105 (102–125), d₁–e₁ 66 (65–75), e₁–e₁ 125 (110–134), e₁–f₁ 68 (75–93), f₁–f₁ 68 (70–81), f₁–f₂ 65 (56–65), f₂–f₂ 135 (115–155), f₁–h₁ 80 (74–100), h₁–h₁ 50 (32–48), h₁–h₂ 38 (38–45), h₂–h₂ 100 (88–113), h₃–h₃ 65 (53–68).

**Venter** – (Figures 1C, 1D) – Ventral surface ornamented with finely broken striations. Genital valves each with 8(9/7) genital setae about 26–30 in length (measurement range in holotype and paratypes). Ventral region with seven pairs of aggenital setae (*ag*₁₋₇) about 32–40 in length. All genital and aggenital setae setiform and minutely barbed. Anal valves with three pairs of minutely barbed pseudanal setae (*ps*₁₋₃), *ps*₁ 30 (25–28), *ps*₂ 23 (20–28), *ps*₃ 20 (20–25) and one pair of minutely barbed setae, *ad*₁ 30 (25–35) present lateral to pseudanal setae; with one unpaired of seta (*ums*) 34 (31–40) between coxe IV. Cupules *ih* present. Setal formula of *ag* setae on periphery of amphioid sclerites 4-3-1 (Figure 1D).

**Gnathosoma** – (Figures 1E, 1F, 1G) – Seta DHS 38 (35–43) present. Two pairs of ventral hypostomal setae longitudinally aligned (*vh*₁₋₂), *vh*₁ 45 (43–50), *vh*₂ 35 (28–30), (Figure 1E); hypostome ended in two lateral lips, bearing two adoral setae *or*₁ 17 (16–18), *or*₂ 18 (20–23). Hypostome with continuous to sparsely broken longitudinal striations, and finely broken transverse striations at base. Chelicera (Figure 1F) with longitudinal striae, 163 (150–175) long with two setae, proximal seta 58 (55–65) longer than distal seta 30 (25–30), distance between setae 93 (90–100). Movable digit without teeth and fixed digit with three teeth (Figure 1F). Palp (Figure 1G) 250 (243–260), measurements of palp segments as follows: trochanter 25 (23–28), basifemur 80 (90–93), telafemur 40 (35–40), genu 25 (25–33), tibiotarsus 78 (75–83); chaetotaxy: trochanter 0, basifemur 4sts, telafemur 1sts, genu 3sts, tibiotarsus 4sts, 1s, 2 long end setae (VES, DES), VES 75 (68–76), DES 78 (70–93).

**Legs** – (Figure 2) – Leg chaetotaxy: coxe I–IV 5(6)–7(6)–6(5/8)–4(5)sts; trochantera I–IV 2–2–2–2(3)sts; basifemora I–IV 8–7(8/9)–6–3(2)sts; telafemora I–IV 7–5(6/7)–6(7)–5sts; genua I–IV 7sts, 1asl–7sts, 1asl–7sts, 1asl–7(5)sts; tibiae I–IV 9(10)sts, 3asl–9sts, 2bsl–9sts, 1bsl–9(11)sts; tarsi I–IV 27(28)sts, 1asl, 3bsl, 1pe–24(26) sts, 1asl, 1bsl, 1pe–23(24)sts, 1asl–22(23)sts, 1asl.

**Female (Figures 1H, 3A-D) (n=5)** — Dimensions: Length of body (including gnathosoma) 788–868, length of gnathosoma 175–200, width 425–450; leg lengths: I 495–530, II 495–525, III 538–593, IV 650–688.

**Dorsum** – Diameters of unpaired median eye 18–20, anterior lateral eye 28–31 and posterior lateral eye 24–25. Lengths of dorsal setae: at?, pt 90–93, lps 43–53, mps 45–53, c₁ 40–43, c₂ 43–50, *d*₁ 40–43, *e*₁ 40–44, *f*₁ 45–53, *f*₂ 53–58, *h*₁ 45–50, *h*₂ 50–55, *h*₃ 35–40. Distances between dorsal setae: at–at 100–110, pt–pt 238–270, lps–lps 208–268, mps–mps 83–90, c₁–c₁ 115–130, c₁–c₂ 75–96, c₂–c₂ 275–308, c₁–d₁ 76–80, d₁–d₁ 105–135, d₁–e₁ 65–75, *e*₁–*e*₁ 118–130, *e*₁–*f*₁ 68–83, *f*₁–*f*₁ 68–83, *f*₁–*f*₂ 54–70, *f*₂–*f*₂ 130–152, *f*₁–*h*₁ 74–78, *h*₁–*h*₁ 38–45, *h*₁–*h*₂ 38–50, *h*₂–*h*₂ 88–115, *h*₃–*h*₃ 53–70.

**Venter** – Ventral side with eight of genital setae on each plate about 25–30 in length and seven pairs of aggenital setae about 32–36 in length; all genital and aggenital setae setiform and minutely barbed. Anal valves with three pairs of minutely barbed pseudanal setae, *ps*₁ 25–30,
<figure><img src="image_4.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 2** *Cyta akhyanii n. sp.*, male, A – leg I; B – leg II; C – leg III; D – leg IV.</figcaption></figure>

$ps_2$ 23–25, $ps_3$ 20–23, $ad_1$ 30–38, seta (ums) 30–33. Ovipositor (Figure 1H) tube-shaped, with 10 dorsal setae and 8 ventral setae.

*Gnathosoma* – (Figures 3A, 3B) – DHS 30–38, $vh_1$ 43–53, $vh_2$ 30–35, $or_1$ 17–18, $or_2$ 22–24, Chelicera 155–170, proximal seta of chelicera 55–65, distal seta of chelicera 25–33, distance between setae 93–104, palp 250–268, measurements of palp segments as follows: trochanter 23–33, basifemur 83–95, telofemur 28–43, genu 25–30, tibiotarsus 75–83, *VES* 75–80, *DES* 78–85. Chaetotaxy of palp: trochanter 0, basifemur 4sts, telofemur 1sts, genu 3sts, tibiotarsus
<figure><img src="image_5.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 3** *Cyta akhyanii n. sp.*, female, A – dorsal view of gnathosoma; B – palp; C – tibia and tarsus leg III; D – tibia and tarsus leg IV.</figcaption></figure>

4sts, 1s, 2 long end setae (VES, DES),

*Legs* – (Figures 3C, 3D) – Leg chaetotaxy of female: coxae I–IV 5(6)-7(5/6)-6(7)-4(5)sts; trochantera I–IV 2-2-2-2(3)sts; basifemora I–IV 8-8(9)-6-3sts; telofemora I–IV 7-5(7)-6-5sts;
genua I-IV 7sts, 1asl- 7sts, 1asl- 7sts, 1asl- 7(8)sts; tibiae I-IV 9sts, 3asl- 9sts, 2bsl- 9sts, 1bsl-9sts; tarsi I-IV 27(29) sts, 1asl, 3bsl, 1pe- 25(26)sts, 1asl, 1bsl, 1pe- 24(25)sts, 1asl- 23sts, 1asl.

**Tritonymph (n=3)** — Dimensions: Length of body (including gnathosoma) 608–733, length of gnathosoma 155–175, width 320–363; leg lengths: I 392–413, II 390–410, III 425–450, IV 475–525.

**Dorsum** – Diameters of unpaired median eye 14, anterior lateral eye 22–24 and posterior lateral eye 17–20. Lengths of dorsal setae: at 72, pt 65–71, lps 36–40, mps 37–39, c₁ 32–36, c₂ 34–37, d₁ 33–35, e₁ 35–36, f₁ 38–43, f₂ 45–50, h₁ 41–43, h₂ 37–43, h₃ 29–31. Distances between dorsal setae: at-at 83–86, pt-pt 202–230, lps-lps 185–224, mps-mps 63–82, c₁-c₁ 100–105, c₁-c₂ 65–98, c₂-c₂ 245–305, c₁-d₁ 60–89, d₁-d₁ 90–103, d₁-e₁ 50–67, e₁-e₁ 96–106, e₁-f₁ 48–65, f₁-f₁ 64–68, f₁-f₂ 43–55, f₂-f₂ 115–117, f₁-h₁ 63–102, h₁-h₁ 30–37, h₁-h₂ 32–42, h₂-h₂ 83–93, h₃-h₃ 41–52.

**Venter** – genital plate with four pairs of genital setae about 18–19 in length; ventral region with five or six pairs of aggenital setae about 21–23 in length; all genital and aggenital setae setiform and minutely barbed. Anal valves with three pairs of minutely barbed pseudanal setae, ps₁ 17–20, ps₂ 17–20, ps₃ 14–15, ad₁ 24–25, seta (ums) 25–26.

**Gnathosoma** – DHS 25–30, vh₁ 31–36, vh₂ 26–30, or₁ 14–15, or₂ 17–21, Chelicera 130–133, proximal seta of chelicera 48–53, distal seta of chelicera 23–26, distance between setae 72–80, palp 175–195, measurements of palp segments as follows: trochanter 23–28, basifemur 75–78, telofemur 28–36, genu 20–23, tibiotarsus 58–63, VES 63–67, DES 71–80. Chaetotaxy of palp: trochanter 0, basifemur 4sts, telofemur 1sts, genu 3sts, tibiotarsus 4sts, 1s, 2 long end setae (VES, DES),

**Legs** – Leg chaetotaxy: coxae I-IV 5(6)-4(5)-4(5)-3sts; trochantera I-IV 2-2-2-2sts; basifemora I-IV 6(7/8)-6(7)-5-2sts; telofemora I-IV 5-5-4-5(5)sts; genua I-IV 7(6)sts, 1asl-7(5)sts, 1asl-6(5)sts, 1asl-5(7)sts; tibiae I-IV 8(9)sts, 3asl-8(7/6)sts, 2bsl-8sts, 1bsl-8(7/9)sts; tarsi I-IV 24 sts, 1asl, 3bsl, 1pe-21sts, 1asl, 1bsl, 1pe-21(19)sts, 1asl-18(19)sts, 1asl.

**Deutonymph (n=2)** — Dimensions: Length of body (including gnathosoma) 475–560, length of gnathosoma 113–118, width 243–325; leg lengths: I 318–325, II 313–318, III 353–357, IV 380–388.

**Dorsum** – Diameters of unpaired median eye 11–12, anterior lateral eye 18–20 and posterior lateral eye 15–17. Lengths of dorsal setae: at 61–65, pt 67, lps 32, mps 30–32, c₁ 28–30, c₂ 28–33, d₁ 30–31, e₁ 33–36, f₁ 38–39, f₂ 41, h₁ 37–40, h₂ 30–38, h₃ 23–27. Distances between dorsal setae: at-at 67–70, pt-pt 143–200, lps-lps 137–197, mps-mps 50–71, c₁-c₁ 76–80, c₁-c₂ 42–65, c₂-c₂ 165–205, c₁-d₁ 46–62, d₁-d₁ 59–72, d₁-e₁ 35–50, e₁-e₁ 68–75, e₁-f₁ 41–52, f₁-f₁ 37–40, f₁-f₂ 34–35, f₂-f₂ 82–93, f₁-h₁ 37–45, h₁-h₁ 24–40, h₁-h₂ 24–26, h₂-h₂ 52–63, h₃-h₃ 27–36.

**Venter** – genital plate with one pair of genital setae 15 in length; ventral region with four pairs of aggenital setae about 17–19 in length; all genital and aggenital setae setiform and minutely barbed. Anal valves with three pairs of minutely barbed pseudanal setae, ps₁ 19–20, ps₂ 15–16, ps₃ 15, seta (ums) 20–25.

**Gnathosoma** – DHS 22–23, vh₁ 30–35, vh₂ 21–25, or₁ 12–14, or₂ 15–20, Chelicera 105–112, proximal seta of chelicera 42–44, distal seta of chelicera 19–21, distance between setae 57–62, palp 152–158, measurements of palp segments as follows: trochanter 11–12, basifemur 58–60, telofemur 21–23, genu 16–18, tibiotarsus 50–51, VES 58–60, DES 56–64. Chaetotaxy of palp: trochanter 0, basifemur 2sts, telofemur 1sts, genu 3sts, tibiotarsus 4sts, 1s, 2 long end setae (VES, DES),

**Legs** – Leg chaetotaxy: coxae I-IV 4-3-4-1sts; trochantera I-IV 1-1(2)-1-1(2)sts; basifemora I-IV 4(2/3)-3(2)-2(1)-1sts; telofemora I-IV 5-5-4(5)-4sts; genua I-IV 5sts, 1asl-5sts, 1asl-5sts, 1asl-5sts; tibiae I-IV 5sts, 3asl-5sts, 2bsl-5sts, 1bsl-5sts; tarsi I-IV 20(21)sts, 1asl, 3bsl, 1pe-17sts, 1asl, 1bsl, 1pe-16sts, 1asl-14(15)sts, 1asl.

**Larvae and protonymph** — Unknown.
## Remarks

The new species differs from all described *Cyta* species by the absence of trichobothria on tibiae and tarsi of legs (vs. presence on tibiae or tarsi in other species). Notwithstanding, the new species closely resembles *C. latirostris*, *C. kurdistanicus* and *C. kreiteri* in lacking trichobothria on tibia I and tarsus III; prodorsal seta *mps* not reaching the base of seta *lps*; an unpaired seta (*ums*) between coxae IV. However, the new species can be distinguished from them by having: (1) palp basifemur with four setae (*vs*. six in others), (2) palp genu with three setae (*vs*. four in others), (3) seta DHS present (*vs*. absent in others), (4) setal formula of *ag* setae on periphery of amphioid sclerites 4-3-1 (*vs*. 3-3-2 in *C. latirostris* and *C. kreiteri*), and (5) tarsus III with one solenidion (*vs*. without solenidion in others).

## Etymology

The species is named in honor of Dr. Ahmad Akhyani (28 August 1969 – 7 July 2025), a distinguished and highly respected Iranian soil scientist whose tireless efforts and outstanding contributions have significantly advanced the field of soil science.

## Type material

**Holotype** — Male, from sandy soil, Anzali, Gilan Province, 37°28′05.39″N, 49°32′26.46″E, 23 April 2021, col. M.M. Khanzadeh; will be deposited in the Acarology Collection at the Institute of Science and High Technology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran (ACISTE).

**Paratypes** — One male, sandy soil, near manure, Miankaleh Peninsula, Mazandaran Province, 36°53′23.62″N, 53°40′53.81″E, 09 November 2021, col. F. Pazhum; two males, from sandy soil, Anzali, Gilan Province, 37°28′05.39″N, 49°32′26.46″E, 23 April 2021, col. M.M. Khanzadeh; one male, sandy soil, Miankaleh Peninsula, Mazandaran Province, 36°53′32.85″N, 53°42′36.23″E, 09 November 2021, col. F. Pazhum; one male, sandy soil and reed, Babolsar, Mazandaran Province, 36°43′39.82″N, 52°45′03.49″E, 09 November 2021, col. F. Pazhum; four females from sandy soil, Anzali, Gilan Province, 37°28′05.39″N, 49°32′26.46″E, 23 April 2021, col. M.M. Khanzadeh; one female, from sandy soil, Anzali, Gilan Province, 37°28′5.76″N, 49°32′25.29″E, 23 April 2021, col. M.M. Khanzadeh; one deutonymph from sandy soil, Anzali, Gilan Province, 37°28′05.39″N, 49°32′26.46″E, 23 April 2021, col. M.M. Khanzadeh; one deutonymph, Anzali, Gilan Province, 37°28′05.75″N, 49°32′25.29″E, 23 April 2021, col. M.M. Khanzadeh; two tritonymphs, from sandy soil, Anzali, Gilan Province, 37°28′05.39″N, 49°32′26.46″E, 23 April 2021, col. M.M. Khanzadeh, will be deposited in ACISTE. One male and one female, from sandy soil, Anzali, Gilan Province, 37°28′05.39″N, 49°32′26.46″E, 23 April 2021, col. M.M. Khanzadeh, will be deposited in the Acarological Collection, Jalal Afshar Zoological Museum, Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran (JAZM). One male, one female and one tritonymph from sandy soil, Anzali, Gilan Province, 37°28′05.39″N, 49°32′26.46″E, 23 April 2021, col. M.M. Khanzadeh, will be deposited in Plant Protection Research Department, Semnan (Shahrood) Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Shahrood, Iran.

## Note

Mites of the genus *Cyta* are widely distributed in Iran. Among the reported species from the country, *C. latirostris* and *C. coerulipes* are the most common, having been recorded from Alborz, East Azerbaijan, Fars, Gilan, Hamedan, Kermanshah, Lorestan, Mazandaran, Razavi Khorasan, Semnan, Tehran, and West Azerbaijan provinces (Paktinat-Saeij et al. 2023). In addition, *C. leiliae* and *C. kurdistanicus* have been reported from western Iran, specifically from Kurdistan and West Azerbaijan provinces (Eghbalian et al. 2014; Bagheri & Paktinat-Saeij 2016). *Cyta kreiteri* has been found in Lorestan and Semnan provinces (Paktinat-Saeij et al. 2023), whereas *C. longiseta* is known only from Fars province (Abbaszadeh-Rad et al. 2010).
In the present study, *C. akhyanii* n. sp. was collected from three coastal localities along the southern shores of the Caspian Sea, in Gilan and Mazandaran provinces. The occurrence of this species exclusively in humid coastal habitats suggests a possible ecological preference or adaptation to the littoral environments of northern Iran. Moreover, *C. akhyanii* n. sp. is unique within the genus, being the only known species worldwide completely lacking trichobothria on all legs.

### Cyta latirostris (Hermann, 1804)

*Scirus latirostris* Hermann, 1804: 62.

**Distribution in Iran** — Razavi Khorasan, Fars, Mazandaran, Tehran, West Azerbaijan, Alborz, East Azerbaijan, Lorestan, Gilan, and Semnan provinces (Paktinat-Saeij *et al.* 2023).

**Habitat** — This species was found in different habitats, such as *Malus domestica* (Borkh.), *Camellia sinensis* (L.), *Andropogon annulatus* (Forssk), soil and rotten leaves under plum, citrus, apple, tea, blue grass and privet. Sandy soil is as an additional habitat for this species.

**Material examined** — One female from sandy soil, Anzali, Gilan Province, 37°27′55.90″N, 49°33′53.29″E, 23 April 2021, col. M.M. Khanzadeh; one male and two females from sandy soil, Anzali, Gilan Province, 37°28′05.39″N, 49°32′26.46″E, 23 April 2021, col. M.M. Khanzadeh.

### Genus Odontoscirus Thor, 1913

#### Odontoscirus kazeruni (Ostovan & Kamali, 1995)

*Bdellodes kazeruni* Ostovan & Kamali, 1995: 29

**Distribution in Iran** — Fars and Alborz provinces (Ostovan & Kamali 1995; Ueckermann *et al.* 2007).

**Habitat** — This species was previously reported from stored barley, hay, and wheat (Ostovan & Kamali 1995; Ueckermann *et al.* 2007). The present occurrence in sandy soil at the Caspian Sea coast in northern Iran represents a novel habitat association.

**Material examined** — One tritonymph from sandy soil, Anzali, Gilan Province, 37°28′05.39″N, 49°32′26.46″E, 23 April 2021, col. M.M. Khanzadeh.

### Genus Spinibdella Thor, 1930

#### Spinibdella cronini (Baker and Balock, 1944)

*Bdella cronini* Baker and Balock, 1944: 178.

**Distribution in Iran** — Alborz, East Azerbaijan, Fars, Hamedan, Isfahan, Kermanshah, Kurdistan, Mazandaran, Razavi Khorasan, Tehran, West Azerbaijan, Gilan, Lorestan and Semnan provinces (Paktinat-Saeij *et al.* 2023).

**Habitat** — This species has previously been collected from leaves, leaves litter and soil samples of pagoda tree (*Sophora alopecuroides* L.) bean, locoweed, liquorice (*Glycyrrhiza glabra* (L.)), clover, alhagi (*Alhagi camelarum* (Fisch)), locust tree, *Astragalus* sp., *Acroptilon* sp., sainfoin (*Onobrychis* sp.), croton, citrus, apple, pine, plum, willow and olive (Ueckermann *et al.* 2007; Rostami *et al.* 2017), and samples of stored products (Ebrahimi & Noei 2022). The present findings in sandy soil along the Caspian Sea coast is a new habitat record for this species.

**Material examined** — one female from sandy soil and wood chips, Miankaleh Peninsula, Mazandaran Province, 36°53′42.92″N, 53°44′47.40″E, 09 November 2021, col. F. Pazhum; one protonymph from sandy soil and grasses, Babolsar, Mazandaran Province, 36°43′37.34″N, 52°44′39.66″E, 23 April 2021, col. F. Pazhum; one deutonymph from sandy soil, Haviq, Gilan Province, 38°08′39.16″N, 48°54′55.06″E, 23 April 2021, col. M.M. Khanzadeh; one male from sandy soil and grasses, Miankaleh Peninsula, Mazandaran Province, 36°50′30.82″N, 53°26′10.38″E, 20 April 2021, col. F. Pazhum; one male from sandy soil, Miankaleh Peninsula, Mazandaran Province, 36°49′53.89″N, 53°29′28.86″E, 20 April 2021, col. F. Pazhum; one female from sandy soil and reed, Babolsar, 36°43′37.35″N, 52°44′39.68″E, 20 April 2021,
col. F. Pazhum; one female from sandy and stony soil, Astara, Gilan Province, 38°26'05.78"N, 48°52'54.36"E, 6 June 2022, col. N. Mehrzad.

## Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to F. Pazhum, M.M. Khanzadeh, and N. Mehrzad for their valuable assistance with sampling. This work was financially supported by the Iran National Science Foundation (INSF) under Grant No. 99006085.

## ORCID

Saeid Paktinat-Saeij https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5310-0393

Shahrooz Kazemi https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6622-2736

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