First record of the genus Punicodoxa (Acari: Microdispidae) from Asia, with description of a new species phoretic on termites (Insecta: Isoptera)

Abstract

A new species of the genus Punicodoxa Mahunka, 1978 (Acari: Prostigmata: Microdispidae) is described and illustrated from Southwestern Iran: Punicodoxa termitophila Azhari and Hajiqanbar sp. nov., discovered from a termite Anacanthotermes sp. (Isoptera: Hodotermitidae). This species is the second representative of the genus Punicodoxa which is the first record of the genus form Asia. Furthermore, phoretic association between mites of the family Microdispidae and termites of the family Hodotermitidae, and also phoresy on insects in the genus Punicodoxa are reported for the first time.