title: Redefinition of the genus Silphitrombium (Trombidiformes: Neothrombiidae) with description of two new species parasitizing beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae, Tenebrionidae) from Iran.
abstract: Two new species of Silphitrombium Fain, 1992 (Acari: Prostigmata: Neothrombiidae), ectoparasites of beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera), are described from Sistan and Baluchestan Province, eastern Iran: S. elateridum sp. nov. on Heteroderes heideni Reitter, 1891 (Col.: Elateridae) and S. iranicum sp. nov. on Opatroides punctulatus Brullé, 1832 (Col.: Tenebrionidae) and the genus Silphitrombium is redefined. It is the first record of the relationship between beetles of the families Elateridae and Tenebrionidae, and mites of the genus Silphitrombium. A key to the species of the genus is presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, 14115-336, Tehran, Iran; Email: samanehtashakor@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Samaneh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tashakor
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, 14115-336, Tehran, Iran; Email: hajiqanbar@modares.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Hamidreza
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hajiqanbar
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran; Email: saboori@ut.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saboori
mesh_terms: D063147:Animal Distribution; D000825:Animal Structures / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000818:Animals; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male