title: Review of the genus Myrmozercon Berlese (Acari: Laelapidae), with description of a new species from Iran.
abstract: A new species of laelapid mite, Myrmozercon hunteri sp. nov. associated with Myrmica sp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), is described and illustrated. A key to 18 species of Myrmozercon is presented. Ten further species, all described prior to 1950, are briefly diagnosed but cannot be included in the key. Myrmozercon is shown to include a distinct group, Myrmozercon sensu stricto, which all have short, highly hypotrichous legs and a series of other consistent character states. This group probably arises from within Myrmozercon sensu lato, which have long legs with little or no hypotrichy, but some species also have character states found in Myrmozercon s.s. Myrmozercon ovatum Karawajew, 1909 is regarded a junior synonym of M. brevipes Berlese, 1902.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Protection, Yazd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Yazd, Iran.; Email: Joharchi@iauyazd.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Omid
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Joharchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.; Email: babaeian@ut.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Esmaeil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Babaeian
authors.affiliation: Queensland Museum, P.O. Box 3300, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia.; Email: owen.seeman@qm.qld.gov.au.
authors.forename: Owen D
authors.initials: OD
authors.lastname: Seeman
mesh_terms: D000825:Animal Structures / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008925:Mites / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development; D009929:Organ Size