<p><strong>Rediscovery of <em>Paraseiulus incognitus</em> Wainstein &amp; Arutunjan (Parasitiformes: Phytoseiidae) in Iran</strong></p>

The phytoseiids (Acari: Phytoseiidae) are a group of predatory mites within the superorder Parasitiformes, extensively studied due to their potential as biological control agents. Members of the genus Paraseiulus Muma are considered specialized predators primarily associated with tydeoid mites (Tydeoidea), and are classified under the “Subtype Ic” feeding lifestyle (McMurtry et al. 2013). Currently, 23 nominal species of Paraseiulus are recognized worldwide (Khaustov et al. 2023; Demite et al. 2025). A relatively high number of these mites have been reported from Iran, especially when compared to neighboring countries. The Iranian species of the genus include P. amacroporus Faraji, Jalaeian & McMurtry, 2008, P. erevanicus, Wainstein & Arutunjan, 1967, P. porosus Kolodochka, 1980, P. soleiger (Ribaga, 1904), P. talbii (Athias-Henriot, 1960), and P. triporus (Chant & Yoshida-Shaul, 1982). Previous faunistic surveys made no mention of the presence of P. incognitus in Iran (Kazemi et al. 2022). Therefore, in this study, we report this species for the first time from the Iranian fauna. The predatory mite specimens examined in this study were collected in 2017 and 2024 from various host plants in Golestan and East Azerbaijan Provinces, Iran. The specimens were extracted using Berlese funnels, cleared in lactic acid, mounted in Hoyer’s medium, and examined under a differential interference contrast microscope (Leica DM4000B). Images were taken with a Leica DMC4500 camera attached to the microscope. No new morphological descriptions were made, as the examined specimens displayed characteristics consistent with those described by Döker et al. (2023) and Khaustov et al. (2023). The voucher slides are deposited in the mite collection of the Acarology Laboratory, Çukurova University, Adana, Türkiye.