<p><strong>Unveiling a new record: <em>Abrolophus</em> <em>norvegicus</em> (Thor, 1900) (Trombidiformes: Erythraeidae) from Iran </strong></p>

The genus Abrolophus (Acari: Erythraeidae) comprises a diverse group of predatory mites known for their ecological significance and wide geographical distribution (Zhang 2011). Abrolophus is the dominant genus of the Erythraeidae. Abrolophus larvae are divided into two groups on the basis of the presence or absence of a comb-like seta on the palpal tarsus (Hakimitbar and Davari 2025; Wohltmann and Mąkol 2012). Iran, situated at the crossroads of several biogeographic zones, harbors a remarkably diverse mite fauna. However Abrolophus has received limited attention in acarological surveys conducted in the country. Previous records of Abrolophus species from Iran are scarce, and many regions remain unexplored, leaving significant gaps in our understanding of their distribution and diversity. So far, five species have been reported from Iran, of which four species belong to Abrolophus species with comb-like seta on their palptarsus, A. bochkovi Hakimitabar, Saboori & Fadaei, 2020, A. iraninejadi Saboori & Hajiqanbar, 2005, A. ederleae Hakimitabar, 2025, A. khanjanii (Haitlinger & Saboori, 1996) and one species belongs to Abrolophus species without a comb-like seta on their palptarsus, A. hajiqanbari Noei, 2022 (Hakimitbar and Davari 2025; Çobanoğlu et al. 2023; Noei 2022; Hakimitabar et al. 2020; Saboori and Hajiqanbar 2005; Haitlinger and Saboori 1996). Wohltmann and Mąkol (2012) is redescribed A. norvegicus (Thor, 1900) based on specimens obtained by laboratory rearing from field-collected females and field collected larvae at different localities in Norway, Finland, Germany, Poland and Italy. The specific status of A. norvegicus is discussed and they selected a female of A. norvegicus, collected in northern Germany as neotype. This species was collected from 32 European countries. In this study, we report A. norvegicus from Iran for the first time, collected during a field survey in Sirjan, Kerman Province, Iran. This finding not only expands the known range of the genus but also contributes to the growing body of knowledge on Iranian acarofauna.