Africoseiulella Kreiter (Acari, Mesostigmata): description of a new species, taxonomic affinities within Phytoseioidea, establishment of a new family, and revised classification of Treatiinae Wainstein

The taxonomic position of Africoseiulella is reviewed based on a new species associated with Acheta domesticus (L.) (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) collected in northern Iran and type specimens of A. flechtmanni Kreiter, originally collected from an unidentified low-growing weed in Tunisia, and A. sedishazlensis El-Banhawy, Nasr & Ramadan. Africoseiulella hajiqanbari sp. nov. is described along with brief complementary descriptions of A. flechtmanni and A. sedishazlensis, and an updated diagnosis of the genus Africoseiulella. The genus is unique within Gamasina by the absence of setae al3 and pl3 on tarsi II–IV, as well as seta ad2 on tarsus IV. It also features a stout, unbranched palp tarsus apotele and a large membranous flap fused to a sickle-shaped movable cheliceral digit. Africoseiulella was previously classified within Phytoseiidae; however, a comparative analysis revealed significant differences with Phytoseiidae, Blattisociidae, Podocinidae, and Treatiinae (as redefined in this paper). Therefore, Africoseiulella is placed in its own family (Africoseiulellidae fam. nov.).