A new species of Antennoseius- from the Caspian region and the species composition of the oudemansi--group (Acari, Mesostigmata, Ascidae)

A new mesostigmatic mite species, Antennseius (Vitzthumia) circumcaspius sp. nov., is described from Russia and Iran on the adult specimens. This soil-dwelling species populates different habitats (including coastal maritime and inner salty grasslands, forest and orchard soil-litter, and moss) in Kalmykia, Dagestan, Kazakhstan, and Iran. The new species is very close to Antennoseius oudemansi (Thor, 1930); A. janus Lindquist & Walter, 1989 (granulate form); and A. koroljevae Chelebiev, 1984. All these species compose together a natural group as designated by Chelebiev (1984). Idiosomal integument of most shields and soft cuticle of their adult is tuberculate-granulate. Females of these species are possessed the inversely trapezoidal opisthonotal shield with posterolateral margins usually emarginated; anal shield bearing only three circumanal setae. Map of records of oudemansi-group members in the Palaearctic and key for their female identification are given.