Silphitrombium Fain, 1992

Tashakor, Samaneh, Hajiqanbar, Hamidreza & Saboori, Alireza, 2013, Redefinition of the genus Silphitrombium (Trombidiformes: Neothrombiidae) with description of two new species parasitizing beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae, Tenebrionidae) from Iran, Zootaxa 3736 (5), pp. 457-470 : 458

Genus Silphitrombium Fain, 1992

Type species: Silphitrombium furculigerum Fain, 1992

Diagnosis (larva). Neothrombiids with eyes 2 + 2, located posterolateral to scutum on platelets; two dorsal scuta, punctate and/or striated; anterior scutum with 4 pairs of setae, including one pair of sensilla (S), nude or barbed AM setae and bifid AL and PL setae; S posterior to PL; posterior scutum with one pair of bifid setae, longer than wide. Legs with 6 segments; tarsi with two claws and claw-like empodium. Coxal setal formula: Cx I: 3–6, Cx II: 3–5 and Cx III: 2–3; all coxal setae bifid except lateral seta on coxa II which is barbed; coxal plates I–II contiguous. Urstigma oval and attached to coxae I. Hypostomal setae bifid and adoral setae nude or barbed. Palpalfemur with one seta; fnFe = 6-4-4; fnTi = 6-5-5.

Remarks. Fain (1992) presented a wide definition of Silphitrombium based on only a single species. We present a restricted definition of the genus and consider variations among three species here. Our study on two new species showed that the number of normal setae on the dorsal and ventral idiosoma and the number of setae on legs (Cx I–III, Ta I and Ta II) and shape of scutum differs among species whereas Fain (1992) considered them as constant characters. The main characters e.g. bifid AL and PL setae and bifid setae (c1) on posterior scutum (scutellum) are constant in the three species.