University of Birjand Faculty Member Discovers and Names Four New Mite Species Internationally

Birjand, Iran — Dr. Javad Noei, a faculty member of the Plant Protection department at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Birjand , has achieved a remarkable scientific breakthrough by discovering and naming four new species of mites (Acari). The findings from this collaborative research have been published in three prestigious international journals in Germany, Iran, and Australia.

According to the University of Birjand’s Public Relations and Information Office, these discoveries were made during comprehensive studies on arthropods and mites in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, as part of a Ph.D. dissertation at the University of Zabol.

Details of the New Species

Dr. Noei explained that two new species from the suborder of mites were identified and described from the genera Perumaropta and Hexathrombium. These species were named in honor of their collection sites in Sistan and Baluchestan Province:

• Perumaropta sibsuranensis Haddadi & Noei, 2025
• Hexathrombium osheydaensis Haddadi & Noei, 2026

Notably, these genera had never been reported from Iran before. The specimens were collected as ectoparasites from agricultural pest hosts.

Additionally, a new species from the genus Leptus was named Leptus (Amaroptus) saboorii Haddadi & Noei, 2025 in honor of Dr. Alireza Saboori, a distinguished professor and veteran in the Plant Protection Group at the University of Tehran. This part of the research was supervised by Dr. Sara Ramroodi and advised by Dr. Ehsan Rakhshani (University of Zabol) and Dr. Javad Noei (University of Birjand).

In further international collaboration, another new species, Paraphanolophus mexicoensis Noei & Šundić, 2026, was collected, identified, and described from Mexico.

Scientific Significance

These newly discovered mites are natural enemies of agricultural pests. Recognizing them plays a crucial role in developing biological pest management methods and promoting sustainable agriculture.

The research results were published in four scientific articles in the journals Biologia, Persian Journal of Acarology, and Systematic and Applied Acarology. The full articles are available for download on the university website.

This achievement highlights the University of Birjand’s active contribution to global biodiversity research and strengthens its reputation in agricultural sciences and entomology. It also underscores the importance of protecting unique ecosystems in regions like Sistan and Baluchestan.

Congratulations to Dr. Javad Noei and his collaborators on this outstanding international accomplishment, which brings pride to the University of Birjand and the Iranian scientific community.