The parasitoid mite Aethiophenax luteoli sp. nov. (Acari: Trombidiformes: Acarophenacidae) collected from the beneath elytra of Epuraea (Haptoncus) luteola Erichson, 1843 (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) is described and illustrated from Mazandaran province, northern Iran. This is the first record of the genus Aethiophenax Mahunka, 1981 from Asia. This genus is redefined and a key to its world species is provided. The host range or habitat and distribution of the genus Aethiophenax and its close genus Paracarophenax Cross, 1965 are reviewed. Moreover, the all legs setation of some selected genera of the family Acarophenacidae is compared. (C) 2015 Korean Society of Applied Entomology, Taiwan Entomological Society and Malaysian Plant Protection Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.