Joharchi et al. (2014) described a new species of laelapid mite of the genus Hypoaspis (Hypoaspis) (= Hypoaspis sensu stricto), named Hypoaspis elegans Joharchi, Ostovan & Babaeian. A different species of genus Hypoaspis sensu lato had already been named Hypoaspis (Leptolaelaps) elegans Berlese, 1918. Hypoaspis elegans Joharchi, Ostovan & Babaeian is a junior homonym of Hypoaspis (Leptolaelaps) elegans Berlese, and is an invalid name according to Article 57 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN, 1999). For this reason, I propose Hypoaspis oryctes nom. nov. as a replacement name for Hypoaspis elegans Joharchi, Ostovan & Babaeian, 2014. The new specific name, H. oryctes, is taken from its host beetle, Oryctes elegans Prell. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). I am grateful to Dr. Bruce Halliday (CSIRO, Canberra, Australia) who brought this homonym to my attention.