Persian Journal of Acarology
Volume:4 Issue: 4, Autumn 2015

The phytoseiid mites fauna of coniferous trees and shrubs were surveyed in northern Iran. Sixteen phytoseiid species belonging to 6 genera were identified on 11 plant species. Among them, Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) foenilis (Oudemans 1930) is considered as new record for mites fauna of Iran. Detailed morphological characteristics based on adult of both sexes of T. (A.) foenilis are given. An identification key to phytoseiid mites associated with conifers in Iran is also provided.

During investigations on mites associated with fruit and pine trees bark beetles in Alborz and Tehran provinces, six species of oribatid mites, belonging to five families, were found and identified during two periods of time, 2001–2002 and 2006–2010. The species and their families are as follows: Paraleius leontonychus (Hemileiidae), Oribatula (Zygoribatula) skrjabini and Oribatula sp. (Oribatulidae), Scheloribates sp. nr. Fusifer (Scheloribatidae), Tectocepheus velatus (Tectocepheidae), and Xenillus sp. (Xenillidae). This is likely the first report of O. (Z.) skrjabini in association with bark beetles. In this paper, the ecological aspects and behavioral relationships with all related bark beetle species and distribution of P. leontonychus are reviewed and discussed, as well as notes on the other oribatid species collected from the scolytines’ galleries in Iran.

A study of the stigmaeid and pseudocheylid mites fauna in northwestern provinces of Iran was carried out during 2012-2014. In this survey, 24 and 4 species of Stigmaeidae (belonging to 7 genera) and Pseudocheylidae were collected and identified, respectively. In this paper the male of Mediolata belfieldi Momen, 1987 is described and the female of the later re-described. A key to the genera of the Iranian Stigmaeidae is included.

Donkeys (Equus asinus) are economical for use in small-scale farming and are handy in third world countries with a poor infrastructure. Ticks are one of the most important external parasites which affecting the equine industry with high economic impact. The main objective of this study was to determine the tick species of donkeys that occur in the Northwest of Iran as possible risk for tick-borne diseases. The study was conducted during the four seasons in 2013 in 15 villages of West Azerbaijan province. During four seasons a total of 455 Ixodidae ticks were collected comprising 3 genera of hard ticks including Hyalomma, Rhipicephalus and Dermacentor. These 3 genera included four species. The main species were Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum, Hyalomma marginatum, Rhipicephalus bursa and Dermacentor marginatus. Although the parasite did occur throughout the year, there was a seasonal variation in the prevalence of ticks. Some of the collected ticks may play an important role for transmission of vector borne disease to donkeys; therefore, there is a need to investigate the potential tick vectors involved in the transmission of heamoparasites in donkeys in this region.

The role of rodents in transmission of different parasitic infections, has been well documented. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between capturing season and rodent habitat with ectoparasites prevalence in the murin rodents from northeast of Iran. Furthermore the host species-related effects on ectoparasitic prevalence were studied.
A field survey of ectoparasites was carried out in 20 localities from April 2013 to April 2015. A total of 74 murin rodent were captured: 17.56% Apodemus witherbeyi, 35.13% Mus musculus, 21.62% Nesokia indica and 25.67% Rattus noorvegicus. A total of 413 ectoparasites were collected as follows: 19.85% fleas, 24.45% ticks, 39.70% mites and 16.22% lice. The most infested rodent was R. norvegicus (P= 89.47%) and the most common ectoparasite was mites. The highest prevalence was observed in summer (P= 31.57%) and ticks were the most common ectoparasite for this season. Behesht Reza and Railway station were the highest infested areas with P= 12.28%. Prevalence of overall ectoparasites (P= 74.32%) was higher in Behest Reza cemetery and Railway station compared to the other localities.
Seasonal changes in the prevalence of some ectoparasites paralleled those in the relative abundance of their hosts. Furthermore, the prevalence of some ectoparasites showed differences related to the locality of their hosts. There were significant differences between the prevalence of each of ectoparasitic group in all four species.
These relationships are useful in understanding the role of arthropod vectors as well as their reservoirs in the transmission of diseases in humans and other animals.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the toxicity of some locally available indigenous plants such as Bishkatali (Polygonum hydropiper), Burweed (Xanthium strumarium), Datura (Datura metel), Lantana (Lantana camara), Mahogani (Swietenia mahagoni) and Neem (Azadirachta indica) at 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0% (w/v) concentrations against red spider mite, Oligonychus coffeae under both laboratory and field conditions at Bangladesh Tea Research Institute, Srimangal, Moulvibazar during 2012–2013. Effect of plant extracts on mortality of two natural predators of Stethorus gilvifrons (Coccinellidae) and Oxyopes sp. (Oxyopidae) and quality of made tea by organoleptic test were also studied. Data were collected at 24 HAT (Hours After Treatment), 48 HAT, 72 HAT in the laboratory and at weekly interval in field condition. Results revealed that aqueous extract of X. strumarium showed the highest average mortality (89.66%) of red spider mite at 10% concentration after 72 HAT followed by S. mahagoni (86.21%) whereas aqueous extracts of P. hydropiper, D. metel, L. camara and A. indica exhibited pronounced acaricidal action (69.94–81.24%) at 72 HAT at the same concentration. Similar trend of toxicity was also observed at 24 HAT and 48 HAT. From the field evaluation it was found that the highest (82.27–83.72%) reduction in mite population was observed at 10% concentrations of X. strumarium followed by S. mahagoni (79.47–80.94%). The order of toxicity of the tested aqueous plant extracts on adult red spider mite was: X. strumarium > S. mahagoni > P. hydropiper > L. camara > A. indica > D. metel in both laboratory and field conditions. Application of the tested biopesticides did not affect the natural predators such as Stethorus gilvifrons and Oxyopes sp. at 10% of concentration. Made tea produced from plant extracts treated shoots were found above average quality and taint free when subjected to organoleptic evaluation. These indigenous plants can therefore be incorporated in the integrated pest management (IPM) strategy of red spider mite and reduce the load of synthetic chemicals in tea ecosystem.