Persian Journal of Acarology
Volume:2 Issue: 2, Spring 2013

The present study is based on oribatid mite material collected from fungi during the Russian-Vietnamese expedition in July 2012 in Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve of Southern Vietnam. An annotated checklist of oribatid mite taxa is presented. It includes 61 species and one subspecies, 44 genera and 27 families. Nine species (Allonothrus russeolus, Basilobelba retiaria, Acroppia processigera, Dolicheremaeus junichiaokii, Basiceramerus igorotus, Zetorchella reticulata, Tuberemaeus singularis, Nesopelops intermedius, Notogalumna foveolata), one subspecies (Scheloribates praeincisus interruptus), five genera (Allonothrus, Acroppia, Basiceramerus, Nesopelops, Notogalumna) are first records for Vietnam. A new oribatid mite species, Carabodes (Klapperiches) mikhaetandreorum sp. nov. (Carabodidae), is described. The new species is very similar morphologically to C. (K.) atrichosus Mahunka, 1984 and C. (K.) problematicus Mahunka, 1985, however, it clearly differs from both by the absence of the translamella and the position of the adanal setae ad1. Basiceramerus igorotus Corpuz-Raros and Gruèzo, 2011 (Otocepheidae) is redescribed, based on the Vietnamese specimens.

This study was carried out to determine the stilt–legged in mite species of some parts of Iran. In this survey, soil and litter under cultivated and uncultivated plants were collected and transferred into the laboratory for processing. A total of 11 species, belonging to the genera Tycherobius & Neophyllobius were collected and identified. A list of camerobiid mites of Iran and a key to the Iranian species of the genera Tycherobius & Neophyllobius are provided.

Three species of mites in the subgenus Antennoseius (Antennoseius) Berlese, 1916 associated with ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) are reported for the first time from Iran: A. (A.) longisetus Eidelberg, A. (A.) sabulicola Bregetova and A. (A.) sharonovi Eidelberg. These species and A. (A.) masoviae Sellnick, are diagnosed in detail. Idiosomal poroidotaxy and adenotaxy for the subgenus are illustrated. A. (A.) vysotskajae Sklyar is considered as junior synonym of A. (A.) sharonovi. A key to Iranian species of the genus is presented.

We report on 59 recorded and described species in 11 different genera, providing their original combination and synonymy, if relevant. The type locality of 29 species (47.4%) is Iran and the distributions of the others as follows: 13.5% Nearctic, 10.1% Neotropical, 6.7% Afrotropical, 5% Eastern Palearctic, 10.1% Oriental, 5% Australian and 3.3% are Pacific Islands. At this early stage of research, the Iranian fauna is dominated by Cenopalpus and to a lesser extent by Aegyptobia and Tenuipalpus.

A faunistic survey was carried out on the manure-inhabiting mesostigmatic mites in Kerman County, South Eastern Iran, during 2011–2012. In this research, 36 species belonging to 23 genera and 14 families were collected and identified of which Ameroseius pavidus (C.L. Koch) (Ameroseiidae) and Trachytes baloghi Hirschmann & Zirngiebl-Nicol (Trachytidae) are considered here as new records for Iran mite fauna. The Shannon-Wiener’s diversity index was also calculated for these mite communities within cow, poultry, and sheep manures in nine different districts of the County. Mite community within cow manures, with 31 species, was more diverse than poultry and sheep manures which had 14 and 13 species, respectively. The highest (2.2±0.07) and the lowest (0) mean values of diversity index were calculated for Sekonj and Langar districts, respectively. Based on relative frequency, Uroobovella marginata (C.L. Koch), U. difoveolata Hirschmann & Zirngiebl-Nicol, and Androlaelaps casalis (Berlese) were the most dominant species in cow, sheep, and poultry manures, respectively. On the other hand, Macrocheles merdarius (Berlese) and Androlaelaps casalis (Berlese) were the most widespread species.

The life table parameters of Neoseiulus californicus (Athias-Henriot), a generalist predator of spider mites and small insects were investigated in laboratory condition at two constant temperatures: 20 and 25°C, 60 ± 5% relative humidity and a photoperiod of 16:8 h (L:D). The European red mite, Panonychus ulmi (Koch), an important pest of apple orchards in Iran, was used as prey (all stages). The duration of the immature stages ranged varied from 7.52 to 5.12 days, at 20 and 25°C, respectively. The net reproductive rate (R0) increased with increasing temperature from 20.84 female offspring to 31.46 female offspring at 20–25°C, respectively. The values of the intrinsic rate of increase (rm) and finite rate of increase (λ) were obtained to be highest at 25°C (0. 237 day –1 and 1.26 day–1, respectively), which was greater that those estimated at 20°C (0.161 day–1 and 1.17 day–1, respectively). The mean generation time (T) decreased with increasing temperature from 18.86 days to 14.45 days at 20–25°C, respectively. In conclusion, results showed that N. californicus would be able to develop at temperatures range of 20–25°C feeding on P. ulmi and has the suitable potential to control it.

Fig mite, Eotetranychus hirsti Pritchard & Baker, 1955, is one of the major pests of fig trees in Estahban (Fars province, Iran). Life table parameters of E. hirsti were studied at 30±1 °C, 60±10% R.H. and 12:12 h (dark: light) photoperiod in 50 replications. The newly laid eggs were placed on the upward surface of fig leaves that were surrounded with a thinned strip of cotton to inhibit mites escaping from Petri dishes. Daily fertility, preimaginal developmental time and mortality rate were analyzed with age-stage, two sex life table analysis software. The result indicated that the developmental times of egg, larva, protochrysalis, protonymph, deutochrysalis, deutonymph and teliochrysalis were 4.32± 0.097, 1.38± 0.069, 1±0, 1.4± 0.07, 1.06± 0.034, 1.4± 0.07, and 1±0 days, respectively. Maximum adult longevity was 8 and 16 days for male and female mites, respectively. Pre-oviposition period, total pre-oviposition period (counted from birth to adult) were 1.5±0.076 and 13.16± 0.133 days, respectively. The mean generation time, net reproduction rate, the intrinsic rate of natural increase and the finite rate of increase were 18.47.15 days, 40.5.17 offspring, 0.2004.003(d-1), and 1.221.004 (d-1), respectively. The two-sex life table analysis gives a comprehensive description of the stage differentiation of, Eotetranychus hirsti.

Thrips tabaci Lindeman is a serious pest of cucumber and onion in field and greenhouse conditions in Iran. Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes is an indigenous biological control agent in west of Iran on cucumber and maize that preys on spider mites and T. tabaci and can prevent the outbreak of them. In this study, the demographic parameters of the Iranian population of N. barkeri were determined using 1st instar larvae of T. tabaci as prey under laboratory conditions at 30±1°C,65±5% RH and photoperiod 8:16 h (D:L). The results showed that N. barkeri successfully developed on 1st instars larvae of T. tabaci. The developmental times for egg, larva, protonymph, deutonymph and all immature stages were 1.37, 1.03, 1.54, 1.71 and 5.68 days, respectively. Also, 96.66% of eggs hatched and the survival rate for the movable immature stages were 100%. Total prey consumption by protonymphs, deutonymphs and adult female was 2.70, 3.57 and 75.85 individuals, respectively. Adult longevity of the male was recorded as 14.36 days while the females lived longer (20.17 days). The female ratio was 0.62%. The intrinsic rate of increase (rm) and the net reproductive rate (R0) were 0.252 day-1 and 18.70 female offspring, respectively. Our results showed that N. barkeri could be considered as a biological agent for the control of T. tabaci on cucumber. Expanding knowledge on the biological parameters of this predatory mite can help to increase the use of this indigenous biological agent for the control of T. tabaci on cucumber.

It is well recognized that the quality of host plants affects the development and survival of herbivorous arthropods. The life table parameters of Tetranychus urticae Koch, on six cultivars of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) "chiti Khomein, chiti Ks21189, red Akhtar, red Ks31169, white Pak and white G11867" were studied at constant laboratory conditions (27±2ºC, 70±5% RH and 16 L:8 D h), during 2009–2011. Results showed that the immature developmental times of males and females were significantly influenced by bean cultivars. Tetranychus urticae laid significantly more eggs per day on red Akhtar cultivar (16.16) compared with the other cultivars. The mean generation time affected by different cultivars and it’s ranged varied from 23.37 to 34.82 days. Percentage the egg hatching of TSSM ranged varied from 88.25% to 94.20%. The highest intrinsic rate of increase (rm), was recorded on red Akhtar (0.269±0.031day-1) and the lowest value was obtained on white Pak (0.129±0.048day-1). In addition, net reproductive rate (R0) and finite rate of increase (λ) of the TSSM had the highest value on red Akhtar (62.38±1.05 female offspring and 1.30±1.02 day-1, respectively). The lowest values of these parameters were recorded on white Pak as 27.37±1.40 female offspring and 1.13±1.10 day-1, respectively. Doubling time (DT) varied significantly on different cultivars and its shortest and longest values were obtained on red Akhtar and white Pak, respectively. Our findings revealed that white beans (Pak and G11867) were less suitable cultivars, suggesting that they are more resistant to the TSSM than the other cultivars.

Kin recognition as an important phenomenon which influences species fitness is mediated by mechanisms such as association or familiarity. Here, we have investigated either prior association or relatedness would affect the predatory mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis prey choice for cannibalism. Three samples of the predator including UT (University of Tehran), iso-females provided from UT and Turkey population with different degrees of relatedness, were introduced to the prospective cannibal which was selected from the iso-female line. The experimental procedure was consisted of imprinting (on each of the three sample larvae) and choice (between either familiar related and unfamiliar unrelated or familiar unrelated and unfamiliar related larvae) tests. The oviposition tests were designed by introducing each of the samples as the second female to a patch contained eggs related to iso-females as the first female. We found that the cannibal protonymphs preferred unfamiliar larvae for eating regardless of kinship. The number of prey eggs was significantly dependant to the type of relation between the eggs from first and second female. The effect of relatedness on the distances between eggs is discussed.

Ticks (suborder Ixodida) ecologically divided into two nidicolous and non-nidicolous groups. More argasid ticks are classified into the former group whereas they are able to coordinate with the specific host(s) and living inside/adjacent to their host’s nest. The current study focused on an argasid tick species adapted to bats in Iran. Tick specimens collected on a bat were captured in a thatched rural house located in suburban Koohdasht in Lorestan province, west of Iran. Tick’s larvae and nymphs were identified as Argas vespertilionis (Latreille, 1796) by using descriptive morphological keys. This argasid tick behaves as a nidicolous species commonly parasitizing bats. We suggest that future studies be conducted on ticks parasitizing wild animals for detection of real fauna of Iranian ticks.