Persian Journal of Acarology
Volume:10 Issue: 3, Summer 2021

The members of the genus Cicaditrombium Saboori & Lazarboni originally described from Iran, are known as parasites of Hemiptera (Cicadidae) and Lepidoptera (Noctuidae). Larvae of Cicaditrombium lorestanensis Noei were collected at South Khorasan Province ectoparasitic on Chrysolina sp. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and Monosteria sp. (Hemiptera: Tingidae), which represent the first known hosts for this species. Larvae of Achaemenothrombium saboorii were collected at South Khorasan Province, Iran ectoparasitic on Erebidae, Noctuidae, Nymphalidae (Lepidoptera); the family Nymphalidae is recorded as a new host. A hitherto undescribed larva belonging to the family Neothrombiidae was found parasitizing Rhipicephalus sanguineus. This is the first record of a member of the family Ixodidae (Acari: Parasitiformes: Ixodida) serving as host for a parasitengone larva. Additional metric and meristic data are provided for C. lorestanensis and A. saboorii.

A compilation of deep-sea halacarid mite species found from more than 1000 m depth has been carried out based on published records. Altogether 57 species belong to genera Agaue (6 species), Agauides (1 species), Atelopsalis (1 species), Bathyhalacarus (11 species), Bradyagaue (3 species), Colobocerasides (1 species), Copidognathus (16 species), Halacarellus (2 species), Halacarus (3 species), Lohmannella (5 species), Pelacarus (1 species), Thalassarachna (2 species), Werthella (4 species) and Werthelloides (1 species) are enlisted from deep-sea more than 1000 m depth. Forty-eight species are determined up to species level while 9 species determined up to generic level only. The richness of halacarid mites from more than 1000 m depth in different marine provinces is most likely related to the intensity of faunistic surveys.

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) is a serious pest that infests different agricultural crops in Bangladesh. The application of different types of pesticides (botanical and chemical) with various modes of action and bio-pesticides was used for the first time to develop sustainable pest control strategies against spider mites. In this study, the effects of six chemical insecticides viz. abamectin, bifenthrin, bifenazate, etoxazole, hexythiazox, and spinosad, and entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana and botanical neem oil were evaluated against adult and egg stages of T. urticae under laboratory conditions. Treated mites were kept in controlled conditions at 25 ± 1 ℃, 60–70% RH and a photoperiod of 16:8 h (L: D). The LC50 values of all chemicals [for adults, abamectin (0.51 ml/L), bifenthrin (3.26 ml/L), bifenazate (3.82 ml/L), hexythiazox (3.27 ml/L) and spinosad (3.83 ml/L); for eggs, abamectin (0.56 ml/L), bifenthrin (3.48 ml/L), bifenazate (26.81 ml/L), hexythiazox (4.18 ml/L) and spinosad (18.28 ml/L)] suggest that they were effective against eggs and adult females of the T. urticae. Etoxazole (LC50 = 3.99 ml/L) is recommended against egg stage. The neem oil was found to be moderately effective (for adult, LC50 = 1.26%; for egg, LC50 = 1.77%) against eggs and adult females of T. urticae. The B. bassiana was also found to be effective against eggs and adult females of T. urticae. Finally, it could be concluded that all chemicals used in this study are effective for the management of two spotted spider mite but the entomopathogenic fungus B. bassiana and botanical neem oil were promising alternatives for successful management of T. urticae in IPM programs.

Knowing pesticides' side-effects on non-target beneficial phytoseiids is crucial for integrated mite management (IMM) programs. The present study investigates the sublethal effects of three fungicides: previcur N (PropamocarbHydrochloride 72.2%), penazol 10% EC (Penconazol) and sumi-eight 5% EC (Diniconazole); two insecticides: confidor 20% SL (Imidacloprid) and penny 9% SC (Emamectin benzoate 1.5% & Indoxacarb 7.5%), and two common acaricides: agnar (Spirodiclofen 18% + Abamectin 2%) and biomectin 5% EC (Abamectin) on the predatory mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot under both laboratory and greenhouse conditions. The toxicity bioassay and greenhouse experiments revealed that the effects of agnar, confidor and previcur N on P. persimilis is less than other compounds. Therefore, they were selected to evaluate their influence on the population parameters of P. persimilis. Based on the age-stage two-sex life table theory, the LC25 of tested pesticides significantly reduced the longevity, life span and total fecundity of female P. persimilis. Also, it reduced the net (R0) and gross (GRR) reproductive rates. Consequently, the intrinsic (r) and finite (λ) rates of increase were affected. In conclusion, the selected pesticides should not be used with P. persimilis in integrated pest management programs due to their unfavorable effects on the population parameters of this predatory mite.

The pesticide efficacy of propolis (a bee-hive product) was studied on the different stages of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, under greenhouse conditions. Five concentrations of ethanolic extract of propolis 250, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000 ppm and the control were used in bioassay experiments. Results showed highly significant differences between mortality percentages at all concentrations. The mortality percentage at concentration 250 ppm was calculated for all stages (egg, larva, nymph and adult) after 24 hours which recorded 41.21 ± 0.54, 19.47 ± 0.82, 20.83 ± 0.60, and 44.35 ± 0.47 %, respectively. While the mortality percentages at concentration 250 ppm after 48h for egg, larva, and nymph stages of T. urticae were 62.05 ± 0.16, 50.18 ± 0.28, and 56.03 ± 0.28 %. The high mortality percentage was observed after 72h of treatment of all concentrations and all stages. At concentrations of 1500 and 2000 ppm, the mortality percentage reached its maximum in immature stages, which recorded 95.67 ± 0.47 % in the egg stage. Both larva and nymph stages were 93.86 ± 0.28 and 93.36 ± 0.35% at concentration 1500 ppm. Meanwhile, the concentration of 2000 ppm, the mortality rate was 98.27 ± 0.57% for eggs and 98.25 ± 0.37 and 97.42 ± 0.39% for larva and nymph stages in comparing with the control. Our findings showed that the average value of total phenolic content was 2494.4 µg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g ethanolic bee glue (propolis) extract. The antioxidant activity was determined using DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay using ascorbic acid as a standard antioxidant. The obtained results exhibited that the ethanolic extract of propolis has a higher scavenging activity (92.99 %) than that of ascorbic acid (87.32 %) at 30 μg/mL.

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), is a destructive pest causing significant damage to trees and shrubs in urban green spaces. Using pesticides is considered the most prevalent approach towards controlling this pest. In this research, the effects of pesticides abamectin, fenproxymate, Tondexir®, Sirinol®, and Palizin® on the mortality of T. urticae were investigated in the laboratory and urban green spaces. Laboratory bioassays were conducted with five concentrations of each pesticide between 0.72–3.60, 0.50–3.00, 1275–6800, 595–5950, and 325–3900 mg ai/L for abamectin, fenproxymate, Tondexir®, Sirinol®, and Palizin®, respectively in five replicates. Field experiments were conducted based on a complete randomized block design (CRBD) in the urban green space of Mashhad city on the oriental plane trees (Platanus orientalis L.) infested with T. urticae. Treatments included triplicate sprayings with commercial formulations of abamectin (250 mg/L) and fenproxymate (500 mg/L) as well as Tondexir® (2000 mg/L), Sirinol® (2000 mg/L), and Palizin® (2000 mg/L), and water (control). Abamectin and fenproxymate showed the highest toxicity for T. urticae adult females with LC50s of 1.61 and 1.16 mg ai/L, respectively. Tondexir® showed a lower toxicity for T. urticae (LC50 = 2500.53 mg ai/L) compared to Sirinol® (LC50 = 1308.58 mg ai/L) and Palizin® (LC50 = 1494.73 mg ai/L). Abamectin and fenproxymate showed the highest population reduction in T. urticae adults on plane trees after 28 days (98.68 ± 0.64 and 99.70 ± 0.56%, respectively). For egg populations also, abamectin and fenproxymate showed a better reduction compared to other insecticides. Palizin® showed the least efficiency (32.60 ± 2.40%) in controlling T. urticae adults. T. urticae eggs were reduced better with Tondexir® (35.85 ± 2.24%) compared to Sirinol® (22.54 ± 0.69%) and Palizin® (20.85 ± 1.5%). Although abamectin and fenproxymate showed better control of T. urticae adults and eggs, spraying with more efficient botanical insecticides such as Tondexir® Sirinol® are suggested in urban areas due to health concerns for the residents.

The suitability of eight pollen diets (wild almond, date palm, oak, pomegranate, pistachio, peach, damask rose, and walnut) and also Tetranychus urticae Koch as natural diet on life table of the Amblyseius swirskii (Phytoseiidae) was determined at 25 ± 1 °C, 60 ± 5% relative humidity and photoperiod of 16:8 h (L: D). Results showed that damask rose pollen was not accepted as food and did not support the development of A. swirskii beyond the protonymphal and deutonymphal stage. The highest and lowest values of the intrinsic rate of increase (r) and finite rate of increase (λ) belonged to the pistachio (0.192 and 1.212 day−1 ) and peach (0.022 and 1.023 day−1 ) pollen, respectively. The net reproductive rate (R0) values varied from 1.4 offspring for the peach pollen to 29.54 offspring for the pistachio. Furthermore, the highest and lowest fecundity rate was recorded on the pistachio (36.65 eggs/female) and peach (3.23 eggs/female) pollen, respectively. Measured life table parameters of A. swirskii reared on different diets revealed pistachio, and after that, date palm and pomegranate pollen grains to be the most suitable diets. These findings may introduce more suitable pollen diets for the rearing of this predatory mite.