Persian Journal of Acarology
Volume:12 Issue: 2, Spring 2023

Penthalodes caucasicus sp. nov. (Acari: Penthalodidae) is described based on females collected from moss in Western Caucasus, Russia. Some morphological characters in the genus Penthalodes are discussed. The new species differs from closely related P. ovalis and P. polonicus in having three solenidia arranged in a longitudinal row on tarsus I.

A survey was conducted on the fauna of oribatid mites (Oribatida) in Sistan and Baluchestan province (southeastern Iran). In total, 23 species belonging to 20 genera and 15 families were collected and identified. According to the results, Cosmochthoniidae, Haplochthoniidae, Galumnidae, Cosmochthonius, and Haplochthonius are the families and genera with the highest number of species. Sellnickochthonius immaculatus (Forsslund, 1942) and Verachthonius cf. laticeps (Strenzke, 1951) are newly recorded for the fauna of Iran. Additional morphological information and new illustrations of the latter species are provided on the basis of new material.

The oribatid mite family Eremellidae (Oribatida) is recorded in the Russian fauna for the first time. A new species of the genus Eremella—E. (Eremella) ryabinini sp. nov. is described, based on phoretic adult females collected from elytron of the beetle Amphotis marginata (Fabricius) (Nitidulidae).

Myrmozercon brachiatus Berlese, 1903 (Mesostigmata: Laelapidae), originally described from Portici, Naples, Italy in 1903, is rediscovered for the first time in Iran from nests of Messor mediosanguineus Donisthorpe, using comparison with photographs of its holotype. These two female specimens were collected at Ben region, Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari Province, Iran. This new finding, far from the type locality, suggests a larger distribution of the species in the Palaearctic. A morphological description of these two specimens is provided.

Female of Spinturnix senkevitchi sp. nov. (Spinturnicidae), female of Macronyssus temujini sp. nov. (Macronyssidae), and female and male of Steatonyssus pseudoheteroventralis sp. nov. (Macronyssidae) are described from vesper bats of Russia and Mongolia. Illustrations and keys to the genera Spinturnix, Macronyssus and Steatonyssus of Russia and adjacent countries (republics of former USSR, Mongolia, Korea, Japan) are also provided.

Torrenticola meridionalis Di Sabatino & Cicolani, 1990 was originally described from Italy and later has been noted in different parts of the Balkans. Next researches, based on molecular data, have shown that it is a species-complex. This work provides new data on Torrenticola cf. meridionalis based on DNA barcodes of specimens from Poland and confirms previous assumptions about the Torrenticola meridionalis-complex.

We present the first record of Nidilaelaps Shaw in the Caribbean area on the basis of a new species, Nidilaelaps cubaensis sp. nov., collected from forest litter in Cuba. The new species is described and illustrated based on morphological characters of the adult female and compared with closely related species.

In this study, we conducted a comprehensive review of all heterostigmatic mites that have previously been recorded from Iran. Thus far, 319 species, 70 genera, 12 families and 6 superfamilies of Heterostigmata (Acari: Prostigmata) (of 2265 known world species, 232 genera, 18 families and 8 superfamilies) have been recorded from different regions of Iran. Our study reveals a substantially immense diversity of Iranian heterostigmatic mite fauna, representing 15% and 4% of all heterostigmatic mites recorded and described from Iran, respectively by reviewing research of many scientists during more than 50 years. In addition to Iranian heterostigmatic mite taxa, all genera, families and superfamilies of world's Heterostigmata have been mentioned.

Croton, Codiaeum variegatum L., is a beautiful tropical plant. The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, causes economic damage to croton. The present study aimed to control T. urticae by releasing two predatory species, Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot and Stethorus punctillum Weise, at the optimal temperature and humidity for each predator. The experiments were carried out in commercial plastic greenhouses for two seasons. Once the T. urticae infestation was detected, the predators were released. Phytoseiulus persimilis was released three times, with a rate of 9/m2. Its population increased when the temperature and humidity ranged from 25.5–29 °C and 72.8–86.4% RH, respectively, while it disappeared when the temperature increased above 30 °C. There was a negative correlation between P. persimilis and temperature and a positive correlation with relative humidity. Stethorus punctillum was released twice, at a rate of 0.5/m2. Its population increased when the temperature and humidity ranged from 31.8–35 °C and 65–77% RH, respectively. There was a positive correlation between S. punctillum and temperature and a negative correlation with relative humidity. In the two seasons, the population of T. urticae decreased gradually to nil/croton leaf in the biological greenhouse while increasing to 59.47 ± 6.34 and 85.63 ± 10.45 mites/croton leaf in the control greenhouse in 2019 and 2020, respectively, at the end of the season. The combination of the two predators was able to achieve effective control of T. urticae when used according to the optimal temperature for each predator in croton greenhouses.

Herbivore-induced volatiles were extracted from fresh healthy jasmine plants (Jasminum sambac L.) and infested jasmine plants damaged by two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae and analyzed through Gas Chromatography-Mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to determine volatile hydrocarbon profile in them. Further, olfactometer behavioral bioassay was conducted to investigate the preference of the predator, Scolothrips sexmaculatus to the emitted volatiles. The results revealed that both the healthy and plants infested with two-spotted mites had emitted organic volatile compounds (VOC's) numbering 19 and 31 respectively and some compounds were detected twice or even thrice. The variation in the volatile constituents of healthy and damaged plants clearly depicts the emission of volatiles responsible for attracting beneficials witnessing tritrophic interactions in jasmine ecosystem. The mite infested plants emanated potential natural enemy attractants such as ally isothocyanate, styrene, naphthalene, Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and several other organic compounds. The compound allyl isothiocyanate was detected in two spotted mite infested jasmine extracts at 4.307 mts in a peak area of 1664139 mm2. Allyl isothiocyanate serves the plant as a defense against herbivores; since it is harmful to the plant. Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, a six-carbon compound was detected due to herbivory of mite infested plants in a peak area of 4112779391 mm2 implying its maximum presence. Dicacodyl phthalate, another compound, was detected in a peak area of 20400249 mm2 at 30.97 mins. The healthy jasmine plants emanated natural enemy attractants, linalool, methyl salicylate and alpha-farnesene, aside from other volatile organic compounds. In the olfactometer behavioural bioassay studies, maximum number of released mite predator, S. sexmaculatus, oriented on mite infested jasmine plant volatiles (18.5 nos), and healthy plant volatiles (5.5 nos). The volatile organic compounds detected in enormous quantities in mite infested jasmine plants is a positive cue for commercial preparation of artificial lures to attract mite natural enemies in jasmine ecosystem. The predatory thrips lured to mite infested volatiles enrolls an encouraging sign to be exploited in integrated management of mites to enhance the efficacy of potential natural enemies of two-spotted spider mites.

The symbiotic relationship between microorganisms and arthropods is very common in nature. Some of the symbiotic microorganisms alter the normal sex-determining mechanisms in arthropods, causing sex-ratio deviation, killing males, and eventually leading to asexual reproduction and the possibility of species extinction. In the biocontrol of agricultural pests, predatory mites of the family Phytoseiidae are of great importance. Here, regarding the observance of sex-ratio deviation in Amblyseius swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae), the presence of three reproductive manipulator bacteria, i.e. Wolbachia, Rickettsia, and Cardinium were investigated in adult mites. Firstly, investigation of the female: male ratio in commercial mites showed that the ratio was about 42:58. Thus, there was an obvious deviation from the normal sex ratio (50:50). Therefore, to determine the presence of sex-determining bacteria, the whole DNA was extracted from A. swirski mites, or alternatively the adult mites were used. Using specific primers of the above-mentioned bacteria for WSP, gtlA, and 16S rDNA genes, multiplex PCR was applied. The PCR products were sequenced, and the sequences were processed using MEGA 6 software, blasted, and checked within the NCBI gene bank. The results indicated the simultaneous presence of Wolbachia sp. and Rickettsia sp. in A. swirskii in all individuals tested, which meant 100% colonization. Therefore, the sex-ratio deviation in this species could be explained by the presence of sex-ratio distorting symbionts, although more studies are needed to prove this concept. Moreover, using individual adult mites directly in PCR tubes as the sources of raw DNA saved time and reduced the costs and labors in detecting the bacteria. Multiplex PCR also decreased the need for reagents, enzymes, DNA templates, etc., and saved a significant amount of time.

Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) is one of the most dangerous agricultural pests worldwide. Since this mite has the potential to resist a wide variety of chemical acaricides, finding alternative natural sources for its management is suggested. This study estimated the lethal effect of methanol extracts obtained from two Euphorbiaceae plants against female adults after 24 hours using a spray tower. Probit analysis indicated that LC50 values (95% confidence intervals) of Euphorbia helioscopia and E. seguieriana were 4.54 (3.301–6.644) and 11.66 (8.498–21.043) mg/ml, respectively. Phytochemical analysis of both methanol extracts revealed that the total phenolic content, antioxidant rate, and total flavonoid capacity of E. helioscopia were significantly higher than in E. seguieriana (P < 0.05). In addition, HPLC analysis illustrated that rutin and quercetin content in E. helioscopia were 480 ± 0.01 and 2.73 ± 0.01 µg/ml, and in E. seguieriana, those were 230 ± 0.02 and 2.65 ± 0.01 µg/ml, respectively. According to the bioassay results, the methanol extract of E. helioscopia was 2.5 times more harmful than the methanol extract of E. seguieriana. Also, the metabolite contents with toxic activity in E. helioscopia were higher than in the other plant. Therefore, E. helioscopia may have the potential to act as a pesticide against T. urticae.

The results of identifications showed the presence of 25 Erythraeidae larvae belonging to seven species.

The epidemiological significance of ticks of the genus Argas has been known since 1897, as this genus includes at least 61 species of ticks parasitizing birds and bats and is capable of hosting and transmitting several bacterial diseases such as salmonellosis and aegyptianellosis. We present a summary of the monitoring of A. persicus ticks collected from several bird species during 4 years in the Republic of Kalmykia, Russia. Our results show that domestic and wild birds can host high numbers of ticks and their close proximity increases the probability of exchanging ticks. We found that various birds from no migratory species come to contact with poultry during their nesting season and likely exchange ticks with them. Our results show that despite the regular acaricide treatment of farms, tick presence was extremely high with the exception of small sporadic reductions.