Weintraub (2007, 2012), Gerson (2014), McMurtry et al. (2015), Hajizadeh and
Faraji (2016) and Fathipour and Maleknia (2016). Generally, predatory mites of the
family Phytoseiidae have received considerable attention because of their potential
as biological control agents of spider mites and other microarthropods (Daneshvar
and Denmark 1982; McMurtry and Croft 1997).
The following mite lineages have an association with invertebrates including
arthropod pests: the mesostigmatic, prostigmatic and astigmatine mites, the latter not
so professionally studied in Iran. Therefore, in this chapter, we discuss predatory and
parasitic Mesostigmata and Prostigmata. Regarding predatory mites, we mostly deal
with non-soil dwelling families in order to focusing on more effective and applicable
mites used as biocontrol agents. Systematic concepts follow those of Krantz and
Walter (2009), and a list of families are arranged based on their evolutionary trend
used in Lindquist et al. (2009) and Walter et al. (2009). The Parasitengonina are
treated as parasitic mites because of their parasitic life in the larval stage.
This chapter discusses mesostigmatic and prostigmatic families of predatory and
parasitic mites that are known or postulated to have an adverse effect on pests
including insects, mites and weeds in Iran and is focused on fundamental (faunistic)
studies, and if available, laboratory works and has been compiled mostly recent
works related to the application of predatory mites including behavioral aspects, life
table parameters, the effect of host plants on predatory mites, the side effect of
acaricides on biocontrol agents, interactions with other biocontrol agents and mass
rearing. We hope that this chapter will promote further researches on exploring,
developing and realizing the potential of mites in pests control. The bibliography
provided in this chapter is through 2016, and some selected 2017 and 2018 references have been included.
3.2 Predatory Mites
3.2.1 Order Mesostigmata
3.2.1.1 Dinychidae
Like many uropodine mites, members of the family Dinychidae usually occupy
decaying organic material, some nidicolous and some others living in soil or humus.
Mites of the genus Uroobovella are mainly fungivorous and sometimes, along with
other uropodines, colonize in stored products however the Uroobovella marginata
(C.L. Koch) (formerly placed in Fuscouropoda) is the most important species of the
genus in biological control point of view. This mite may attack nematodes, other
mites and dipteran larvae including house flies (Gerson et al. 2003; Lindquist et al.
2009). U. marginata can also feed on the epidermis of slugs, causing necrotic and
finally killing the host (Raut and Panigrahi 1991). This useful mite is also recorded
from different parts of Iran available in soil, litter, humus, cow and sheep dung,
manure, and stored products (Kazemi and Rajaei 2013; Nemati et al. 2018) and
90
H. Hajiqanbar and A. Farazmand
Faraji (2016) and Fathipour and Maleknia (2016). Generally, predatory mites of the
family Phytoseiidae have received considerable attention because of their potential
as biological control agents of spider mites and other microarthropods (Daneshvar
and Denmark 1982; McMurtry and Croft 1997).
The following mite lineages have an association with invertebrates including
arthropod pests: the mesostigmatic, prostigmatic and astigmatine mites, the latter not
so professionally studied in Iran. Therefore, in this chapter, we discuss predatory and
parasitic Mesostigmata and Prostigmata. Regarding predatory mites, we mostly deal
with non-soil dwelling families in order to focusing on more effective and applicable
mites used as biocontrol agents. Systematic concepts follow those of Krantz and
Walter (2009), and a list of families are arranged based on their evolutionary trend
used in Lindquist et al. (2009) and Walter et al. (2009). The Parasitengonina are
treated as parasitic mites because of their parasitic life in the larval stage.
This chapter discusses mesostigmatic and prostigmatic families of predatory and
parasitic mites that are known or postulated to have an adverse effect on pests
including insects, mites and weeds in Iran and is focused on fundamental (faunistic)
studies, and if available, laboratory works and has been compiled mostly recent
works related to the application of predatory mites including behavioral aspects, life
table parameters, the effect of host plants on predatory mites, the side effect of
acaricides on biocontrol agents, interactions with other biocontrol agents and mass
rearing. We hope that this chapter will promote further researches on exploring,
developing and realizing the potential of mites in pests control. The bibliography
provided in this chapter is through 2016, and some selected 2017 and 2018 references have been included.
3.2 Predatory Mites
3.2.1 Order Mesostigmata
3.2.1.1 Dinychidae
Like many uropodine mites, members of the family Dinychidae usually occupy
decaying organic material, some nidicolous and some others living in soil or humus.
Mites of the genus Uroobovella are mainly fungivorous and sometimes, along with
other uropodines, colonize in stored products however the Uroobovella marginata
(C.L. Koch) (formerly placed in Fuscouropoda) is the most important species of the
genus in biological control point of view. This mite may attack nematodes, other
mites and dipteran larvae including house flies (Gerson et al. 2003; Lindquist et al.
2009). U. marginata can also feed on the epidermis of slugs, causing necrotic and
finally killing the host (Raut and Panigrahi 1991). This useful mite is also recorded
from different parts of Iran available in soil, litter, humus, cow and sheep dung,
manure, and stored products (Kazemi and Rajaei 2013; Nemati et al. 2018) and
90
H. Hajiqanbar and A. Farazmand