increase and overcome outbreak populations of spider mites (McMurtry and Croft
1997).
Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) Neoseiulus californicus is placed in type II
lifestyle because it is associated with tetranychid mites which produce heavy
webbing and also has the ability to feed and reproduce on eriophyids, tarsonemids,
tydeids, as well as pollen (McMurtry et al. 2013) and thrips (Rahmani et al. 2009a).
This species is introduced in Iran with Spical
® name and can survive and be efficient
at high temperatures and low humidity (Weintraub and Palevsky 2008; Ahn et al.
2010).
Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot The mites of the genus Amblyseius including
A. swirskii are classified as type III predators, which feed on the whiteflies Bemesia
tabaci and Trialeurodes vaporariorum, western flower thrips, Frankliniella
occidentalis, the broad mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus and eggs of moths as
well as pollen (McMurtry et al. 2013; Nguyen et al. 2013). One advantage of this
predator is its ability to develop and reproduce on various kinds of pollen, which
allows the population of this predator to develop on plants before the appearance of
pests (Calvo et al. 2014). This species has been commercialized with Swiriskii-mite
®
name and released as a biological control agent in more than 50 countries (Park et al.
2010; Calvo et al. 2012).
3.2.1.4.2 Native Phytoseiid Mites
Demite et al. (2014) in a phytoseiid database presented 76 species of phytoseiid
mites available in Iran. Some selected species are mentioned below.
Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes Neoseiulus barkeri is a worldwide species that is
reported from Asia, predator which feeds on storage mites, spider mites, thrips,
broad mites and whiteflies eggs, as well as plant pollen (Fan and Petit 1994). This
predator is an indigenous species in Iran that is reported by Kamali et al. (2001),
Hajizadeh et al. (2009) and Mahjoori et al. (2015). This species can be mass-reared
in wheat bran with storage mites and has been used for augmentative biological
control of Thrips tabaci Lind. (Hansen 1988).
Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) bagdasarjani Wainstein and Arutunjan According
to McMurtry et al. (2013), species of the genus Typhlodromus are considered as
type III predators. Typhlodromus bagdasarjani is a species native to the Middle
East with high abundance in orchards of Iran (Kamali et al. 2001). It feeds on
spider mites, eriophyoids, tydeids, thrips and whiteflies (Daneshvar 1993). It is an
effective biocontrol agent in high temperature regions (Ganjisaffar et al. 2011a)
and has a population growth rate equal or higher than its prey, T. urticae
(Khanamani et al. 2014). Generally, species in type III require more prey to
complete development than for species in type II (McMurtry and Croft 1997).
3 Biological Control of Pests by Mites in Iran
93
1997).
Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) Neoseiulus californicus is placed in type II
lifestyle because it is associated with tetranychid mites which produce heavy
webbing and also has the ability to feed and reproduce on eriophyids, tarsonemids,
tydeids, as well as pollen (McMurtry et al. 2013) and thrips (Rahmani et al. 2009a).
This species is introduced in Iran with Spical
® name and can survive and be efficient
at high temperatures and low humidity (Weintraub and Palevsky 2008; Ahn et al.
2010).
Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot The mites of the genus Amblyseius including
A. swirskii are classified as type III predators, which feed on the whiteflies Bemesia
tabaci and Trialeurodes vaporariorum, western flower thrips, Frankliniella
occidentalis, the broad mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus and eggs of moths as
well as pollen (McMurtry et al. 2013; Nguyen et al. 2013). One advantage of this
predator is its ability to develop and reproduce on various kinds of pollen, which
allows the population of this predator to develop on plants before the appearance of
pests (Calvo et al. 2014). This species has been commercialized with Swiriskii-mite
®
name and released as a biological control agent in more than 50 countries (Park et al.
2010; Calvo et al. 2012).
3.2.1.4.2 Native Phytoseiid Mites
Demite et al. (2014) in a phytoseiid database presented 76 species of phytoseiid
mites available in Iran. Some selected species are mentioned below.
Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes Neoseiulus barkeri is a worldwide species that is
reported from Asia, predator which feeds on storage mites, spider mites, thrips,
broad mites and whiteflies eggs, as well as plant pollen (Fan and Petit 1994). This
predator is an indigenous species in Iran that is reported by Kamali et al. (2001),
Hajizadeh et al. (2009) and Mahjoori et al. (2015). This species can be mass-reared
in wheat bran with storage mites and has been used for augmentative biological
control of Thrips tabaci Lind. (Hansen 1988).
Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) bagdasarjani Wainstein and Arutunjan According
to McMurtry et al. (2013), species of the genus Typhlodromus are considered as
type III predators. Typhlodromus bagdasarjani is a species native to the Middle
East with high abundance in orchards of Iran (Kamali et al. 2001). It feeds on
spider mites, eriophyoids, tydeids, thrips and whiteflies (Daneshvar 1993). It is an
effective biocontrol agent in high temperature regions (Ganjisaffar et al. 2011a)
and has a population growth rate equal or higher than its prey, T. urticae
(Khanamani et al. 2014). Generally, species in type III require more prey to
complete development than for species in type II (McMurtry and Croft 1997).
3 Biological Control of Pests by Mites in Iran
93