A few studies have been carried out in Iran regarding prey stage preference. For
example, Moghadasi et al. (2014a, b) demonstrated all stage of T. bagdasarjani
significantly preferred eggs of T. urticae over larvae and protonymphs. Comparing
the preference indices of Amblyseius swirskii, a study indicated a significant preference of the predator on eggs and second instar nymphs of T. urticae than Bemesia
tabaci (Gennadius) (Soleymani et al. 2016). Other study, (Khodayari et al. 2016),
showed P. plumifer in no-choice tests consumed egg, larva, protonymph and male
stages of T. urticae more than deutonymph and female but in choice tests, the
predator significantly preferred immature stages of its prey. Prey preference of
A. swirskii on Trialeurodes vaporariorum and T. urticae were studied showing
that this predator had a significant preference for T. urticae (Heydari et al. 2016).
Olfactory Response
Plants infested and damaged with spider mites produce a variety of volatile
chemicals and release them from flowers, fruits, and foliage. The production of
mite-induced plant volatiles apparently can change based on the genetic characteristics of the spider mite species, the plant cultivar, and the genetics of the predators.
Predatory mites are able to perceive these volatile chemical cues and even learn
about them (Hoy 2011). There are studies about the role of these chemical cues and
the responses by phytoseiids (Dicke and Sabelis 1988; Dicke et al. 1990; Janssen
et al. 1998; Maeda et al. 2001; De Boer and Dicke 2004). Shimoda et al. (2005)
showed that N. californicus responded to five volatiles produced by spider-miteinfested plants, including linalool, methyl salicylate, (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, (E)-2hexenal, and (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate. In another study, N. womersleyi responded to
mixtures of three synthetic compounds produced by tea plants infested by
T. kanazwai (Ishiwari et al. 2007). In Iran, Seiedy et al. (2013) showed
P. persimilis was able to discriminate between untreated and Beauveria bassianatreated T. urticae and proposed avoidance of the predator from the fungus
B. bassiana would reduce the impact of intra-guild interactions. Other study
conducted by Maleknia et al. (2014b) demonstrated that host plant experience and
different hunger periods affect the olfactory response of P. persimilis. Khosravi
Shastestani et al. (2014) stated the role of methyl salicylate as an important part of
volatile blends in searching behaviour of the predatory mite, P. persimilis. This
compound attracted the predatory mites (1 h starved) in a dose range of 0.02–20μg.
Bohloolzadeh et al. (2013) showed that the rearing condition of A. swirskii females
can affect their olfactory response. Mohammadi et al. (2012) compared the odor
responses of two different populations of P. persimilis on cucumber and bean plants
infested by T. urticae and showed a significant preference towards bean plants. In a
study, an olfactory response of N. californicus to the strawberry plants infested by
T. urticae and western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande was compared and showed that this predatory mite had not ability to identify volatiles from
strawberry infested with thrips (Rezaie et al. 2018).
3 Biological Control of Pests by Mites in Iran
97
example, Moghadasi et al. (2014a, b) demonstrated all stage of T. bagdasarjani
significantly preferred eggs of T. urticae over larvae and protonymphs. Comparing
the preference indices of Amblyseius swirskii, a study indicated a significant preference of the predator on eggs and second instar nymphs of T. urticae than Bemesia
tabaci (Gennadius) (Soleymani et al. 2016). Other study, (Khodayari et al. 2016),
showed P. plumifer in no-choice tests consumed egg, larva, protonymph and male
stages of T. urticae more than deutonymph and female but in choice tests, the
predator significantly preferred immature stages of its prey. Prey preference of
A. swirskii on Trialeurodes vaporariorum and T. urticae were studied showing
that this predator had a significant preference for T. urticae (Heydari et al. 2016).
Olfactory Response
Plants infested and damaged with spider mites produce a variety of volatile
chemicals and release them from flowers, fruits, and foliage. The production of
mite-induced plant volatiles apparently can change based on the genetic characteristics of the spider mite species, the plant cultivar, and the genetics of the predators.
Predatory mites are able to perceive these volatile chemical cues and even learn
about them (Hoy 2011). There are studies about the role of these chemical cues and
the responses by phytoseiids (Dicke and Sabelis 1988; Dicke et al. 1990; Janssen
et al. 1998; Maeda et al. 2001; De Boer and Dicke 2004). Shimoda et al. (2005)
showed that N. californicus responded to five volatiles produced by spider-miteinfested plants, including linalool, methyl salicylate, (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, (E)-2hexenal, and (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate. In another study, N. womersleyi responded to
mixtures of three synthetic compounds produced by tea plants infested by
T. kanazwai (Ishiwari et al. 2007). In Iran, Seiedy et al. (2013) showed
P. persimilis was able to discriminate between untreated and Beauveria bassianatreated T. urticae and proposed avoidance of the predator from the fungus
B. bassiana would reduce the impact of intra-guild interactions. Other study
conducted by Maleknia et al. (2014b) demonstrated that host plant experience and
different hunger periods affect the olfactory response of P. persimilis. Khosravi
Shastestani et al. (2014) stated the role of methyl salicylate as an important part of
volatile blends in searching behaviour of the predatory mite, P. persimilis. This
compound attracted the predatory mites (1 h starved) in a dose range of 0.02–20μg.
Bohloolzadeh et al. (2013) showed that the rearing condition of A. swirskii females
can affect their olfactory response. Mohammadi et al. (2012) compared the odor
responses of two different populations of P. persimilis on cucumber and bean plants
infested by T. urticae and showed a significant preference towards bean plants. In a
study, an olfactory response of N. californicus to the strawberry plants infested by
T. urticae and western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande was compared and showed that this predatory mite had not ability to identify volatiles from
strawberry infested with thrips (Rezaie et al. 2018).
3 Biological Control of Pests by Mites in Iran
97