generation is mostly raised in one week (Gerson et al. 2003). The B. tarsalis
(Berlese) is a wide spread species with considerable control effects on some major
stored product pests. Another useful species of the genus is B. keegani Fox.
Experimental data on life cycle and predation potential of this mite, provisioned
by eggs of Amyelois transitella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), revealed about
9-day development time at 25
C and 50–60% relative humidity with a maximum of
three eggs consumed during 24 h (Thomas et al. 2011). About five species of this
genus including B. tarsalis and B. keegani are found in Iran (Kazemi and Rajaei
2013; Shams et al. 2016; Nemati et al. 2018). Furthermore, the genus Lasioseius is
another beneficial genus considered to prey on small arthropods and nematodes. Of
22 reported species, the L. youcefi Athias-Henriot is the most abundant one in the
country.
It is noteworthy that the genera Proctolaelaps (Melicharidae) with 12 Iranian
species and Arctoseius (Ascidae) with seven species are known to be a predator
(sometimes predator-fungivores) and can feed on nematodes and some
microarthropods, nevertheless their impact on host populations has not been yet
evaluated.
3.2.1.6 Laelapidae
Many members of the ubiquitous and speciose family Laelapidae (with about
144 genera and more than 1300 species) are parasites of small mammals or associated with birds, arthropods and their nests. However, the subfamily Hypoaspidinae
often encompasses free-living aggressive predators including some biological control agents of the genera Stratiolaelaps and Gaeolaelaps (Lindquist et al. 2009).
Stratiolaelaps scimitus (Womersley) (wrongly known as Hypoaspis or
Stratiolaelaps miles) and Gaeolaelaps aculeifer (Canestrini) (wrongly placed in
Hypoaspis s.l.) are two species that attracted the attentions to be used as effective
biocontrol agents and even mass reared commercially against many soil-living pests
of greenhouses such as thrips, fungus gnats, acarid mites and nematodes (Walter and
Proctor 1999; Gerson and Weintraub 2007). Both mentioned species have been
found in Iran. In a very few limited studies carried out on the evaluation of G.
aculeifer as a biocontrol agent, this mite alone and in combination with disinfected
corms of gladiolus have had significant control results against Rhizoglyphus
echinopus that is an important mite pest of this ornamental plant (Hosseininia
et al. 2012, 2014). In another study, Amin et al. (2014) assessed effects of eight
constant temperatures on development and fecundity of G. aculeifer feeding on Rh.
echinopus showing the average of female life span as 102.40 days at 16
C and
37.21 days at 32.5
C. Also, the mean number of eggs laid per female per day
increased from 0.49 at l 6
C to 3.76 at 30
C and then decreased to 1.88 at 32.5
C.
Some authors have reported that some species of Hypoaspis s.s. or Coleolaelaps
are parasites of the eggs or larvae of plant-feeding Scarabaeidae, and therefore may
have potential as biological control agents (Khanjani et al. 2013). According to
Damghani (2001), Hypoaspis elegans Joharchi, Ostovan and Babaeian was reared in
106
H. Hajiqanbar and A. Farazmand
(Berlese) is a wide spread species with considerable control effects on some major
stored product pests. Another useful species of the genus is B. keegani Fox.
Experimental data on life cycle and predation potential of this mite, provisioned
by eggs of Amyelois transitella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), revealed about
9-day development time at 25
C and 50–60% relative humidity with a maximum of
three eggs consumed during 24 h (Thomas et al. 2011). About five species of this
genus including B. tarsalis and B. keegani are found in Iran (Kazemi and Rajaei
2013; Shams et al. 2016; Nemati et al. 2018). Furthermore, the genus Lasioseius is
another beneficial genus considered to prey on small arthropods and nematodes. Of
22 reported species, the L. youcefi Athias-Henriot is the most abundant one in the
country.
It is noteworthy that the genera Proctolaelaps (Melicharidae) with 12 Iranian
species and Arctoseius (Ascidae) with seven species are known to be a predator
(sometimes predator-fungivores) and can feed on nematodes and some
microarthropods, nevertheless their impact on host populations has not been yet
evaluated.
3.2.1.6 Laelapidae
Many members of the ubiquitous and speciose family Laelapidae (with about
144 genera and more than 1300 species) are parasites of small mammals or associated with birds, arthropods and their nests. However, the subfamily Hypoaspidinae
often encompasses free-living aggressive predators including some biological control agents of the genera Stratiolaelaps and Gaeolaelaps (Lindquist et al. 2009).
Stratiolaelaps scimitus (Womersley) (wrongly known as Hypoaspis or
Stratiolaelaps miles) and Gaeolaelaps aculeifer (Canestrini) (wrongly placed in
Hypoaspis s.l.) are two species that attracted the attentions to be used as effective
biocontrol agents and even mass reared commercially against many soil-living pests
of greenhouses such as thrips, fungus gnats, acarid mites and nematodes (Walter and
Proctor 1999; Gerson and Weintraub 2007). Both mentioned species have been
found in Iran. In a very few limited studies carried out on the evaluation of G.
aculeifer as a biocontrol agent, this mite alone and in combination with disinfected
corms of gladiolus have had significant control results against Rhizoglyphus
echinopus that is an important mite pest of this ornamental plant (Hosseininia
et al. 2012, 2014). In another study, Amin et al. (2014) assessed effects of eight
constant temperatures on development and fecundity of G. aculeifer feeding on Rh.
echinopus showing the average of female life span as 102.40 days at 16
C and
37.21 days at 32.5
C. Also, the mean number of eggs laid per female per day
increased from 0.49 at l 6
C to 3.76 at 30
C and then decreased to 1.88 at 32.5
C.
Some authors have reported that some species of Hypoaspis s.s. or Coleolaelaps
are parasites of the eggs or larvae of plant-feeding Scarabaeidae, and therefore may
have potential as biological control agents (Khanjani et al. 2013). According to
Damghani (2001), Hypoaspis elegans Joharchi, Ostovan and Babaeian was reared in
106
H. Hajiqanbar and A. Farazmand