the laboratory on all stages of Oryctes elegans Prell. for one year, however, no heavy
mortality observed during any stages of the host beetle. There was some mortality
(mortality rate not stated) of pupae, and Damghani (2001) suggested that this
mortality of pupae was caused by the mites’ feeding on exudates of the pupae’s
body. This has not been established experimentally, and it will be necessary to do
feeding experiments to establish the true ecological role of these mites (Joharchi
et al. 2014).
More than 20 genera and 100 laelapid species have been recorded from Iran (for
examples, see Kazemi and Rajaei 2013; Joharchi and Babaeian 2015; Nemati and
Gwiazdowicz 2016; Nemati et al. 2018).
3.2.2 Suborder Prostigmata
3.2.2.1 Bdellidae
This family, containing about 16 genera and more than 278 species, has a wide
distribution preying on nematodes, microarthropods or their eggs. Bdellids, also
known as snout mites due to conical rostrum, can produce silk strands in order to
secure prey (usually by circling the host and entangling body and the appendages
with silken net) and moulting (Walter et al. 2009; Hernandes et al. 2016). Some
species can be affect spider mites and springtails populations. For example, Bdella
depressa Ewing preys on Bryobia praetiosa Koch and, Bdellodes lapidaria
(Kramer) and Neomolgus capillatus Kramer on lucerne flea, Sminthurus viridis
L. (Gerson et al. 2003). Likewise, Bdella tropica Atyeo is evaluated as an effective
natural enemy of Xenylla longauda Folsom (Collembola; Hypogastruridae) which
attacks edible fungi (Ji et al. 2007). Many genera (e.g. Cyta, Neomolgus,
Hexabdella, Bdella, Bdellodes, Biscirus, Spinibdella) and species have been
described and recorded in Iran (see Ostovan and Kamali 1995; Eghbalian et al.
2014, 2016; Paktinat-Saeej et al. 2015a, b; Ueckermann et al. 2007) but their
biology, host range, and impact on host populations have yet to be studied in the
country.
3.2.2.2 Cunaxidae
Similar to its sister family Bdellidae, cunaxids (with 27 genera and about 330 species) attack small arthropods and nematodes. They occupy various habitats including
soil and aerial parts of plants (Walter et al. 2009). Among six subfamilies, members
of the subfamily Cunaxoidinae occupy more habitats on plants than soil (Castro
2008; Skvarla et al. 2014). There are two strategies for prey capture, ambush
(Cunaxinae) and cruise (Coleoscirinae and Cunaxoidinae) ones, both observed in
soil and foliar taxa (Walter and Proctor 1999). One species of the genus Coleoscirus
feeds on Meloidogyne spp. in sugarbeet fields and can complete one generation in
3 Biological Control of Pests by Mites in Iran
107
mortality observed during any stages of the host beetle. There was some mortality
(mortality rate not stated) of pupae, and Damghani (2001) suggested that this
mortality of pupae was caused by the mites’ feeding on exudates of the pupae’s
body. This has not been established experimentally, and it will be necessary to do
feeding experiments to establish the true ecological role of these mites (Joharchi
et al. 2014).
More than 20 genera and 100 laelapid species have been recorded from Iran (for
examples, see Kazemi and Rajaei 2013; Joharchi and Babaeian 2015; Nemati and
Gwiazdowicz 2016; Nemati et al. 2018).
3.2.2 Suborder Prostigmata
3.2.2.1 Bdellidae
This family, containing about 16 genera and more than 278 species, has a wide
distribution preying on nematodes, microarthropods or their eggs. Bdellids, also
known as snout mites due to conical rostrum, can produce silk strands in order to
secure prey (usually by circling the host and entangling body and the appendages
with silken net) and moulting (Walter et al. 2009; Hernandes et al. 2016). Some
species can be affect spider mites and springtails populations. For example, Bdella
depressa Ewing preys on Bryobia praetiosa Koch and, Bdellodes lapidaria
(Kramer) and Neomolgus capillatus Kramer on lucerne flea, Sminthurus viridis
L. (Gerson et al. 2003). Likewise, Bdella tropica Atyeo is evaluated as an effective
natural enemy of Xenylla longauda Folsom (Collembola; Hypogastruridae) which
attacks edible fungi (Ji et al. 2007). Many genera (e.g. Cyta, Neomolgus,
Hexabdella, Bdella, Bdellodes, Biscirus, Spinibdella) and species have been
described and recorded in Iran (see Ostovan and Kamali 1995; Eghbalian et al.
2014, 2016; Paktinat-Saeej et al. 2015a, b; Ueckermann et al. 2007) but their
biology, host range, and impact on host populations have yet to be studied in the
country.
3.2.2.2 Cunaxidae
Similar to its sister family Bdellidae, cunaxids (with 27 genera and about 330 species) attack small arthropods and nematodes. They occupy various habitats including
soil and aerial parts of plants (Walter et al. 2009). Among six subfamilies, members
of the subfamily Cunaxoidinae occupy more habitats on plants than soil (Castro
2008; Skvarla et al. 2014). There are two strategies for prey capture, ambush
(Cunaxinae) and cruise (Coleoscirinae and Cunaxoidinae) ones, both observed in
soil and foliar taxa (Walter and Proctor 1999). One species of the genus Coleoscirus
feeds on Meloidogyne spp. in sugarbeet fields and can complete one generation in
3 Biological Control of Pests by Mites in Iran
107