about two weeks (Rahmani et al. 2012). Some species are recorded as predators of
scale insects, eriophyids and spider mites. For example, Cunaxa setirostris
(Hermann) is considered as a potential biocontrol agent of Tetranychus ludeni
Zacher. This beneficial mite can complete its life cycle in about four weeks and
consumes averagely 287 mobile preys during 87% of the total lifespan predation
(Arbabi and Singh 2000). The most comprehensive taxonomic studies on Iranian
cunaxids are available in Den Heyer et al. (2011a, b, 2013), providing many
descriptions and records along with keys to Iranian species of the Cunaxoidinae,
Coleoscirinae and Cunaxinae. Their efficiency in the control of other small arthropods is however unclear. It has to be noted that cannibalism is a negative factor that
can affect this family to be used as a biocontrol agent and, in turn, mass production
(Hernandes et al. 2015).
3.2.2.3 Tydeidae
The widely distributed members of the family Tydeidae with 30 genera and approximately 340 species are predominantly not specialized feeders and, predatory is
mostly opportunistic in this family. The predators mainly prey on eriophyid mites.
In this regard, some Tydeus and Orthotydeus could be generic examples. Although
the fungivory is the main diet for this family, some may exhibit nematophagy
(Santos et al. 1981). One generation usually takes 2–3 weeks. It is proven that
some tydeids can play their role as alternative food for a number of predators
particularly phytoseiid mites (Hoy 2011).
Tydeids are one of the major arthropods residing in leaf domatia (sort of physical
and environmental structures on plants particularly leaves occupied by mostly useful
microarthropods). The domatia exploited by mites are referred as Acarodomatia that
mostly includes small invaginations and tufts of nonglandular trichomes at the
junctions of primary and secondary veins on the undersides of leaves in woody
dicots (Pemberton and Turner 1989; Walter and Proctor 1999). Predatory (such as
Phytoseiidae, Stigmaeidae and Bdellidae) and mycophagous (such as Tydeidae)
mites are frequently settled in Acarodomatia (Pemberton and Turner 1989; Norton
et al. 2000). Some references mention to a number of fungivorous tydeids reducing
the density of powdery mildews on plants like cucumber and grape for instance, the
mite Orthotydeus lambi (Baker) reported decreasing the population of Uncinula
necator (Schwein) in grapes by eating from its hyphae (English-Loeb et al. 1999).
High populations of Tydeus kochi Oudemans is observed in sugarbeet leaves
contaminated with powdery mildews in northwestern Iran (H. Hajiqanbar, pers.
obs.). More faunistic studies on Iranian wild and agricultural plant ecosystems are
highly recommended to access voracious fungivorous tydeids and evaluation of their
efficiency in consuming and controlling pestiferous fungi.
Sepasgosarian (1997) provided a list of subfamilies, genera and species of the
family Tydeidae. In recent years, many genera and species of Iranian tydeids are
recorded from soil and aerial parts of plants (e.g. Khanjani and Ueckermann 2003;
Andre et al. 2010; Darbemamieh et al. 2010; Sadeghi et al. 2012; Akbari et al. 2015).
For example, it is documented that T. caudatus (Duges) is very abundant and
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H. Hajiqanbar and A. Farazmand
scale insects, eriophyids and spider mites. For example, Cunaxa setirostris
(Hermann) is considered as a potential biocontrol agent of Tetranychus ludeni
Zacher. This beneficial mite can complete its life cycle in about four weeks and
consumes averagely 287 mobile preys during 87% of the total lifespan predation
(Arbabi and Singh 2000). The most comprehensive taxonomic studies on Iranian
cunaxids are available in Den Heyer et al. (2011a, b, 2013), providing many
descriptions and records along with keys to Iranian species of the Cunaxoidinae,
Coleoscirinae and Cunaxinae. Their efficiency in the control of other small arthropods is however unclear. It has to be noted that cannibalism is a negative factor that
can affect this family to be used as a biocontrol agent and, in turn, mass production
(Hernandes et al. 2015).
3.2.2.3 Tydeidae
The widely distributed members of the family Tydeidae with 30 genera and approximately 340 species are predominantly not specialized feeders and, predatory is
mostly opportunistic in this family. The predators mainly prey on eriophyid mites.
In this regard, some Tydeus and Orthotydeus could be generic examples. Although
the fungivory is the main diet for this family, some may exhibit nematophagy
(Santos et al. 1981). One generation usually takes 2–3 weeks. It is proven that
some tydeids can play their role as alternative food for a number of predators
particularly phytoseiid mites (Hoy 2011).
Tydeids are one of the major arthropods residing in leaf domatia (sort of physical
and environmental structures on plants particularly leaves occupied by mostly useful
microarthropods). The domatia exploited by mites are referred as Acarodomatia that
mostly includes small invaginations and tufts of nonglandular trichomes at the
junctions of primary and secondary veins on the undersides of leaves in woody
dicots (Pemberton and Turner 1989; Walter and Proctor 1999). Predatory (such as
Phytoseiidae, Stigmaeidae and Bdellidae) and mycophagous (such as Tydeidae)
mites are frequently settled in Acarodomatia (Pemberton and Turner 1989; Norton
et al. 2000). Some references mention to a number of fungivorous tydeids reducing
the density of powdery mildews on plants like cucumber and grape for instance, the
mite Orthotydeus lambi (Baker) reported decreasing the population of Uncinula
necator (Schwein) in grapes by eating from its hyphae (English-Loeb et al. 1999).
High populations of Tydeus kochi Oudemans is observed in sugarbeet leaves
contaminated with powdery mildews in northwestern Iran (H. Hajiqanbar, pers.
obs.). More faunistic studies on Iranian wild and agricultural plant ecosystems are
highly recommended to access voracious fungivorous tydeids and evaluation of their
efficiency in consuming and controlling pestiferous fungi.
Sepasgosarian (1997) provided a list of subfamilies, genera and species of the
family Tydeidae. In recent years, many genera and species of Iranian tydeids are
recorded from soil and aerial parts of plants (e.g. Khanjani and Ueckermann 2003;
Andre et al. 2010; Darbemamieh et al. 2010; Sadeghi et al. 2012; Akbari et al. 2015).
For example, it is documented that T. caudatus (Duges) is very abundant and
108
H. Hajiqanbar and A. Farazmand