11 genera and 69 species of the family Stigmaeidae. Hajizadeh et al. (2013)
following an investigation in Guilan province (Northern Iran) increased the Iranian
stigmaeids to 76 species. Two species described from soil in Isfahan province
(Bagheri et al. 2014) and two others from the soil and litter in Kurdistan province
(Khanjani et al. 2014). From northwestern Iran, Fakhari et al. (2015) described a
species of the genus Stigmaeus, members of which are usually predators of scale
insects.
3.2.2.7 Cheyletidae
This family with 77 genera and over 440 species includes parasitic (mostly on
vertebrates) and free-living predator taxa, the latter feeding on small arthropods
and dwelling in soil, plants, nest of vertebrates and stored products. They usually
ambush their preys and some species exhibit subsocial mode of life. The subfamily
Cheyletinae contains primarily predators of many microarthropods preferably
Astigmatina. Some genera such as Cheyletus, Cheletomorpha, Cheyletia and
Acaropsis are predators of astigmatan mites in grain products and storages. Grain
mites e.g. Acarus siro L. were reported to be attacked by the cosmopolite species
Cheyletus eruditus (Schrank) (Walter et al. 2009).
A summary of the selected taxonomic studies on Iranian Cheyletidae is shown
below. Kamali et al. (2001) listed 14 genera and about 22 species from various regions
and habitats. Four years later, Bochkov et al. (2005) reviewed Iranian cheyletids and
provided a key to 18 genera and 28 recorded species in the country at that time.
Many cheyletid predators are recorded from stored products in Iran. For instance,
Ardeshir et al. (2000) in a survey on mites of stored grain in northern Iran, claimed
Cheyletus malaccensis Oudemans as the most common prostigmatic mites. Following a study on mites associated with stored wheat in Tehran, the Acaropsellina
sollers (Kuzin) recorded as the most abundant predator mite (Ardeshir et al. 2008b).
Hajizadeh et al. (2011) collected six species including C. eruditus from stored rice
and decayed rice bran in Guilan province in northern Iran. The prey species of
cheyletid predators were a cluster of acarid mites such as Acarus siro, Tyrophagus
putrescentiae (Shrank) and Glycyphagus destructor (Schrank) to be included as
destructive stored products pests. In the current study, the Cheyletus malaccensis
was the most abundant species. During an investigation on mites of the factories
producing food for domesticated animals in Karaj, four cheyletids were collected
among which the Acaropsellina sollers and Cheyletus carnifex Zachvatkin constituted the most abundant species after Tyrophagus longior (Gervais) (Seiedy et al.
2012a, b). These two cheyletids were also collected in flour mills of Karaj (Seiedy
et al. 2009). In a recent study, Salarzehi et al. (2018) described one new species of
the genus Cheyletus collected from stored material in Guilan province.
Some other cheyletid mites have been documented living on plants. Mehrnejad and
Ueckermann (2001) in their study of mites associated with pistachio trees in Iran
declared that the Cheletogenes ornatus (Canestrini and Fanzago) was encountered in
scale insects colonies on twigs. Jalaeian et al. (2005) collected Cheletogenes ornatus
3 Biological Control of Pests by Mites in Iran
111
following an investigation in Guilan province (Northern Iran) increased the Iranian
stigmaeids to 76 species. Two species described from soil in Isfahan province
(Bagheri et al. 2014) and two others from the soil and litter in Kurdistan province
(Khanjani et al. 2014). From northwestern Iran, Fakhari et al. (2015) described a
species of the genus Stigmaeus, members of which are usually predators of scale
insects.
3.2.2.7 Cheyletidae
This family with 77 genera and over 440 species includes parasitic (mostly on
vertebrates) and free-living predator taxa, the latter feeding on small arthropods
and dwelling in soil, plants, nest of vertebrates and stored products. They usually
ambush their preys and some species exhibit subsocial mode of life. The subfamily
Cheyletinae contains primarily predators of many microarthropods preferably
Astigmatina. Some genera such as Cheyletus, Cheletomorpha, Cheyletia and
Acaropsis are predators of astigmatan mites in grain products and storages. Grain
mites e.g. Acarus siro L. were reported to be attacked by the cosmopolite species
Cheyletus eruditus (Schrank) (Walter et al. 2009).
A summary of the selected taxonomic studies on Iranian Cheyletidae is shown
below. Kamali et al. (2001) listed 14 genera and about 22 species from various regions
and habitats. Four years later, Bochkov et al. (2005) reviewed Iranian cheyletids and
provided a key to 18 genera and 28 recorded species in the country at that time.
Many cheyletid predators are recorded from stored products in Iran. For instance,
Ardeshir et al. (2000) in a survey on mites of stored grain in northern Iran, claimed
Cheyletus malaccensis Oudemans as the most common prostigmatic mites. Following a study on mites associated with stored wheat in Tehran, the Acaropsellina
sollers (Kuzin) recorded as the most abundant predator mite (Ardeshir et al. 2008b).
Hajizadeh et al. (2011) collected six species including C. eruditus from stored rice
and decayed rice bran in Guilan province in northern Iran. The prey species of
cheyletid predators were a cluster of acarid mites such as Acarus siro, Tyrophagus
putrescentiae (Shrank) and Glycyphagus destructor (Schrank) to be included as
destructive stored products pests. In the current study, the Cheyletus malaccensis
was the most abundant species. During an investigation on mites of the factories
producing food for domesticated animals in Karaj, four cheyletids were collected
among which the Acaropsellina sollers and Cheyletus carnifex Zachvatkin constituted the most abundant species after Tyrophagus longior (Gervais) (Seiedy et al.
2012a, b). These two cheyletids were also collected in flour mills of Karaj (Seiedy
et al. 2009). In a recent study, Salarzehi et al. (2018) described one new species of
the genus Cheyletus collected from stored material in Guilan province.
Some other cheyletid mites have been documented living on plants. Mehrnejad and
Ueckermann (2001) in their study of mites associated with pistachio trees in Iran
declared that the Cheletogenes ornatus (Canestrini and Fanzago) was encountered in
scale insects colonies on twigs. Jalaeian et al. (2005) collected Cheletogenes ornatus
3 Biological Control of Pests by Mites in Iran
111