from orchards in central parts of Iran. Tajmiri (2013) mentioned C. malaccensis, C.
eruditus and Cheletomorpha lepidopterorum (Shaw) from raspberry shrubs in Guilan
province. Jalilirad et al. (2013) reported Cheletogenes ornatus, C. berlesi Oudemans
and Hemicheyletia wellsi Summer and Price from citrus leaves in Guilan province.
Some others have been documented as associated species of insects that feed on
eggs and early stages of the hosts or other microarthropods dwelling in host habitats.
For instance, Ostovan and Kamali (1997) collected three cheyletid species
(Chelacheles michalskii Samsinak, Acaropsella kulagini (Rohdendorf) and
Hemicheyletia wellsi) from galleries of Scolytus multistriatus (Marsham) from
parks of Tehran. Ahadiyat et al. (2004) recorded Cheletogenes ornatus and one
species of Caudacheles associated with Scolytus amygdali Geurin-Meneville in
Karaj. Haghighi et al. (2011) collected Caudacheles khayae Gerson from galleries
of elm bark beetles in Fars province, southern Iran.
It is conceivable that conservation of free-living predatory cheyletids in their
various habitats can increase their efficiency as natural biocontrol agents.
3.3 Parasitic Mites
3.3.1 Order Mesostigmata
3.3.1.1 Otopheidomenidae
Contrary to its predatory sister family (Phytoseiidae), mites of the family
Otopheidomenidae are permanent parasites of insects in temperate and tropical
regions of the world. Ten genera and about 28 species are classified into three
subfamilies based on host preference and morphological traits parasitizing moths
(in wing bases and tympanic recesses), bugs (in the dorsum of the thorax and beneath
the hemielytra), katydids (in thoracic tracheae), termites and grasshoppers (Lindquist
et al. 2009). Under laboratory conditions, some species of the genus Hemipteroseius
showed unfavorable effects on the feeding and life history parameters, and even
death of the hemipteran hosts (Costa 1968; Banerjee and Datta 1980). One of the
species of the Hemipteroseius has been recently found in Iran (Joharchi and Saboori
2010) that could be promising regarding more systematical and biological studies on
these mites in future in the country.
3.3.2 Suborder Prostigmata
3.3.2.1 Eriophyidae
Eriophyoid mites feed on plant surfaces and cause stunting, brooming, leaf rolling,
gall formation and damage to vegetative and reproductive organs (Gerson et al.
2003). Nevertheless, some species of these mites have been considered to have a
112
H. Hajiqanbar and A. Farazmand
eruditus and Cheletomorpha lepidopterorum (Shaw) from raspberry shrubs in Guilan
province. Jalilirad et al. (2013) reported Cheletogenes ornatus, C. berlesi Oudemans
and Hemicheyletia wellsi Summer and Price from citrus leaves in Guilan province.
Some others have been documented as associated species of insects that feed on
eggs and early stages of the hosts or other microarthropods dwelling in host habitats.
For instance, Ostovan and Kamali (1997) collected three cheyletid species
(Chelacheles michalskii Samsinak, Acaropsella kulagini (Rohdendorf) and
Hemicheyletia wellsi) from galleries of Scolytus multistriatus (Marsham) from
parks of Tehran. Ahadiyat et al. (2004) recorded Cheletogenes ornatus and one
species of Caudacheles associated with Scolytus amygdali Geurin-Meneville in
Karaj. Haghighi et al. (2011) collected Caudacheles khayae Gerson from galleries
of elm bark beetles in Fars province, southern Iran.
It is conceivable that conservation of free-living predatory cheyletids in their
various habitats can increase their efficiency as natural biocontrol agents.
3.3 Parasitic Mites
3.3.1 Order Mesostigmata
3.3.1.1 Otopheidomenidae
Contrary to its predatory sister family (Phytoseiidae), mites of the family
Otopheidomenidae are permanent parasites of insects in temperate and tropical
regions of the world. Ten genera and about 28 species are classified into three
subfamilies based on host preference and morphological traits parasitizing moths
(in wing bases and tympanic recesses), bugs (in the dorsum of the thorax and beneath
the hemielytra), katydids (in thoracic tracheae), termites and grasshoppers (Lindquist
et al. 2009). Under laboratory conditions, some species of the genus Hemipteroseius
showed unfavorable effects on the feeding and life history parameters, and even
death of the hemipteran hosts (Costa 1968; Banerjee and Datta 1980). One of the
species of the Hemipteroseius has been recently found in Iran (Joharchi and Saboori
2010) that could be promising regarding more systematical and biological studies on
these mites in future in the country.
3.3.2 Suborder Prostigmata
3.3.2.1 Eriophyidae
Eriophyoid mites feed on plant surfaces and cause stunting, brooming, leaf rolling,
gall formation and damage to vegetative and reproductive organs (Gerson et al.
2003). Nevertheless, some species of these mites have been considered to have a
112
H. Hajiqanbar and A. Farazmand