high potential for using as classical biological control agents of weeds and inflict
significant damage on their host plants or serving as prey for phytoseiid predators
(Smith et al. 2009; Skoracka et al. 2010). The role of some species of eriophyid mites
in control of weeds has been considered by Gerson et al. (2003) and Hoy (2011).
Lotfollahi et al. (2013) enumerated two genera and 12 species of eriophyid mites
associated with Compositae plants in Iran, some of which treated as weeds. Asadi
et al. (2013) showed Aceria chondrillae (Canestrini) fed and reproduced on
chondrilla plant. In a study based on material collected from Iran, Aceria acroptiloni
Shevchenko and Kovalev could imposed significant impact on the aboveground
biomass and particularly on the reproductive output of the invasive plant
Rhaponticum repens and reduced the biomass of R. repens shoots by 40–75%
(Asadi et al. 2014a, b). In the current study, infested seed heads from R. repens
plants were collected in a field margin 5 km NE of Shirvan, northeastern Iran.
Kamali (2016) listed 13 species of eriophyoids on various weeds collected from
different parts of Iran.
3.3.2.2 Erythraeidae
The large and ubiquitous family Erythraeidae with seven subfamilies, more than
55 genera and 770 species is typically parasite of many arthropods in larval stage and
predator in deutonymph and adult stages. Recently, Mąkol and Wohltmann (2012,
2013) provided an annotated checklist of the world terrestrial Parasitengona including Erythraeidae. This family as other parasitengones is categorized as protelean
parasites meaning that they are parasitic only in one of the immature stages, i.e. larva
(Walter and Proctor 1999). They are usually red and live on the ground or aerial parts
of the plants. Some larvae are free-living and rarely parasite of vertebrates. Most
erythraeid species are uni- or bivoultine (Walter et al. 2009). Although the larvae do
not kill the host and mostly have no host specificity, parasitized insect host gets
weakened and can be easier preyed by other predators like birds and other insectivores. There are several genera and species of this terrestrial parasitengone family
attacking some important insect and mite pests (see Gerson et al. 2003). For instance,
Balaustium putmani Smiley, 1968 in Nearctic realm is an active predator of many
arthropod pests like Panonychus ulmi, Aculus schlechtendali (Nalepa) (Acari:
Tetranychidae, Eriophyidae), Quadraspidiotus perniciosus (Comstock) and Aphis
pomi De Geer (Hemiptera: Diaspididae, Aphididae) (Putman 1970; Cadogan and
Laing 1977; Childers and Rock 1981). In Iran, among larvae of Leptus parasitizing a
wide range of insects and arachnids, L. esmailii Saboori and Ostovan has been
described as an ectoparasite of Eurygaster integriceps Puton, a serious pest of cereal
fields (Saboori and Ostovan 2000). Also, larvae of L. zhangi Saboori and Atamehr
are parasite of Hyponomeuta malinella Zeller, a pest of Iranian apicultures (Saboori
and Atamehr 1999). Table 3.3 provides some selective larval species of the Iranian
erythraeids parasitizing insect pests. The efficiency of these mites on their hosts is
not evaluated but conservation efforts could be recommended to increase the
efficacy of their natural control ability.
3 Biological Control of Pests by Mites in Iran
113
significant damage on their host plants or serving as prey for phytoseiid predators
(Smith et al. 2009; Skoracka et al. 2010). The role of some species of eriophyid mites
in control of weeds has been considered by Gerson et al. (2003) and Hoy (2011).
Lotfollahi et al. (2013) enumerated two genera and 12 species of eriophyid mites
associated with Compositae plants in Iran, some of which treated as weeds. Asadi
et al. (2013) showed Aceria chondrillae (Canestrini) fed and reproduced on
chondrilla plant. In a study based on material collected from Iran, Aceria acroptiloni
Shevchenko and Kovalev could imposed significant impact on the aboveground
biomass and particularly on the reproductive output of the invasive plant
Rhaponticum repens and reduced the biomass of R. repens shoots by 40–75%
(Asadi et al. 2014a, b). In the current study, infested seed heads from R. repens
plants were collected in a field margin 5 km NE of Shirvan, northeastern Iran.
Kamali (2016) listed 13 species of eriophyoids on various weeds collected from
different parts of Iran.
3.3.2.2 Erythraeidae
The large and ubiquitous family Erythraeidae with seven subfamilies, more than
55 genera and 770 species is typically parasite of many arthropods in larval stage and
predator in deutonymph and adult stages. Recently, Mąkol and Wohltmann (2012,
2013) provided an annotated checklist of the world terrestrial Parasitengona including Erythraeidae. This family as other parasitengones is categorized as protelean
parasites meaning that they are parasitic only in one of the immature stages, i.e. larva
(Walter and Proctor 1999). They are usually red and live on the ground or aerial parts
of the plants. Some larvae are free-living and rarely parasite of vertebrates. Most
erythraeid species are uni- or bivoultine (Walter et al. 2009). Although the larvae do
not kill the host and mostly have no host specificity, parasitized insect host gets
weakened and can be easier preyed by other predators like birds and other insectivores. There are several genera and species of this terrestrial parasitengone family
attacking some important insect and mite pests (see Gerson et al. 2003). For instance,
Balaustium putmani Smiley, 1968 in Nearctic realm is an active predator of many
arthropod pests like Panonychus ulmi, Aculus schlechtendali (Nalepa) (Acari:
Tetranychidae, Eriophyidae), Quadraspidiotus perniciosus (Comstock) and Aphis
pomi De Geer (Hemiptera: Diaspididae, Aphididae) (Putman 1970; Cadogan and
Laing 1977; Childers and Rock 1981). In Iran, among larvae of Leptus parasitizing a
wide range of insects and arachnids, L. esmailii Saboori and Ostovan has been
described as an ectoparasite of Eurygaster integriceps Puton, a serious pest of cereal
fields (Saboori and Ostovan 2000). Also, larvae of L. zhangi Saboori and Atamehr
are parasite of Hyponomeuta malinella Zeller, a pest of Iranian apicultures (Saboori
and Atamehr 1999). Table 3.3 provides some selective larval species of the Iranian
erythraeids parasitizing insect pests. The efficiency of these mites on their hosts is
not evaluated but conservation efforts could be recommended to increase the
efficacy of their natural control ability.
3 Biological Control of Pests by Mites in Iran
113