mosquitoes and midges. In Iran, in addition to mentioned families, 21 other familes
(encompassing 43 genera and 186 species) have also been reported and distributed in
most provinces, however, this number is far from available water mites in the
country (Pešić et al. 2014). It seems water mites are well distributed in the country
and could play their role in the natural control of the hosts. Although the effect of
larva on the host can not be usually evaluated in natural habitat, conservation of
mites can increase their impact on the host insects.
3.3.2.6 Trochometridiidae
Mites of the family Trochometridiidae are associated with three orders of the insects,
including Coleoptera, Dermaptera and Hymenoptera, typically apoid bees of the
families Halictidae and Andrenidae (Cross and Bohart 1979; Lindquist 1985;
Hajiqanbar et al. 2009; Mortazavi et al. 2011). A study on the life cycle of one of
the species of the family, Trochometridium tribulatum Cross, showed that despite
fungivory of the mites, their impact on some hosts, especially the bees of families
Halictidae and Andrenidae is like a parasitoid. It occurs during a triple symbiotic
relationship among mite, fungus and bee host. The mites cause the death of the eggs
and young larvae of the host by carrying the fungus spores (via pairs of pouch-like
structures between base of the legs III and IV, named sporothecae) to the nest of the
host and contribute to the growth of the fungus. In other words, the next generation
of these mites feed on fungus mycelia that grow on the corpses of the host eggs and
young larvae (Cross and Bohart 1979; Lindquist 1985; Kaliszewski et al. 1995).
Hitherto, the family encompasses two genera, Neotrochometridium with one
species and Trochometridium with 6 species (Loghmani et al. 2014), all reported
from Iran except Trochometridium tribulatum that is distributed in Nearctic and
Afrotropical realms. The trochometridiids have not been demonstrated to be strong
biocontrol agents, however, at least they have a role in the natural control of their
insect hosts that their spectrum has been increased in recent years. In any case,
further collections and life history investigations are needed to clarify rate of their
mortality upon the host populations.
3.3.2.7 Pyemotidae
As in its sister family, Acarophenacidae, mites of the family Pyemotidae are the
parasitoid of eggs and immatures of many insect orders including Coleoptera,
Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera and Diptera. These mites have high fecundity due to
relatively short life cycle, and development of the many same aged progeny inside
mother’s physogastric body on one host. Some species like Pyemotes tritici
(LaGrèze-Fossat and Montagné) show one of the highest reproductive rates among
animals (Walter and Proctor 1999). Since only one host individual is enough for the
development of a single mite stage, and eventually host dies, Lindquist (1983)
considered these mites as a parasitoid.
3 Biological Control of Pests by Mites in Iran
117
(encompassing 43 genera and 186 species) have also been reported and distributed in
most provinces, however, this number is far from available water mites in the
country (Pešić et al. 2014). It seems water mites are well distributed in the country
and could play their role in the natural control of the hosts. Although the effect of
larva on the host can not be usually evaluated in natural habitat, conservation of
mites can increase their impact on the host insects.
3.3.2.6 Trochometridiidae
Mites of the family Trochometridiidae are associated with three orders of the insects,
including Coleoptera, Dermaptera and Hymenoptera, typically apoid bees of the
families Halictidae and Andrenidae (Cross and Bohart 1979; Lindquist 1985;
Hajiqanbar et al. 2009; Mortazavi et al. 2011). A study on the life cycle of one of
the species of the family, Trochometridium tribulatum Cross, showed that despite
fungivory of the mites, their impact on some hosts, especially the bees of families
Halictidae and Andrenidae is like a parasitoid. It occurs during a triple symbiotic
relationship among mite, fungus and bee host. The mites cause the death of the eggs
and young larvae of the host by carrying the fungus spores (via pairs of pouch-like
structures between base of the legs III and IV, named sporothecae) to the nest of the
host and contribute to the growth of the fungus. In other words, the next generation
of these mites feed on fungus mycelia that grow on the corpses of the host eggs and
young larvae (Cross and Bohart 1979; Lindquist 1985; Kaliszewski et al. 1995).
Hitherto, the family encompasses two genera, Neotrochometridium with one
species and Trochometridium with 6 species (Loghmani et al. 2014), all reported
from Iran except Trochometridium tribulatum that is distributed in Nearctic and
Afrotropical realms. The trochometridiids have not been demonstrated to be strong
biocontrol agents, however, at least they have a role in the natural control of their
insect hosts that their spectrum has been increased in recent years. In any case,
further collections and life history investigations are needed to clarify rate of their
mortality upon the host populations.
3.3.2.7 Pyemotidae
As in its sister family, Acarophenacidae, mites of the family Pyemotidae are the
parasitoid of eggs and immatures of many insect orders including Coleoptera,
Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera and Diptera. These mites have high fecundity due to
relatively short life cycle, and development of the many same aged progeny inside
mother’s physogastric body on one host. Some species like Pyemotes tritici
(LaGrèze-Fossat and Montagné) show one of the highest reproductive rates among
animals (Walter and Proctor 1999). Since only one host individual is enough for the
development of a single mite stage, and eventually host dies, Lindquist (1983)
considered these mites as a parasitoid.
3 Biological Control of Pests by Mites in Iran
117