The family is currently consist of one genus, Pyemotes, with about 25 species that
are classified to two species groups, ventricosus and scolyti, based on their toxicity to
the host and degree of host specificity. P. ventricosus group has wide host spectrum
and occupies many habitats. Females are extremely venomous and attack all host
instars. Their injected toxin causes paralysis and death of the host, a factor that
makes these mites a pest in insect stalk cultures and stored products. It can also cause
grain itch, pruriginous dermatitis in people who have continuous contact with these
mites (Walter et al. 2009). The cosmopolitan P. tritici with a high reproductive rate is
a mortality factor of lepidopteran larvae and pupae, and other stored products pests.
This mite attack over 150 insect species belonging to various orders and can be
easily reared in the laboratory. It has a control effect on Lasioderma serricorne (F.)
(Cigarette beetle), Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller) (Flour moth), Pectinophora
gossypiella (Saunders) (Pink bollworm), Vespa spp. and Solenopsis spp. but unfortunately, unfavorable effects of the toxin of ventricosus species group on human is a
limited factor in order to use these mites as a biocontrol agent (Gerson et al. 2003).
P. scolyti group are restricted to their host habitat and are usually associated with
bark beetles, feeding host eggs, larvae and pupae. Females are not venomous and so,
do not make dermatitis and other health problems in people and animals come in
contact. Mites of this species group are one of the most successful natural enemies of
the bark beetles, sometimes eradicating host populations (Gerson et al. 2003).
Both mentioned species groups have been recorded in Iran (Kamali et al. 2001).
P. ventricosus (Newport) from xylophagous insects (Radjabi 1969), P. tritici from
Scolytus amygdali Guerin-Méneville, (Ostovan 1997; Ahadiyat et al. 2004), and P.
herfsi (Oudemans) from stored wheat (Mirfakhraii 1994; Ardeshir et al. 2008a) are
collected from various parts of Iran showing that these mites have a proper dispersal
in storages. It has to be noted that some mentioned species impose damage to
insectaria and workers with which they are in contact. In addition, P. scolyti
(Oudemans) is the only representative of the scolyti group reported from some
bark beetles (such as Scolytus amygdali) and their galleries (Ostovan and Kamali
1996; Ostovan 1997; Ahadiyat et al. 2004). Bioecology and population fluctuation
of this mite studied in some parks of Tehran by Ostovan and Kamali (2001). The
authors considered the P. scolyti as a potential biocontrol agent for S. amygdali
owing to being oligophage, having a short life cycle (8–10 days) with high reproductive rate, an about 90% female-based progeny and ~ 50% immature parasitation.
Despite some limitations to utilize as biocontrol agents, members of this family need
to be conserved as natural control agents of some important pests.
3.3.2.8 Acarophenacidae
Members of the small family Acarophenacidae with about 35 species are regarded as
egg parasitoids of various insects. Among six extant genera, species of the genera
Aethiophenax, Paracarophenax, and some Acarophenax have been documented to
be associated with several beetle families such as Cerambycidae, Cucujidae,
Dermestidae, Nitidulidae, Curculionidae (subfamily Scolytinae) and Tenebrionidae
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H. Hajiqanbar and A. Farazmand
are classified to two species groups, ventricosus and scolyti, based on their toxicity to
the host and degree of host specificity. P. ventricosus group has wide host spectrum
and occupies many habitats. Females are extremely venomous and attack all host
instars. Their injected toxin causes paralysis and death of the host, a factor that
makes these mites a pest in insect stalk cultures and stored products. It can also cause
grain itch, pruriginous dermatitis in people who have continuous contact with these
mites (Walter et al. 2009). The cosmopolitan P. tritici with a high reproductive rate is
a mortality factor of lepidopteran larvae and pupae, and other stored products pests.
This mite attack over 150 insect species belonging to various orders and can be
easily reared in the laboratory. It has a control effect on Lasioderma serricorne (F.)
(Cigarette beetle), Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller) (Flour moth), Pectinophora
gossypiella (Saunders) (Pink bollworm), Vespa spp. and Solenopsis spp. but unfortunately, unfavorable effects of the toxin of ventricosus species group on human is a
limited factor in order to use these mites as a biocontrol agent (Gerson et al. 2003).
P. scolyti group are restricted to their host habitat and are usually associated with
bark beetles, feeding host eggs, larvae and pupae. Females are not venomous and so,
do not make dermatitis and other health problems in people and animals come in
contact. Mites of this species group are one of the most successful natural enemies of
the bark beetles, sometimes eradicating host populations (Gerson et al. 2003).
Both mentioned species groups have been recorded in Iran (Kamali et al. 2001).
P. ventricosus (Newport) from xylophagous insects (Radjabi 1969), P. tritici from
Scolytus amygdali Guerin-Méneville, (Ostovan 1997; Ahadiyat et al. 2004), and P.
herfsi (Oudemans) from stored wheat (Mirfakhraii 1994; Ardeshir et al. 2008a) are
collected from various parts of Iran showing that these mites have a proper dispersal
in storages. It has to be noted that some mentioned species impose damage to
insectaria and workers with which they are in contact. In addition, P. scolyti
(Oudemans) is the only representative of the scolyti group reported from some
bark beetles (such as Scolytus amygdali) and their galleries (Ostovan and Kamali
1996; Ostovan 1997; Ahadiyat et al. 2004). Bioecology and population fluctuation
of this mite studied in some parks of Tehran by Ostovan and Kamali (2001). The
authors considered the P. scolyti as a potential biocontrol agent for S. amygdali
owing to being oligophage, having a short life cycle (8–10 days) with high reproductive rate, an about 90% female-based progeny and ~ 50% immature parasitation.
Despite some limitations to utilize as biocontrol agents, members of this family need
to be conserved as natural control agents of some important pests.
3.3.2.8 Acarophenacidae
Members of the small family Acarophenacidae with about 35 species are regarded as
egg parasitoids of various insects. Among six extant genera, species of the genera
Aethiophenax, Paracarophenax, and some Acarophenax have been documented to
be associated with several beetle families such as Cerambycidae, Cucujidae,
Dermestidae, Nitidulidae, Curculionidae (subfamily Scolytinae) and Tenebrionidae
118
H. Hajiqanbar and A. Farazmand