(Magowski 1994; Goldarazena et al. 1999; Krantz and Walter 2009). All described
species of the genus Adactylidium are not only egg parasitoid of tubuliferous thrips
(Thysanoptera: Tubulifera) but some observations upon their penetrated mouthpart
into the body of their adult hosts’ bodies and feeding on haemolymph, suggest that
they can be also considered as ectoparasites (Goldarazena et al. 2001; Gerson et al.
2003; Khaustov 2007). Host association of other genera is unknown (Rady 1992;
Goldarazena et al. 1999).
In spite of the paucity of studies on the biology of most species of the family
Acarophenacidae and their capability in controlling their host population, the inevitable potential of some acarophenacids as useful biological control agents in closed
poultry houses and stored product situations, have provoked researchers to pay
proportionately more attention to this family (Rack, 1959; Bruce and LeCato
1980; Steinkraus and Cross 1993; Faroni et al. 2000; Gerson et al. 2003). However,
compared with the family Pyemotidae, acarophenacid mites feed only on the eggs of
their insect hosts and have no toxic effects on people or domesticated animals
(Steinkraus and Cross 1993). In one of the studies carried out by Steinkraus and
Cross (1993), the Acarophenax mahunkai Steinkraus and Cross, an egg parasitoid of
the tenebrionid pest Alphitobius diaperinus Panzer, imposed two-thirds mortality in
eggs. Also, Faroni et al. (2000) stated that Acarophenax lacunatus (Cross and
Krantz), an egg parasitoid of bostrichid major pest Rhyzopertha dominica F.,
could be a useful biocontrol agent specially in tropical regions.
Hitherto, four species of the genus Acarophenax, two species of the Aethiophenax
and one species of Adactylidium have been found or described from Iran (Ostovan
and Saboori 1999; Ardeshir et al. 2008b; Katlav et al. 2015; Rahiminejad and
Hajiqanbar 2015; Lotfollahi et al. 2016; Arjomandi et al. 2017). These mites have
been collected from storage or forest habitats on beetles of the families Nitidulidae,
Sphididae and Tenebrionidae (including Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val and
Alphitobius diaperinus that are two important pests of stored products), or on thrips.
Further researches upon the biology and life history of these mites and their hosts are
necessary to utilize them as effective and applicable biocontrol agents.
3.3.2.9 Podapolipidae
Mites of the highly specialized family Podapolipidae are external (and occasionally
internal) parasites of many insect orders including Coleoptera, Orthoptera,
Blattodea, Hymenoptera and Hamiptera. These mites are observed beneath elytra
and in the genital tract of the beetles, in the trachea and air sacs of Orthoptera and on
the body surface of grasshoppers and cockroaches (Kaliszewski et al. 1995; Walter
et al. 2009). Many genera of this family are host-specific. For example, mites of the
genus Coccipolipus exclusively parasitize ladybirds of the family Coccinellidae, a
factor that can affect feeding and reproductive efficiencies of the hosts. Podapolipid
mites have recently received considerable attention owing to the prospect of utilizing
some species as biological control agents of some pests in agricultural ecosystems
(Kenis et al. 2008; Rhule et al. 2010; Seeman and Nahrung 2013) like Coccipolipus
3 Biological Control of Pests by Mites in Iran
119
species of the genus Adactylidium are not only egg parasitoid of tubuliferous thrips
(Thysanoptera: Tubulifera) but some observations upon their penetrated mouthpart
into the body of their adult hosts’ bodies and feeding on haemolymph, suggest that
they can be also considered as ectoparasites (Goldarazena et al. 2001; Gerson et al.
2003; Khaustov 2007). Host association of other genera is unknown (Rady 1992;
Goldarazena et al. 1999).
In spite of the paucity of studies on the biology of most species of the family
Acarophenacidae and their capability in controlling their host population, the inevitable potential of some acarophenacids as useful biological control agents in closed
poultry houses and stored product situations, have provoked researchers to pay
proportionately more attention to this family (Rack, 1959; Bruce and LeCato
1980; Steinkraus and Cross 1993; Faroni et al. 2000; Gerson et al. 2003). However,
compared with the family Pyemotidae, acarophenacid mites feed only on the eggs of
their insect hosts and have no toxic effects on people or domesticated animals
(Steinkraus and Cross 1993). In one of the studies carried out by Steinkraus and
Cross (1993), the Acarophenax mahunkai Steinkraus and Cross, an egg parasitoid of
the tenebrionid pest Alphitobius diaperinus Panzer, imposed two-thirds mortality in
eggs. Also, Faroni et al. (2000) stated that Acarophenax lacunatus (Cross and
Krantz), an egg parasitoid of bostrichid major pest Rhyzopertha dominica F.,
could be a useful biocontrol agent specially in tropical regions.
Hitherto, four species of the genus Acarophenax, two species of the Aethiophenax
and one species of Adactylidium have been found or described from Iran (Ostovan
and Saboori 1999; Ardeshir et al. 2008b; Katlav et al. 2015; Rahiminejad and
Hajiqanbar 2015; Lotfollahi et al. 2016; Arjomandi et al. 2017). These mites have
been collected from storage or forest habitats on beetles of the families Nitidulidae,
Sphididae and Tenebrionidae (including Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val and
Alphitobius diaperinus that are two important pests of stored products), or on thrips.
Further researches upon the biology and life history of these mites and their hosts are
necessary to utilize them as effective and applicable biocontrol agents.
3.3.2.9 Podapolipidae
Mites of the highly specialized family Podapolipidae are external (and occasionally
internal) parasites of many insect orders including Coleoptera, Orthoptera,
Blattodea, Hymenoptera and Hamiptera. These mites are observed beneath elytra
and in the genital tract of the beetles, in the trachea and air sacs of Orthoptera and on
the body surface of grasshoppers and cockroaches (Kaliszewski et al. 1995; Walter
et al. 2009). Many genera of this family are host-specific. For example, mites of the
genus Coccipolipus exclusively parasitize ladybirds of the family Coccinellidae, a
factor that can affect feeding and reproductive efficiencies of the hosts. Podapolipid
mites have recently received considerable attention owing to the prospect of utilizing
some species as biological control agents of some pests in agricultural ecosystems
(Kenis et al. 2008; Rhule et al. 2010; Seeman and Nahrung 2013) like Coccipolipus
3 Biological Control of Pests by Mites in Iran
119