Another phytoseiid species reported from Iran is Amblydromella kettanehi Denmark and Daneshvar (Acari: Phytoseiidae) (Mossadegh 1995). The population
fluctuations of A. kettanehi in response to temperature, humidity, frost duration
and rainfall were studied in Tehran Province on Pinus eldarica Medw. The results
showed the significant positive effect of increasing temperature while rain, snow and
the number of freezing days influenced negatively (Arbabi and Baradaran 2001).
Laboratory study showed females need 10.7 days to complete their developmental
time averagely (Shirdel et al. 2006b), while Arbabi and Baradaran (2000) reported
5.5 Æ 1.5 days for this period. This predator showed the type II functional response
to all stages of T. urticae (Shirdel et al. 2004a) and by feeding on stored product
mites, it might be responsible for hive hygiene (Mossadegh 1995).
Euseius finlandicus as a type IV lifestyle species has scarcely been considered
and there is little information about its biology or efficacy, especially under field
conditions. Searching into Persian documents revealed that females and males’
developmental time is 7.71 and 7.21 days respectively (Shirdel et al. 2004b). In
this regard, it has been shown that this predator showed type II functional response to
different densities of two- spotted spider mite and European red mite larvae and
females (Shirdel et al. 2006a; Shirdel and Arbabi 2012a). However, this study
carried on apple leaf discs under artificial climate chamber conditions and might
be difficult to extend to real conditions.
Amblyseius herbicolus Chant as generalist predator of T. urticae Koch and
mulberry thrips Pseudodendrothrips mori Niwa has wide distribution in North
parts of Iran (Guilan province) (Notghi Moghadam et al. 2008). This predator
preferred T. urticae to mulberry thrips under laboratory conditions when encountered with these two pests simultaneously (Notghi Moghadam et al.
2010). Abbasipour et al. (2012) indicated that the predatory mites fauna associated
with tea plants includes many species in Northern parts of Iran, especially Guilan
and Mazandaran provinces. Among these, A. herbicolus was highly distributed with
very diverse hosts; feeds on different phytophagous mites and small insects
(Hajizadeh 2007). It might be exploited as a beneficial species in the tea gardens,
but, still its rearing procedure is obscure. It is one of the beneficial species responsible for keeping scarlet tea mite, Brevipalpus obovatus Donnadieu populations
under control in tea plantations.
In addition to the cited species, there are sporadic and preliminary documents
about other less well- known phytoseiid species, which are mostly restricted to
laboratory biology or bionomics. The preliminary study on Phytoseius tropicalis
Daneshvar (Acari: Mesostigmata) showed this species completed its life cycle on
TSSM eggs and larvae (Nemati et al. 2008).
According to Rafatifard et al. (2004), Typhlodromips caspiansis Denmark and
Daneshvar is a common predator of plant mites in Guilan province and has a wide
range in the whole region. Regarding daily oviposition rate, developmental time and
adult longevity of T. caspiansis by feeding from three related prey species
(Panonychus citri McGregor, T. urticae and Oligonychus bicolor Banks) this species
can be exploited as an efficient natural enemy against spider mites, especially
O. bicolor in Guilan province (Rafatifard et al. 2004).
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H. Madadi and H. Kamali
fluctuations of A. kettanehi in response to temperature, humidity, frost duration
and rainfall were studied in Tehran Province on Pinus eldarica Medw. The results
showed the significant positive effect of increasing temperature while rain, snow and
the number of freezing days influenced negatively (Arbabi and Baradaran 2001).
Laboratory study showed females need 10.7 days to complete their developmental
time averagely (Shirdel et al. 2006b), while Arbabi and Baradaran (2000) reported
5.5 Æ 1.5 days for this period. This predator showed the type II functional response
to all stages of T. urticae (Shirdel et al. 2004a) and by feeding on stored product
mites, it might be responsible for hive hygiene (Mossadegh 1995).
Euseius finlandicus as a type IV lifestyle species has scarcely been considered
and there is little information about its biology or efficacy, especially under field
conditions. Searching into Persian documents revealed that females and males’
developmental time is 7.71 and 7.21 days respectively (Shirdel et al. 2004b). In
this regard, it has been shown that this predator showed type II functional response to
different densities of two- spotted spider mite and European red mite larvae and
females (Shirdel et al. 2006a; Shirdel and Arbabi 2012a). However, this study
carried on apple leaf discs under artificial climate chamber conditions and might
be difficult to extend to real conditions.
Amblyseius herbicolus Chant as generalist predator of T. urticae Koch and
mulberry thrips Pseudodendrothrips mori Niwa has wide distribution in North
parts of Iran (Guilan province) (Notghi Moghadam et al. 2008). This predator
preferred T. urticae to mulberry thrips under laboratory conditions when encountered with these two pests simultaneously (Notghi Moghadam et al.
2010). Abbasipour et al. (2012) indicated that the predatory mites fauna associated
with tea plants includes many species in Northern parts of Iran, especially Guilan
and Mazandaran provinces. Among these, A. herbicolus was highly distributed with
very diverse hosts; feeds on different phytophagous mites and small insects
(Hajizadeh 2007). It might be exploited as a beneficial species in the tea gardens,
but, still its rearing procedure is obscure. It is one of the beneficial species responsible for keeping scarlet tea mite, Brevipalpus obovatus Donnadieu populations
under control in tea plantations.
In addition to the cited species, there are sporadic and preliminary documents
about other less well- known phytoseiid species, which are mostly restricted to
laboratory biology or bionomics. The preliminary study on Phytoseius tropicalis
Daneshvar (Acari: Mesostigmata) showed this species completed its life cycle on
TSSM eggs and larvae (Nemati et al. 2008).
According to Rafatifard et al. (2004), Typhlodromips caspiansis Denmark and
Daneshvar is a common predator of plant mites in Guilan province and has a wide
range in the whole region. Regarding daily oviposition rate, developmental time and
adult longevity of T. caspiansis by feeding from three related prey species
(Panonychus citri McGregor, T. urticae and Oligonychus bicolor Banks) this species
can be exploited as an efficient natural enemy against spider mites, especially
O. bicolor in Guilan province (Rafatifard et al. 2004).
154
H. Madadi and H. Kamali