A survey by Javadi Khederi and Khanjani (2014) in western Iran (mainly
Hamedan Province) showed that large number of natural enemies are associated
with the leaves infested by grape erineum mite, Colomerus vitis (Pagenstecher)
(Acari: Eriophyidae). The main predators were dipteran Cecidomyiids, Tydeid and
Phytoseiid mites, while Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) khosrovensis Arutunjan and
T. bagdasarjani abundance was as low as 11% of the total natural enemies complex.
4.3.1.2 Family Tydeidae
Tydeidae family have been reported by different authors to prey on eriophyid mites,
including Tydeus caryae Khanjani and Ueckermann on the walnut leaf gall mite,
Aceria tristriata (Nalepa) (Khanjani and Ueckermann 2003). Reports indicating
tydeids feeding on pests are rare. As a case, the spatial distribution pattern of Tydeus
longisetosus El-Bagoury & Momen have been determined as random and aggregated
on Golden delicious and Go-lab apple varieties, respectively (Khodayari et al. 2009).
4.3.1.3 Family Ascidae
Mites of this diverse family constitute an important group of predatory arthropods
common in soil, on plants and stored products, fungi, nests of rodents, birds and even
under the elytra of ground beetles. Some species are in close association with
humans and animals (Hajizadeh et al. 2010a, b). They are also among the gamasine
mites, which are useful as biological indicators of soil conditions and changes in soil
ecosystems (Minero et al. 2009; Kazemi and Moraza 2013) and feed on a variety of
nematodes, small arthropods like astigmatid mites and springtails. In the catalogue
of Ascidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) from Iran (Nemati et al. 2012) based on the
information gathered from the published studies, nine genera and 26 ascid species
in total are known to inhabit the various parts of country. No information about their
efficiency and effectivenes as biological control agents against pests is not available
yet in Iran.
4.3.1.4 Family Laelapidae
This family belongs to superfamily Dermanyssoidea, which includes free-living and
parasitic mites (Moreirea and de Moraes 2015; Lindquist et al. 2009a). Due to the
predatory importance of Laelapid mites and their crucial role in the natural control of
injurious edaphic pests such as arthropods and nematodes, a faunistic study was
carried out for the identification of laelapid mites associated with olive orchards in
Guilan province, Iran. During this study, 18 species belonging to nine genera were
collected and identified. All species are new for olive orchards mite’s fauna of Iran
(Mahjoori et al. 2014).
4 Applied Ecology of Some Predacious Mites in Iran
155
Hamedan Province) showed that large number of natural enemies are associated
with the leaves infested by grape erineum mite, Colomerus vitis (Pagenstecher)
(Acari: Eriophyidae). The main predators were dipteran Cecidomyiids, Tydeid and
Phytoseiid mites, while Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) khosrovensis Arutunjan and
T. bagdasarjani abundance was as low as 11% of the total natural enemies complex.
4.3.1.2 Family Tydeidae
Tydeidae family have been reported by different authors to prey on eriophyid mites,
including Tydeus caryae Khanjani and Ueckermann on the walnut leaf gall mite,
Aceria tristriata (Nalepa) (Khanjani and Ueckermann 2003). Reports indicating
tydeids feeding on pests are rare. As a case, the spatial distribution pattern of Tydeus
longisetosus El-Bagoury & Momen have been determined as random and aggregated
on Golden delicious and Go-lab apple varieties, respectively (Khodayari et al. 2009).
4.3.1.3 Family Ascidae
Mites of this diverse family constitute an important group of predatory arthropods
common in soil, on plants and stored products, fungi, nests of rodents, birds and even
under the elytra of ground beetles. Some species are in close association with
humans and animals (Hajizadeh et al. 2010a, b). They are also among the gamasine
mites, which are useful as biological indicators of soil conditions and changes in soil
ecosystems (Minero et al. 2009; Kazemi and Moraza 2013) and feed on a variety of
nematodes, small arthropods like astigmatid mites and springtails. In the catalogue
of Ascidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) from Iran (Nemati et al. 2012) based on the
information gathered from the published studies, nine genera and 26 ascid species
in total are known to inhabit the various parts of country. No information about their
efficiency and effectivenes as biological control agents against pests is not available
yet in Iran.
4.3.1.4 Family Laelapidae
This family belongs to superfamily Dermanyssoidea, which includes free-living and
parasitic mites (Moreirea and de Moraes 2015; Lindquist et al. 2009a). Due to the
predatory importance of Laelapid mites and their crucial role in the natural control of
injurious edaphic pests such as arthropods and nematodes, a faunistic study was
carried out for the identification of laelapid mites associated with olive orchards in
Guilan province, Iran. During this study, 18 species belonging to nine genera were
collected and identified. All species are new for olive orchards mite’s fauna of Iran
(Mahjoori et al. 2014).
4 Applied Ecology of Some Predacious Mites in Iran
155