There are not so many documents about the role of Laelapids in pest population suppression in Iran despite the recognized potential of those mites for the control
of soil pests. There are only some preliminary studies on basic biology and life table
of the most prominent species of this group, Gaeolaelaps aculeifer (Canestrini). This
species extracted and reported from many parts of Iran including saffron fields of
Khorasan Razavi. The role of commercial species G. aculeifer and its preference
aginst Sciarid fungus gnats (Lycoreilla auripila Winn., a key pest of button mushrooms) and its interaction with entomopathogenic fungi have been studied recently
(Tavoosi ajvad et al. 2020). Additionally, some investigations about the possiblity of
mass rearing this predator have been done (Baradaran et al. 2014). To rear this
predatory mite, four methods were used, Tashiro and Hufaker cages, cultured cells
and culture PDA. It has been confirmed that this species is nematophagous, thus as a
result, it could be breed on thin potato slices with a diameter of less than 5 mm
infected with Cephalobidae nematodes were used as a food source and oviposition
substrate (Baradaran Anaraki et al. 2013).
The single study about the biology of this species pertains to Amin et al. (2014)
who considered the life table of Hypoaspis (¼Gaeolaelaps) aculeifer fed by bulb
mite, Rhizoglyphus echinopus (Fumouze & Robin, 1868). Moreover, there are some
unpublished informal documents about the introducing G. aculeifer to gladiola or
other bulbous host plants in Mahalat (Iran, Markazi Province).
4.3.1.5 Family Parasitidae
The cosmopolitan mites of the family Parasitidae are free-living predators. The
family generally feeds on a wide variety of microarthropods and nematodes, with
individual species usually having a narrower range of prey. The Parasitidae group
has poorly been studied in Iran. Up to now, 24 species have been reported. (Rahmani
2011; Kazemi et al. 2013; Nazari and Hajizadeh 2013).
4.3.2 Order Prostigmata
4.3.2.1 Family Trombidiidae
The mites of the family Trombidiidae are the large red velvet mites commonly found
in soil, litter and other terrestrial habitats.
The biology of two species of Allothrobium genus, Allothrombium pulvinum
Ewing and A. shirazicum Zhang, 1996 has been studied (Saboori and Kamali
1995, 1998). Research carried out in Iran showed that the A. pulvinum is a common
natural enemy of spider mites, aphids, and other arthropods (Saboori and Kamali
1995; Hosseini et al. 2002a). It is univoltine and overwinters as adult under the
tree barks or in the soil. After mating in spring, females lay their eggs on weeds or the
soil surface. The eggs hatch in May, larvae population reaches its peak value in
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H. Madadi and H. Kamali
of soil pests. There are only some preliminary studies on basic biology and life table
of the most prominent species of this group, Gaeolaelaps aculeifer (Canestrini). This
species extracted and reported from many parts of Iran including saffron fields of
Khorasan Razavi. The role of commercial species G. aculeifer and its preference
aginst Sciarid fungus gnats (Lycoreilla auripila Winn., a key pest of button mushrooms) and its interaction with entomopathogenic fungi have been studied recently
(Tavoosi ajvad et al. 2020). Additionally, some investigations about the possiblity of
mass rearing this predator have been done (Baradaran et al. 2014). To rear this
predatory mite, four methods were used, Tashiro and Hufaker cages, cultured cells
and culture PDA. It has been confirmed that this species is nematophagous, thus as a
result, it could be breed on thin potato slices with a diameter of less than 5 mm
infected with Cephalobidae nematodes were used as a food source and oviposition
substrate (Baradaran Anaraki et al. 2013).
The single study about the biology of this species pertains to Amin et al. (2014)
who considered the life table of Hypoaspis (¼Gaeolaelaps) aculeifer fed by bulb
mite, Rhizoglyphus echinopus (Fumouze & Robin, 1868). Moreover, there are some
unpublished informal documents about the introducing G. aculeifer to gladiola or
other bulbous host plants in Mahalat (Iran, Markazi Province).
4.3.1.5 Family Parasitidae
The cosmopolitan mites of the family Parasitidae are free-living predators. The
family generally feeds on a wide variety of microarthropods and nematodes, with
individual species usually having a narrower range of prey. The Parasitidae group
has poorly been studied in Iran. Up to now, 24 species have been reported. (Rahmani
2011; Kazemi et al. 2013; Nazari and Hajizadeh 2013).
4.3.2 Order Prostigmata
4.3.2.1 Family Trombidiidae
The mites of the family Trombidiidae are the large red velvet mites commonly found
in soil, litter and other terrestrial habitats.
The biology of two species of Allothrobium genus, Allothrombium pulvinum
Ewing and A. shirazicum Zhang, 1996 has been studied (Saboori and Kamali
1995, 1998). Research carried out in Iran showed that the A. pulvinum is a common
natural enemy of spider mites, aphids, and other arthropods (Saboori and Kamali
1995; Hosseini et al. 2002a). It is univoltine and overwinters as adult under the
tree barks or in the soil. After mating in spring, females lay their eggs on weeds or the
soil surface. The eggs hatch in May, larvae population reaches its peak value in
156
H. Madadi and H. Kamali