June, nymphs emerge in early summer, and adults appear in autumn under the
Northern climatic conditions of Iran (Saboori and Kamali 1995). Larvae are ectoparasites of aphids, whereas deutonymphs and adults are free-living predators of
aphids and spider mites. In Northern Iran, A. pulvinum was found on many plants
such as apple, walnut, forest trees and primarily citrus trees (Zhang and Faraji 1994).
They are fast-runners and have high searching abilities (Saboori and Zhang 1996);
adults are most abundant in citrus orchards from September to June (Saboori and
Zhang 1996). Feeding on the eggs of Planococcus citri (Risso) (Hemiptera:
Pseudococcidae) and Pulvinaria aurantii Cockerell (Hemiptera: Coccidae) by
A. pulvinum adults observed for the first time in citrus orchards at the end of spring.
The predation was mostly observed between early May and mid-June when the main
prey population (nymphs and adults of aphid species, such as Toxoptera aurantii
Boyer de Fonscolombe and Macrosiphum rosae L.) was low or absent in citrus
orchard. Noteworthy, P. citri and P. aurantii are the most important pests of citrus in
this region.
High humidity is the most critical factor for A. pulvinum oviposition and development (Saboori and Zhang 1996). Host species selection, host size selection, and
superparasitism with mite larvae was studied with two-choice test. Three aphid
species used were Macrosiphum rosae, Aphis gossypii Glover, 1877 and
Hyalopterus amygdali (Blanchard, 1840). In multiple-choice tests, larvae of
A. pulvinum did not show any significant preference for any aphid-plant association
when confronted with M. rosae on rose, A. gossypii on cucumber and H. amygdali
on apricot simultaneously. Two-choice tests showed that larvae preferred
H. amygdali to A. gossypii, but had no preference when offered a choice between
A. gossypii and M. rosae or between H. amygdali and M. rosae. In host size selection
and superparasitism tests, significantly more mites selected the larger host
(M. rosae). Furthermore, parasitized H. amygdali preferred to unparasitized ones
(Hosseini et al. 2002b). Therefore, it seems that data on the host preferences of this
predator could be helpful for predicting its potential in the biological control of those
pests. Due to the wide occurrence and abundance of A. pulvinum in citrus orchards in
the North of Iran, and because they have high searching abilities, they could be
effective biocontrol agents of some citrus pests (Saboori and Zhang 1996). P. citri
and P. aurantii have a synchronized presence in citrus orchards and ornamental
plants in this region, and at the same time (mid to late spring, from early May to
mid-June) A. pulvinum adults are at the end of their annual cycle, after mating and
ovipositing. Thereupon, this mite can act as a biocontrol agent that could reduce the
populations of these two pests by consuming their eggs. These eggs could serve as
an alternate diet and may increase the adult’s longevity from early May to mid-June.
Because P. citri and P. aurantii are important pests of citrus trees and ornamental
plants in this region, the use of this mite should be taken into account and efforts
should be made to conserve its populations in natural habitats. Furthermore, some
integrated pest management (IPM) programs, incorporating the use of this mite with
other biocontrol agents in citrus orchards such as Cryptolaemus montrouzieri
Mulsant and Chilocorus bipustulatus Gordon (Col.: Coccinellidae) to reduce the
populations of these important pests recommended (Saboori et al. 2003).
4 Applied Ecology of Some Predacious Mites in Iran
157
Northern climatic conditions of Iran (Saboori and Kamali 1995). Larvae are ectoparasites of aphids, whereas deutonymphs and adults are free-living predators of
aphids and spider mites. In Northern Iran, A. pulvinum was found on many plants
such as apple, walnut, forest trees and primarily citrus trees (Zhang and Faraji 1994).
They are fast-runners and have high searching abilities (Saboori and Zhang 1996);
adults are most abundant in citrus orchards from September to June (Saboori and
Zhang 1996). Feeding on the eggs of Planococcus citri (Risso) (Hemiptera:
Pseudococcidae) and Pulvinaria aurantii Cockerell (Hemiptera: Coccidae) by
A. pulvinum adults observed for the first time in citrus orchards at the end of spring.
The predation was mostly observed between early May and mid-June when the main
prey population (nymphs and adults of aphid species, such as Toxoptera aurantii
Boyer de Fonscolombe and Macrosiphum rosae L.) was low or absent in citrus
orchard. Noteworthy, P. citri and P. aurantii are the most important pests of citrus in
this region.
High humidity is the most critical factor for A. pulvinum oviposition and development (Saboori and Zhang 1996). Host species selection, host size selection, and
superparasitism with mite larvae was studied with two-choice test. Three aphid
species used were Macrosiphum rosae, Aphis gossypii Glover, 1877 and
Hyalopterus amygdali (Blanchard, 1840). In multiple-choice tests, larvae of
A. pulvinum did not show any significant preference for any aphid-plant association
when confronted with M. rosae on rose, A. gossypii on cucumber and H. amygdali
on apricot simultaneously. Two-choice tests showed that larvae preferred
H. amygdali to A. gossypii, but had no preference when offered a choice between
A. gossypii and M. rosae or between H. amygdali and M. rosae. In host size selection
and superparasitism tests, significantly more mites selected the larger host
(M. rosae). Furthermore, parasitized H. amygdali preferred to unparasitized ones
(Hosseini et al. 2002b). Therefore, it seems that data on the host preferences of this
predator could be helpful for predicting its potential in the biological control of those
pests. Due to the wide occurrence and abundance of A. pulvinum in citrus orchards in
the North of Iran, and because they have high searching abilities, they could be
effective biocontrol agents of some citrus pests (Saboori and Zhang 1996). P. citri
and P. aurantii have a synchronized presence in citrus orchards and ornamental
plants in this region, and at the same time (mid to late spring, from early May to
mid-June) A. pulvinum adults are at the end of their annual cycle, after mating and
ovipositing. Thereupon, this mite can act as a biocontrol agent that could reduce the
populations of these two pests by consuming their eggs. These eggs could serve as
an alternate diet and may increase the adult’s longevity from early May to mid-June.
Because P. citri and P. aurantii are important pests of citrus trees and ornamental
plants in this region, the use of this mite should be taken into account and efforts
should be made to conserve its populations in natural habitats. Furthermore, some
integrated pest management (IPM) programs, incorporating the use of this mite with
other biocontrol agents in citrus orchards such as Cryptolaemus montrouzieri
Mulsant and Chilocorus bipustulatus Gordon (Col.: Coccinellidae) to reduce the
populations of these important pests recommended (Saboori et al. 2003).
4 Applied Ecology of Some Predacious Mites in Iran
157