4.6 Conclusions
In the recent two decades, knowledge about the predatory mites’ morphology and
taxonomy has been increased remarkably in Iran. However, the few experiments
conducted under field conditions, despite many researches on the systematic and
faunistic, lead to a limited use of these mites to control plant pests. The potential use
of predatory mites still needs to be investigated, although several promising native
species have been identified. Most of the experimental studies were restricted to
laboratory evaluations of their life cycle and little has been addressed the practical
efficacy of predatory mites. To apply these mites effectively by growers, efforts
should be focused on fieldworks to validate promising laboratory results. Knowledge about the diversity of predatory mites is still limited, which should be supported
to increase the chances of finding species potentially useful as native biological
control agents.
Currently, no native species are commercialized as biological control agent yet.
The majority of imported commercial products are used in greenhouses while most
of these species can not acclimatize to climatic and environmental conditions in the
long term. Some biological control programs using imported P. persimilis to control
T. urticae on greenhouse rose, cucumber and strawberry were carried out during past
years. Generally, before any predatory species is being proposed for release, the data
about its biology, ecology, response to different environmental conditions and the
range of potential prey organisms in the habitat should be collected. The results of
experimental studies and greenhouses should be implemented in fields and then
recommended to farmers.
Acknowledgement The preparation of this chapter would not have been possible without the kind
support and help of many Iranian individuals and organizations. We are highly indebted to
Dr. Alireza Saboori, (University of Tehran); Dr. Mohammad Khanjani (Bu-Ali Sina University);
Dr. Jalil Hajizadeh (University of Guilan); Dr. Farid Faraji (MITOX Consultants/Eurofins, Amsterdam); Dr. Yaghoub Fathipour (Tarbiat Modares University); Dr. Masoud Arbabi (Iranian Research
Institute of Plant Protection); Dr. Shahrooz Kazemi (Institute of Science and High Technology and
Environmental Sciences); Dr. Alireza Nemati (University of Shahrekord) for their guidance as well
as for providing necessary information and thanks to all members of Acarological Society of Iran.
References
Abbasipour H, Taghavi A, Rastegar F et al (2012) Phytoseiid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata)
associated with tea gardens in north of Iran. Arch Phytopathol Plant Prot 45(12):1–12. https://
doi.org/10.1080/03235408.2012.676238
Aflaki F, Rahmani H, Kavuosi A (2016) Effects of Azadirachtin and Spirodiclofen on some
biological traits and predation rate of Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae). In: Karimi
J (ed) Proceedings of the 3rd national meeting on biological control in agriculture and natural
resources. Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad
Ahmadi K, Fathipour Y, Bashiri M (2017) Spatial distribution and population fluctuation of
Tetranychus urticae and its predator Phytoseiulus persimilis in a rose greenhouse. In: Talaei4 Applied Ecology of Some Predacious Mites in Iran
161
In the recent two decades, knowledge about the predatory mites’ morphology and
taxonomy has been increased remarkably in Iran. However, the few experiments
conducted under field conditions, despite many researches on the systematic and
faunistic, lead to a limited use of these mites to control plant pests. The potential use
of predatory mites still needs to be investigated, although several promising native
species have been identified. Most of the experimental studies were restricted to
laboratory evaluations of their life cycle and little has been addressed the practical
efficacy of predatory mites. To apply these mites effectively by growers, efforts
should be focused on fieldworks to validate promising laboratory results. Knowledge about the diversity of predatory mites is still limited, which should be supported
to increase the chances of finding species potentially useful as native biological
control agents.
Currently, no native species are commercialized as biological control agent yet.
The majority of imported commercial products are used in greenhouses while most
of these species can not acclimatize to climatic and environmental conditions in the
long term. Some biological control programs using imported P. persimilis to control
T. urticae on greenhouse rose, cucumber and strawberry were carried out during past
years. Generally, before any predatory species is being proposed for release, the data
about its biology, ecology, response to different environmental conditions and the
range of potential prey organisms in the habitat should be collected. The results of
experimental studies and greenhouses should be implemented in fields and then
recommended to farmers.
Acknowledgement The preparation of this chapter would not have been possible without the kind
support and help of many Iranian individuals and organizations. We are highly indebted to
Dr. Alireza Saboori, (University of Tehran); Dr. Mohammad Khanjani (Bu-Ali Sina University);
Dr. Jalil Hajizadeh (University of Guilan); Dr. Farid Faraji (MITOX Consultants/Eurofins, Amsterdam); Dr. Yaghoub Fathipour (Tarbiat Modares University); Dr. Masoud Arbabi (Iranian Research
Institute of Plant Protection); Dr. Shahrooz Kazemi (Institute of Science and High Technology and
Environmental Sciences); Dr. Alireza Nemati (University of Shahrekord) for their guidance as well
as for providing necessary information and thanks to all members of Acarological Society of Iran.
References
Abbasipour H, Taghavi A, Rastegar F et al (2012) Phytoseiid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata)
associated with tea gardens in north of Iran. Arch Phytopathol Plant Prot 45(12):1–12. https://
doi.org/10.1080/03235408.2012.676238
Aflaki F, Rahmani H, Kavuosi A (2016) Effects of Azadirachtin and Spirodiclofen on some
biological traits and predation rate of Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae). In: Karimi
J (ed) Proceedings of the 3rd national meeting on biological control in agriculture and natural
resources. Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad
Ahmadi K, Fathipour Y, Bashiri M (2017) Spatial distribution and population fluctuation of
Tetranychus urticae and its predator Phytoseiulus persimilis in a rose greenhouse. In: Talaei4 Applied Ecology of Some Predacious Mites in Iran
161