PERSIAN JOURNAL OF ACAROLOGY
Year:2017 | Volume:6 | Issue:2 |Papers Count:7

Sugarcane is one of the most important industrial crops in Iran and is cultivated exclusively in Khuzestan province in more than one hundred thousand hectares under irrigated system (Sadeghzadeh-Hemayatiet al.2011). During planting and vegetative growth of sugarcane, this plant is vulnerable to attack of different pest species including stalk borers (Askarianzadehet al.2008; Nikpay and Goebel 2016), root feeders and leaf feeders (Taherkhani 2016)….

Erythraeus (Zaracarus) coleopterusMortazavi, Hajiqanbar & Saboori, 2012 (Acari: Parasitengona: Erythraeidae) was described based on a single specimen from Kerman province, southeastern Iran, associated with a scarabaeid beetle, Cyphonoxiasp. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). This species reports for the second time from stored grain (off host) in Saqqez and Baneh cities, Kurdistan province, western Iran and presents new morphological data. Finding some specimens help us to augment and correct the original description ofE. (Z.) coleopterus. A key to world larval species group ofErythraeus (Zaracarus) is presented which is modified and corrected from Mahmoudi et al. (2014).

A study on the oripodoid mites fauna (Oribatida: Oripodoidea) in Miandoab region (West Azerbaijan Province) was carried out during 2015–2016. In this survey, 16 species belonging to three families and five genera are known, of which the speciesScheloribates (Scheloribates) labyrinthicus Jeleva, 1962 is recorded for the first time from Iran. An additional description is provided forScheloribates (S.) labyrinthicus based on specimens collected from the northwest of Iran. Moreover, a checklist of 16 oripodoid mite species of Miandoab region is presented.

Migratory birds are most often responsible for the distribution of avian diseases in different areas and serve as hosts for most parasites, including ectoparasites. The aim of the present study was to record the distribution range of a mesostigmatic mite species, Dermanyssus gallinae, in barn swallow nests in Urmia suburb, North West of Iran. The samples were collected from 161 bird nests in 44 villages during 2013–2014. From a total of 161 swallow nests, 61 samples were infested by at least one mite. According to the result, D. gallinae was present in the majority of sampled nests. Since it can be transmitted to the other industrial birds and humans habit through swallows. It is recommended to spray acaricide two times per year before and after nesting in order to reduce mite population with minimum harmful effects of acaricide on the exposed birds.

Hyalommaand Haemaphysalis are two most important genera of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae). The rapid and accurate identification of field collected specimens is crucial in faunal works, laboratory assays, anti-tick vaccine experiments, etc. The present study was designed to introduce a rapid and more sensitive method for the differentiation of closely relatedHyalomma and Haemaphysalis species namely the pairs Hy. anatolicum - Hy. asiaticum and Ha. punctata-Ha.sulcata, as the main vectors of different animal and human pathogenic agents. Tick specimens were collected from domestic animals in Ardabil, Hormozgan, Khuzestan, Kurdistan, Lorestan, and Mazandaran and identified according to the taxonomic keys. DNA was extracted by the Phenol-Chloroform method. Then, PCR was carried out in a single PCR reaction tube using three pairs designed primers (one forward and two reverse) adapted from the internal transcribe spacer 2 (ITS2) and cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) genes forHyalomma and Haemaphysalis, respectively. In the present study, results of Multiplex-PCR revealed that the pairsHy. anatolicum - H. asiaticum and Ha. punctata-Ha. sulcatacould be well differentiated on gel electrophoresis. Morphological misidentification of Hy.anatolicum- Hy. asiaticum and Ha. punctata-Ha. sulcata could be reduced significantly after using Multiplex-PCR.

Predators may adjust their foraging behavior according to herbivore-induced plant volatiles innately or through learning. We investigated whether the phytoseiid predatory mites, Neoseiulus barkeri and N. californicus, exhibited an innate ability to respond to odors ofTetranychus urticae -infested bean leaves. Naïve female mites were reared on washedT. urticae as prey on filter paper with no prior exposure to spider mite-induced plant volatiles (SIPV). The olfactory experiments showed that significantly moreN. barkeri and N. californicus moved towards T. urticae -infested bean leaves compared to clean air.Neoseiulus californicus significant preference of T. urticae -infested bean leaves rather than clean tomato (as unfamiliar environment) confirmed the innate response in this species, whileN. barkeri could not differentiate the latter odor sources, suggesting a weak innate response. In a separate set of experiments, naïveN. californicus females with no preference towards HIPV were experienced by receiving odors related to T.urticae-infested bean leaves. The changed response (significant preference) of the experienced individuals showed the predators ability for acquired response. As the predator paired the odor with food absence/presence, associative learning was suggested as the mechanism. No acquired response was recorded forN. barkeri.

Oligonychus afrasiaticusis a major pest of date palm orchards in Iran and Middle East countries. Effects of amitraz, fenpropathrin, fenpyroximate, fenazaquin, propargite), tetradifon, and hexythiazox were evaluated in southern part of Iran. The complete randomized block designed with three replications used on Mordarsang, Kabkab, Barhi, Mazafati, and Halileh major date varieties cultivated in Hormozgan, Bushehr, Khuzestan, Kerman and Sistan and Baluchistan provinces, respectively. Two small date clusters randomly were detached from each replicate and number of spider mite mobile stages were counted on epidermis of 20 date fruits at intervals one day before, 3, 7, 14 and 20 days after treatments. Mean mite densities before treatments found varied from 1.4–69 mites among treatments, provinces and year of studies. Mean mortality analysis variance was found significant (p>0.01) in all factors. First and last sign of web span around date fruits cluster observed in Khuzestan, and Sistan and Baluchistan in April–May and July–August, respectively. High, medium and weak treatment mortality percentage during 3rd day sampling time in two years recorded for Hormozgan, Kerman, Khuzestan, Bushehr, and Sistan and Baluchistan provinces. Absolute mite pest control obtained at 20th day sampling time during 2nd year in Kerman and imperfection mortality in other places in two years. Date spider mite treated with tetradifon has a half century history in Iran and fenazaquin with low dose (0.3%), caused high mortality rate in most of provinces. Absolute mite controlled (100%) and prolongation effects recorded by water sprayed during 20th day sampling time in the 1st and 2nd year in Hormozgan and Kerman provinces, respectively.