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Leptus (Leptus) mahtabae sp. nov. (Acari: Erythraeidae), collected as an ectoparasite of Mesobuthus rakhshanii (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Sistan and Baluchestan province, southeast Iran, is described and illustrated based on the morphological characteristics of the larvae. The position of solenidia on Ti II of Charletonia damavandica Karimi Irvanlou, Kamali & Talebi, 2002, is corrected.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:EC8B2283-5F8E-4B12-A81F-798BF4872CEFhttp://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:13D72F40-A451-4519-965E-28E0116BC479 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of the genus Leptus, L. (L.) brevitarsus sp. n., is described and illustrated from ectoparasitic larvae collected from grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in Australia. The new species belongs to the phalangii species group and torresianus species subgroup. An updated key to species of torresianus species subgroup is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of the subgenus Leptus (Amaroptus), L. (A.) sivasensissp. n., is described and illustrated from an ectoparasitic larva collected from Cerceris sabulosa (Panzer, 1799) (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) in İmranlı district of Sivas province, Türkiye. The holotype and paratypes of Leptus (Amaroptus) vuki are studied and some corrections to the original description are presented. Also, new metric data and host records are given for L. (L.) tridentatus and L. (L.) rosellae, and intraspecific differences of both species are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The iolinid mite Coccalicus clavatus Willmann, 1952 was collected during a survey from the soil of Gilanegharb, Kermanshah, Iran in 2022. This species was first described in the family Alycidae by Willmann in 1952 and then André and Uusitalo transferred it to the family Iolinidae in 2006, accompanied by transferring species from the genus Paratydaeolus to the genus Coccalicus. Some challenges about species characters of this mite are discussed in this paper and the synonymy of C. lukoschusi and C. clavatus is proposed. The genus consists of 12 species with clavate trichobothria, and is related to various habitats like soil, stored products, under barks, on leaves of different plants, and on birds. They have been reported from Europe, Antarctica and North America and this is the first record of the Coccalicus mites from Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Leptus, L. baspinarisp. nov., is described and illustrated from larvae collected via pitfall traps (off-host) from Akçaova (Seferler) reservoir, Gökbel mountain, Aydin Province, Türkiye. The new species belongs to phalangii species group and killingtoni species subgroup. Leptus dubius Paoli and L. pouryayevalii Hakimitabar, Saboori & Fadaei are reported for the first time from Türkiye, and L. dubius Paoli is redescribed and illustrated based on Turkish specimens. New metric data are given for L. pouryayevalii. Keys to killingtoni, torresianus, dubius, and hospeticus species subgroups are presented, and definitions of dubius, bogoriacus and pasopaicus species subgroups are corrected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mites and insects have different kinds of relationships with each other, which is very important to be studied. One of these relationships is parasitism, which is seen between larvae of terrestrial Parasitengona mites (Acari: Trombidiformes) and different active stages of insects. This study aimed to determine parasitic mites associated with the solitary wasps of the family Crabronidae. The presence of mites was investigated on 3247 wasp individuals belonging to 250 species from 53 genera. Among them, 32 specimens representing 23 species were parasitized by Leptus Latreille mite larvae. As a result, a total of 58 mite larvae were detected and two species, Leptus rosellae Haitlinger, 1999 and L. tridentatus Saboori, Hakimitabar & Khademi, 2018, were identified. The latter one has been reported for the first time from Türkiye and all mite-parasitized wasp species are new host records of both mite species. This study is the first record of the parasite-host relationship between the family Crabronidae and the genus Leptus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly 60,000 species of Acari have been described in the world, many more await discovery and description. Persian Journal of Acarology has been one of the important journals for publishing articles on all aspects of acarology during the last 10 years (2012–2021). It published 315 papers including 248 articles, 63 correspondence articles, one monograph, and three book reviews by 188 authors during this decade, with descriptions of 66 new species. Four new genera were described in PJA in 2015 and 2016 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mite family Ameroseiidae with 138 valid species is presently classified in the superfamily Ascoidea of the order Mesostigmata. Seventy-two species have been described based on type specimens and no report has been done since then, while the other 66 species have been frequently reported from around the world. The objective of this study is to provide information about distribution and habitat of the latter group, which are listed in twelve genera: Ameroseius (21 species), Kleemannia (15), Neocypholaelaps (8), Epicriopsis (7), Hattena and Sertitympanum (4 each), Ameroseiella (2), Afrocypholaelaps, Asperolaelaps, Brontispalaelaps, Pseudoameroseius and Sinoseius (1 each). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leptus (Leptus) pouryayevalii sp. nov. (Acari: Erythraeidae), collected by shaking the leaves of weeds on white tray (off host) from Koushk Bala village, Chalous road, Alborz Province, Iran, is described and illustrated based on larva. This species belongs to the sudanensis species group and hospeticus species subgroup which can be identified based on the following characters: TFe I without solenidion, Ge I with two solenidia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, larva of Abrolophus bochkovisp. nov. collected from Qazvin province is described and illustrated. A key to larval species of Abrolophus of the world with a comb-like seta on the palpal tarsus is presented. Moreover, A. karamani Haitlinger & Šundić, is considered as a junior synonym of A. aitapensis (Southcott 1948). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The larva, deutonymph and adult of Calyptostoma seemani Masoumi & Saboori sp. nov. (Trombidiformes: Calyptostomatidae) are described from the Kandovan region, Alborz province, Iran. Larvae were reared from eggs laid by adults kept at room temperature in plastic pots. A key to larval and post-larval species of Calyptostoma of the world and corrections in the description of C. gorganica are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity is an important factor in soil quality and functionality. Physical and chemical changes during agricultural operations influence on soil biodiversity. Tillage and irrigation significantly change the life of soil microorganisms. The current study was conducted in Khodabandeh County during the wheat growing season. The effect of the first treatment (two tillage systems: conventional and no-tillage systems) and the second treatment (months) in two years on the biodiversity of oribatid mites, were investigated in irrigated and rain-fed wheat farms. Twelve samples were collected randomly per each sampling time during 21 April, 5 June and 30 July 2014 and 10 May, 12 June and 31 July 2015 coinciding with tillering stage, stem elongation and harvesting. Twelve species from eight families and 12 genera were identified. Among them, Opiella nova with 24.4% relative abundance was the abundant species in 2014 and Rhinopia bipectinata with 27.5% was the abundant species in 2015. The highest value of the Shannon-Wiener diversity index was observed in the irrigated no-tillage (I-NT) system. The statistical results of the ANOVA test showed a significant difference in the Shannon-Wiener diversity index among the four systems. Shannon-Wiener diversity index in the I-NT system had a significant difference with the I-CT system (irrigated-conventional tillage). There were no significant differences between I-CT and I-NT in terms of species richness index while differences between I-NT and R-CT systems and between R-NT and R-CT systems were significant. Also, results showed that species richness index at the time of tillering stage was significantly higher than that of stem elongation. The interaction between two treatments did not show a significant difference. There was no significant difference between the two years, so the results of the two years were merged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Torrenticola Piersig, 1896 is a common water mite group in the running waters in all biogeographical regions except Antarctica and Australasia. In the present study we used an integrative taxonomic approach by applying partial COI sequences (DNA-barcodes) to describe a new species of the genus Torrenticola, T. dowlingi Pešić sp. nov. from Iran. Morphologically, the new species is most similar to T. laskai Di Sabatino, 2009 from which it differs by the larger dimensions of idiosoma and genital field. The K2P distance that separated the new species from T. laskai was amounted to 3.98%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species Empitrombium prasadi Saberi-Riseh & Saboori n. sp. (Acari: Microtrombidiidae) is described and illustrated based on larvae extracted from soil, i.e. off their host. A key to the five species based on larvae is provided and the formula of dorsal idiosomal setae of E. pesici is corrected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Leptus (larvae) is revised based on type specimens and other specimens from species and locations worldwide. A total of 220 species were identified and divided into 8 morpho-groups, and 40 subgroups of species; the following synonymies were also made: Leptus (Leptus) eslamizadehi as a junior synonym of L. (L.) trimaculatus, L. (L.) ilzae as a junior synonym of L. (L.) kyushuensis, L. (L.) laplandicus as a junior synonym of L. (L.) clethrionomydis, L. (L.) alopecurus as a junior synonym of L. (L.) alvimordax, L. (L.) annikae as a junior synonym of L. (L.) cercopius, L. (L.) welbourni as a junior synonym of L. (L.) ghiradellae, L. (L.) laviniacus as a junior synonym of L. (L.) agenori, L. (L.) machilidis as a junior synonym of L. (L.) albertensis, L. (L.) gyas as a junior synonym of L. (L.) meloidarum, L. (L.) coloanensis as a junior synonym of L. (L.) astrubali, and L. (L.) sidorchukae as a junior synonym of L. (L.) maldonadoicus. In addition, tibial and tarsal chaetotactic maps are shown, leg chaetotaxy is discussed, and keys to species groups, subgroups, and species are included. We amended and provided new morphological data for 109 species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water mites of the Hygrobates fluviatilis complex are common in Palaearctic inhabiting mainly running and slowly flowing waters. In this study, we examined the specimens collected in a stream in Golestan Province of Iran which is currently the easternmost distribution limit of the latter species complex. We used a fragment of the mtDNA COI gene and the D2 region of 28S rDNA to test the genetic structure. Molecular analyses revealed presence of two new well-supported species with a mean genetic divergence of 12.80% and 14.66% COI, respectively, from their closest relatives. Phylogenetic analysis based on COI and nuclear DNA data placed H. grabowskiisp. nov. as the sister species of H. persicus, and H. uliisp. nov. as the sister species of H. turcicus. Discriminant statistical analysis revealed that the two newly discovered species could be separated on the basis of morphometric characters, but robust morphological differences were not found. Yet we were able to show that diversity in water mites is underestimated and that species delimitation requires an integrative approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mosquitoes transmit a wide range of vector-borne diseases to humans and animal. Due to the increase in insecticide resistance, there is a need for novel mosquito vector control programs, including biocontrol. Some water mite larvae, such as those of Arrenurus genus, act as parasites of mosquitoes. Mosquito larvae, pupae and adults were collected from three locations in Amol County, Iran by dipping and hand-catch collection methods, from May to late September 2015. Then mites were removed from mosquitoes and identified to genus level using valid identification keys. A total of 873 adults of anopheline mosquitoes belonging to three species (Anopheles maculipennis s.lat., An. pseudopictus and An. hyrcanus) were collected. We only found Arrenurus sp. mites. From 873 anopheline mosquitoes captured, 11% were parasitized by 151 mites, with a mean rate of 1.59, ranging from 1 to 14. Parasitism was higher in lowlands. Water mites, as biocontrol agents of vectors, could impact fecundity, fertility and induce other harms on host. As this study is the first research on water mite parasitism on mosquitoes in Iran, more detailed studies are needed to increase our knowledge on biology and ecology of water mites parasitizing mosquitoes in Amol and other areas in Caspian sea region in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new species of the genus Laelaspis Berlese, L. angustiseta sp. nov. is described based on morphological characters of the adult female specimens collected in association with Tapinoma erraticum (Latreille) and Tapinoma simrothi Krausse (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari Province, Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we redescribe Gaeolaelaps deinos (Zeman 1982) based on morphological characters of female and male specimens collected from nests of Lasius sp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Khuzestan and Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari Provinces, Iran, and based on its holotype photos. We also present an identification key for Gaeolaelaps aculeifer-like species group from Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Varroa destructor is a major ectoparasitic mite which feeds on the western honey bee, Apis mellifera hemolymph. Morphometric analysis of V. destructor in Iran was performed in order to detect differences within some populations of the species. Totally, 145 female mites were collected from A.mellifera colonies in different geographical regions in Iran and Europe (Spain and France). Eight morphological variables were measured: 1) length of dorsal shield (LDS), 2) width of dorsal shield (WDS), 3) length of genital shield (LGS), 4) width of genital shield (WGS), 5) length of metapodal shield (LMS), 6) width of metapodal shield (WMS), 7) length of anal shield (LAS) and 8) width of the anal shield (WAS). The ratios of LDS/WDS, WDS/LDS, LGS/WGS and LAS/WAS were also calculated. Multivariate analyses demonstrated significant differences in means of body length (LDS) and body width (WDS) between populations. Using principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis with pair group method, five morphological groups were established. PCA analyses were also shown one morphotype, A3, between samples. Collectively, our findings suggest a wide phenotypic plasticity within the populations of Varroa mite in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leptus (Leptus) darvishi Saboori, Hakimitabar & Khademi n. sp. (Acari: Erythraeidae) is described and illustrated from larval stage. It was collected ectoparasitic on undetermined grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) and undetermined beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae and Tenebrionidae) from the vicinity of Komaijan and Mahallat cities, Markazi Province, the centre of Iran. It belongs to a group of species of Leptus (Leptus) with one palpal femoral seta, two palpal genual setae, more than four setae between coxae II & III, and more than two sternal setae between coxae II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lasioerythraeus saboorii Khanjani, Raisi & Izadi was described and illustrated based on larvae ectoparasitic on Aphis punicae (Passerini) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) from Boshrouyeh, Ferdows city, South Khorasan Province, Iran. In this paper, additional specimens were collected on unknown species of Chloropidae (Diptera) as host from Mahvelat City, Khorasan Razavi Province and additional metric data are provided. A revised key to world larval species of Lasioerythraeus is presented. Chloropidae is reported as a new host for the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) is a key pest of agricultural crop. One of the best candidates for biological control of this mite is Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Acari: Phytoseiidae). In this study, the olfactory response of the predatory mite to seven strawberry cultivars ('Marak', 'Yalova', 'Aliso', 'Gaviota', 'Sequoia', 'Camarosa' and 'Chandler') was studied using a Y-tube olfactometer. We used two-day-old female predatory mites that were reared on spider mite-infested strawberry. The behavioral response of the predator was studied in four experiments: 1) clean air vs. uninfected strawberry plant, 2) clean air vs. spider mite-infested strawberry plant, 3) uninfected strawberry plant vs. spider mite-infested strawberry plant and 4) two-cultivar choice test (spider mite-infested). In the first experiment, the attraction of the predatory mite to uninfected strawberry plant volatiles was significant. In the second test, the predators significantly preferred volatiles from strawberry plant infested with T. urticae to clean air. In the third test, 68% to 80% of the predatory mites were attracted to spider mite-infested strawberry plant volatiles compared with uninfected plants. Among the seven strawberry cultivars, the predator responses to volatiles of infested plants varied 62% to 83% and to volatiles of uninfested plant varied 59% to 75%. Herbivore – induced plant volatile emitted from strawberry infested with T. urticae attract the predatory mite. The last test showed that 'Aliso' and 'Chandler' were more attractive for the predatory mite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collemboerythraeus izadpanahi sp. nov. (Acariformes: Erythraeidae) is described and illustrated from larvae ectoparasitic on unidentified springtails (unfortunately hosts got lost and therefore could not be identified) (Hexapoda: Collembola: Sminthuridae), from Simkan region, Jahrom city, Fars province, Iran. The generic diagnosis of the genus Collemboerythraeus and key to world genera of larval Erythraeinae are amended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the first record of Diplodontus semiperforatus (Walter, 1925) for Iran. Thus far, this halobiontic species was only known from the Western Mediterranean. We discuss the environmental characteristics of the sampling sites and present the first barcodes of D. semiperforatus and its sister species D. scapularis Dugès, 1834. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper four water mite species of the genus Atractides Koch, 1837 (Acari, Hygrobatidae) from Iran are described as new to science. Three of these have a complicated taxonomic history with misidentification and/or confusion. The populations from Iran provisionally assigned by Pešić et al. (2004) to Atractides lunipes Lundblad, 1956 is described as A. zagrosensis sp. nov. The male specimen from Bakhtiari Province, originally assigned by Pešić et al. (2004) to A. fluviatilis (Szalay, 1929) is described as A. bakhtiari sp. nov. Two of the new species belong to the nodipalpis-species group. The populations of the latter group in Iran were analysed using canonical discriminant analyses. Morphological analysis focused on morphometric characters helped us to resolve issues within this group of species and to correct the previous misidentifications. Atractides farsensis sp. nov. is a sister species of A. robustus (Sokolow, 1940) and is described from Fars province. The male specimen from Kerman province originally assigned by Asadi et al. (2003) to A. nodipalpis Thor, 1899 is here described as A. kljajici sp. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species records of Oplitidae, Oplitis exopodi Hunter & Farrier, 1975 and Oplitis sarcinulus Hunter & Farrier, 1976 are redescribed based on Iranian specimens from leaf-litter forest in Mazandaran province, northern Iran. A key to the Iranian species of Oplitis is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of the genus Sphaerotarsus Womersley, 1936, S. quercus sp. nov., is described from larvae collected in an Oak ( Quercus spp.) forest in Shiraz, Iran. This is only the third species of Sphaerotarsus known as larvae and is the first time the genus is reported from outside of Australia. A key is given to the world species of larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Montenegtrombium, M. baloutchi sp. nov. (Acari: Microtrombidiidae), is described from Kandovan region, Alborz Province, Iran. The larval mites were collected as ectoparasites of three grasshopper hosts including Acridia sp., Oedipoda schochii Brunner von Wattenwyl and Chorthippus brunneus (Thunberg) (Orthoptera: Acrididae). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diagnosis of the genus Nagoricanella Haitlinger, 2009 is modified and a redescription of N. bella (Zhang, 1996) comb. nov. collected from larvae ectoparasitic on an unknown species of dipteran fly (Diptera: Heleomyzidae) from Manshad and Madavar villages, Mehriz city, Yazd Province, Iran is presented. A key to the world larval species of Nagoricanella is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atractothrombium amirkabiri sp. nov., Ettmuelleria zahediae sp. nov. and Microtrombidium fumani sp. nov. of the subfamily Microtrombidiinae Thor, 1935 are described from Guilan province, northern Iran. Moreover, Enemothrombium culicoidium (Vercammen-Grandjean and Cochrane, 1974) of the subfamily Valgothrombiinae Gabryś, 1999 and Empitrombium makolae Sevsay & Karakurt, 2013 of the Microtrombidiidae incertae sedis are reported for the first time from Iran. All species were collected from soil samples (off host) in a forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Charletonia farajiisp. nov. is described and illustrated from larvae ectoparasitic on grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in Lowshan, Rudbar and Rostamabad cities, Guilan province, Iran. It is the fourth species of the genus with two setae between coxae II and III and solenidion placed in proximal half of genu I. Also, it is the second species with this feature from Iran. A key to larval species of Charletonia with two intercoxalae II and III and solenidion placed in proximal half of genu I is presented. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E78B4784-6BB5-4CD1-87A6-677D2193AD3E [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on synonymy in the genus Trichotrombidium lectotype and paralectotypes deposited in the South Australian Museum (SAM). It mentions number of normal and specialized setae on legs, idiosoma, and gnathosoma were counted. It mentions specimens were detached by insect pin preserved in ethanol, cleared in Nesbitt's solution and mounted using Faure medium on a microscopic slide.

Many studies have shown that the composition of invertebrate communities in soil changes under the influence of stressors in the soil ecosystem. Conversely, an observed altered community structure may be indicative of stress. In this study we aimed to investigate responses of oribatid mite communities to heavy metal (zinc, copper and cadmium) contamination of grasslands nearby a lead and zinc smelting plant at Zanjan, Iran. Soil analysis showed that the Zanjan plant is a major source of zinc and cadmium in the area. No relationship could be found between metal pollution and total density of oribatids, but the number of species and the Shannon diversity index were lowest in the sites polluted by zinc and cadmium. Species diversity was significantly negatively correlated with zinc and cadmium, but not with copper concentrations. Oribatula (Zygoribatula) connexa connexaBerlese, 1904, was a dominant species at all sites; the percentage dominance of this species was highest at the most polluted site. Our survey confirms that oribatid mite communities display a great variety of responses to heavy metals, depending on the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Larvae of Paratrombium farnazae sp. nov. (Acari: Trombidiidae) were collected from soil samples (off their host) in forests in Roodbar and Rezvanshahr cities, and larval P. megalochirum (Berlese, 1910) were collected as ectoparasites of Tetramorium sp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Fuman city. All sites are in Guilan province, northern Iran. The new species is described and illustrated, and is the first recorded larva of Paratrombium with a bipectinate medial seta on coxae II and III in the world. Also, we report a species of the genus Paratrombiumin Iran for the first time and as an ectoparasite of the family Formicidae for the second time. A key to world larvae of Paratrombium is provided and the generic diagnosis is amended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Podothrombium zlatarum sp. nov. (Acari: Podotrombidiidae) is described and illustrated from larvae collected from herbaceous plants on the Zlatar mountain (West Serbia). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Charletonia behshahriensis Hakimitabar and Saboori sp. nov. (Acari: Erythraeidae) is described from Behshahr city, Mazandaran province, Iran. A key to larval species of Charletonia with two intercoxalae II and III is presented. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C4860435-1673-4CC0-A24F-AF0247C5E84C [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The life history and predation rate of the predatory mite,Typhlodromus bagdasarjaniWainstein & Arutunjan, fed on the eggs of two-spotted spider mite,Tetranychus urticaeKoch, were studied for both females and males under laboratory conditions at 25 ± 1°C, 75 ± 5% Relative Humidity (RH) and 16Light (L) : 8Dark (D) hour photoperiod. According to the age-stage, two-sex life table, the intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), net reproductive rate (R0), gross reproductive rate (GRR) and mean generation time (T) were 0.143 day−1, 1.154 day−1, 12.91 offspring, 16.7 offspring and 17.8 days, respectively. Moreover, the number ofT. urticaeeggs consumed by different stages/sexes ofT. bagdasarjaniwas estimated using the age-stage, two-sex life table and indicated that the consumption rates increased from nymph to adult in both sexes. Also, our results showed that females consumed prey eggs 22 times more than males. The net predation rate (C0) and transformation rate from prey population to predator offspring (Qp) were 885.91 mite eggs and 68.62, respectively. The results showed thatT. bagdasarjanican successfully survive and reproduce onT. urticaeeggs on rose. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Erythraeus ( Zaracarus) hafezi Saboori, Hakimitabar & Mahmoudi sp. nov. is described and illustrated from larvae ectoparasitic on various insects collected in Shiraz city, Fars Province, Iran. A key to world species of Erythraeus ( Zaracarus) larvae is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The functional response of the predatory mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias- Henriot was examined on either non-inoculated or inoculated adults of the spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch by Beauveria bassiana DEBI008 with four time intervals; 0, 24, 48 and 72-h treatments, at 25 ± 1 °C, 60-70 % RH and a photoperiod of 16:8 h (L: D). Results indicated that functional responses of P. persimilis on both untreated and B. bassiana treated adults of T. urticae are type II. Data analysis showed that handling time of predator was increased on treated T. urticae with the increase of the time after spray in comparison with that of untreated adults of T. urticae (3.5143, 3.8152, 4.0735, 7.6829 and 11.7789 h.), respectively. Differences among treatments for handling time were significant. Attack rates were close to each others and there was no significant difference in attack rates of different time interval treatments. With the increase of the time after spray adults of the spider mite, T. urticae by B. bassiana caused intensive increasing in handling time of P. persimilis and accordingly it caused intensive decreasing in feeding rate of predator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of either untreated or treated adults of the spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) by Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuillemin (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) DEBI008 at 1×106 (conidia/ml) was investigated on developmental stages and life table parameters of Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) under laboratory conditions. Four time intervals (0, 24, 48 and 72 h post-inoculation of spider mites) were considered for studying the predator characteristics as different treatments. Duration of each life stage, longevity, reproduction rate, intrinsic rate of natural increase (r m ), net reproductive rate (R 0), mean generation time (T) and finite rate of increase (λ) of the P. persimilis were calculated on both untreated and B. bassiana treated spider mite adults. Data analysis showed that longevity and fecundity of predatory mites fed on untreated and treated mites (time interval 0) were higher in comparison with other time intervals after inoculation. The entomopathogenic fungus adversely affected longevity and fecundity of the predatory mite. Fertility life table parameters of predatory mites fed on T. urticae treated by B. bassiana at different time intervals showed that T, R 0, λ and r m are strongly affected by the fungus presence and these parameters had significant differences among time treatments. The least r m value was observed in the time interval of 72 h post-inoculation. The fitness of T. urticae was affected by B. bassiana 24, 48 and 72 h post-inoculation of mite adults, and consequently it caused decreased longevity of P. persimilis and accordingly a decrease in the intrinsic rate of natural increase of the predator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of five cotton cultivars (Varamin, Mehr, Bakhtegan, Sahel, Saiokra) on the fitness of Tetranychus urticae was assessed by determining the developmental time and fertility life-table parameters for mites on leaf discs at 25 ± 1°C, 70 ± 10% relative humidity and 16:8 hours light:dark photoperiod. To investigate this effect, the duration of each life stage, longevity, reproduction rate and fertility life-table parameters including intrinsic rate of natural increase (r m), net reproductive rate (R 0), mean generation time (T), doubling time (DT) and finite rate of increase (λ) of the two-spotted spider mite on different cotton cultivars were calculated. The results indicated that the Varamin cultivar was the most suitable one for two-spotted spider mite among the tested plants because of its shorter immature developmental period and higher reproduction and intrinsic rate of natural increase, whereas Bakhtegan was the least suitable cultivar because of the longer immature developmental time and the lowest reproduction rate and intrinsic rate of natural increase. The lowest r m value suggests an antibiosis resistance in this cultivar in comparison with other cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The virulence of Beauveria bassiana to one of the most important pests of agricultural and ornamental plants, Tetranychus urticae, was assessed by inoculating mites with different isolates (DEBI008, EUT116) and different concentrations of conidia (1 × 104, 1 × 105, 1 × 106, 1 × 107, and 1 × 108 conidia/ml). Treated mites were kept in controlled conditions at 25 ± 1°C, 60-70% RH and a photoperiod of 16:8 h (L: D) and mite mortality was determined daily. Mortality was found to increase with time and was dependent on time and conidia concentration, with values ranging from 4.06% on day 3 at a concentration of 1 × 104 to 82.81% on day 7 at a concentration of 1 × 108 for the lowest and highest conidia concentrations of the EUT116 isolate and from 4.37 to 74.68% for the DEBI008 isolate, respectively. The calculated median lethal concentration on the sixth day was 3.7 × 105 conidia/ml for the EUT116 isolate and 2.9 × 106 conidia/ml for the DEBI008 isolate. The median lethal time for T. urticae with conidial treatments EUT116 and DEBI008 were 4.56 and 5.16.days, respectively. Our research showed that isolate EUT116 can be effective in controlling T. urticae and this isolate is a promising candidate for microbial control of twospotted spider mite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abalakeus jahromiensis Sedghi, Saboori and Hakimitabar n. sp. (Acari: Erythraeidae) is described and illustrated from larvae ectoparasitic on an undetermined nymph of a bug (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) from Jahrom, Fars Province, Iran. A key to world larval species of the genus Abalakeus is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Erythraeus (Erythraeus) adanaensis n. sp. is described and illustrated from larvae collected from an unknown host on citrus in Adana, Turkey. Grandjeanella bella Zhang, 1996 is recorded from Turkey for the first time, and a new host, Parlatoria oleae (Colvee), (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) is recorded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enemothrombium wohltmanni Saboori, Shojaei, and Hakimitabar n. sp. (Acari: Microtrombidiidae) is described and illustrated from larvae ectoparasitic on unidentified Chironomidae (Diptera). This is the third larval-described species of this genus in the world and the first Asian species. A key to species of Enemothrombium larvae of the world is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pteridopus alivaensis n. sp. (Acari: Chyzeriidae) is described and illustrated from larvae ectoparasitic on adults of Paradrymadusa sp. (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae), which is a new host, from Naviz village, Aliva area, Taleghan city, Tehran Province, Iran. A key to the species of Pteridopus of the world (larva) is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empitrombium pesici Saboori and Hakimitabar n. sp. (Acari: Microtrombidiidae) is described and illustrated. Larvae were reared from eggs in the laboratory at room temperature. This is the third larval species of this genus in the world and the first non-American species. A key to species of Empitrombium of the world (larva) is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]