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During a laboratory biological study of a midge, Feltiella acarisuga (Vallot, 1827) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), acarivorous on two-spotted spider mites, some ceraphronid specimens were reared from the midge cocoons. A detailed morphological study and comparison with previously known species revealed that the ceraphronid is a new species of Aphanogmus Thomson, 1858 (Hymenoptera: Ceraphronidae). The new species is described as A. feltiellophagus Lotfalizadeh, sp. nov. and compared with closely related species. An identification key for all Aphanogmus species associated with predatory cecidomyiids is provided. As a parasitoid of the pupal stage of Feltiella acarisuga, the potential negative impact of A. feltiellophagus on the biological control of tetranychid mites is discussed.

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This paper reviews the research on taxonomy of the Trombidioidea in Iran, with an updated checklist of 32 species (+5 undetermined species) belonging to five families and 22 genera. Among them, 27 species (+1 undetermined species) are reported based on larvae only, three undetermined species based on adults only, and six species based on both larval and post-larval stages. Also, 14 species (+3 undetermined species) and 10 genera belonging to the family Trombidiidae, one undetermined species belonging to the family Podothrombiidae, 13 species (+1 undetermined species) and seven genera belonging to the family Microtrombidiidae, three species, three genera belonging to the family Neothrombiidae and two species and one genus belonging to the family Achaemenothrombiidae. Major contributions to the Iranian fauna of the Trombidioidea were made by Alireza Saboori and his colleagues, and Zhi-Qiang Zhang. There have been some studies on the biology and the application of the Trombidioidea in biological control in Iran.

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Medicinal plants were used from past to present. Different small arthropods such as Acari were found on these plants. Therefore a study on the Acari fauna associated with some medicinal plants (Family: Asteraceae) in Hamedan region was carried out during 2008–2009. In this survey, 23 species belonging 18 genera from 15 different families of the subclass Acari were collected and identified. Two spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) was determined as an abundant phytophagous mite species in this study.

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The present checklist is a compilation of the eupodoid mites of Iran using published records and original data from recent researches. It contains 19 species belonging to 13 genera and five families. Family Cocceupodidae Jesionowska, 2010 (because of moving the genera to a new family) and two species i.e. Foveacheles (Foveacheles) cegetensis Zacharda, 1983 and Linopodes antennaepes Banks, 1894 are new records for Iranian mite fauna. In addition to some corrections to specific identities which have been previously reported in Iranian literature, we report here the known geographical distribution and habitats in Iran and distribution in the world as well.

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Mites exploit various symbiotic associations with insects and other arthropods, mainly parasitism and phoresy. Faunistic information of parasitic and phoretic mites on insects in Egypt is reviewed. Previous published records are gathered and, in some cases, altered. This paper presents an annotated list of the 120 species, including unidentified spp., of mites extracted from insects in Egypt to date. Mite species belong to 42 families [16 of Mesostigmata, 19 of Prostigmata, five of Astigmata and two in Cryptostigmata (Oribatida)]. Information about insect hosts, attachment sites and geographic distribution is provided.

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In this study 46 species of bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) and their 17 associated mite species from Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province reigns with some specimens collected from Yasouj and Dezful have been examined. Four species of mites were new for Iran: Sennertia zhelochovtsevi Zachvatkin, Vidia lineata Oudemans, Sennertionyx manicati (Giard) and Crabrovidia oudemansi Fain. These mites were found on bees’ families of Halictidae, Megachilidae, Apidae and Andrenidae. The identified mites were belonging to families of Neopygmephoridae, Scutacaridae, Chaetodactylidae, Anoetidae, Acaridae, Saproglyphidae and Winterschmidtiidae. Among bees’ families, the most association was observed on Halictidae and the lowest was on Andrenidae. Bee species of Halictus (Halictus) resurgens Nurse, 1903 had the highest percentage of association. All specimens are deposited in the Iranian Pollinator Insects Museum of Yasouj University. Herein a list of mite species associated with bees and bees’ species list are provided. Some specimens belong to genera of Imparipes Berlese, 1903 (n=12 specimens) and Chaetodactylus Rondani, 1866 (n=11 specimens) were new for science which would be described in a subsequent paper.

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An overview of the Arachnida and their study in Iran is provided. Besides ancient poetry, relics (going back to 5,000 YBP), and early medical observations (at least 2,000 YBP), the first published taxonomical observations of arachnids from Iran were in 1807 about scorpions. The superorders Parasitiformes and Acariformes (mites and ticks) have received by far the most attention among all of the Arachnida thanks to their economic and medical/veterinary importance. Occurrences have been noted for over 1,733 species in four orders: Ixodida, Mesostigmata, Sarcoptiformes, and Trombidiformes. The first tick of the Ixodida was described in 1818. The first mite species described from Iran was of the Mesostigmata in 1982. The first member of the Sarcoptiformes named from Iran is uncertain, but the first Iranian species of the Suborder Oribatida was described in 1984 and was likely the first for the order. The first species described from Iran of the Order Trombidiformes were named in 1995. Studies on spiders started in 1874. Spiders are recorded by the occurrences of 764 species. Scorpions number 68 species in Iran and receive a lot of study and are better known compared to mites and spiders on a percentage basis, because scorpions have such a small diversity worldwide. The first Iranian species of Solifugae was described in 1895. The camel spiders are known from 67 species. Pseudoscorpions are recorded by 65 species. The Opiliones are known by 22 named species. The Amblypygi are recorded from Iran by one species described in 2018.

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Mites of the families Parasitidae and Laelapidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) are among the most common and widely distributed mites of the suborder Gamasina. During 2015-2017, fauna of parasitid and laelapid (Acari: Mesostigmata) mites from domestic animal manure collected and surveyed in Khuzestan Province, southwestern Iran.Totally, four Parasitidae species belonging to three genera and seven Laelapidae species belonging to four genera collected from domestic animal manure in Khuzestan Province. Among them, Cornigamasus ocliferius Skorupski & Witaliński, 1997 is a new record for mite fauna of Asia and Androlaelaps projecta Furman, 1972 is a new name for mite fauna of Iran. Four species are new to Khuzestan Province fauna as well. We also recorded six manure-associated species which have never been previously reported from manure in Iran. Parasitus fimetorum (Berlese, 1904) was the most frequent Parasitidae species among our records. The mites distribution and habitats data in Khuzestan Province are provided for all of the species, together with some taxonomic and bio-ecological notes.

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A vast number of tropical and subtropical mites belong to the family Tarsonemidae Canestrini & Fanzago, 1877, with the tribe Tarsoenmini under subfamily Tarsoneminae having the most diverse assemblage. In order to better understand the distribution, community structure, and host specificity of these mites, it is important to investigate the Tarsonemini mite fauna of India, particularly in the highly biodiverse state of West Bengal. A total of 1154 mite specimens were obtained from 69 distinct plant species belonging to 44 families and distributed over six agroclimatic zones in West Bengal. The mites were classified into 8 distinct genera and 38 morphospecies. We developed bipartite trophic networks for Tarsonemini mites for the first time to show how these different communities of these mites are associated to various host plant species in six different agroclimatic zones. Different network descriptors such as Connectance, H2, Niche Overlap and Robustness were calculated from the mite-plant networks of six agroclimatic zones. Northern Hill Zone had the highest diversity followed by New Alluvial and Teesta-Terai Zone whereas, Red Laterite Zone had the least diversity of mite species. More than 70% Tarsonemini mites were found as generalist plant inhabitants which is consistent with their epiphytotic microbivorous feeding strategy.

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To study the fauna of oribatid mites (Oribatida) in Sistan & Baluchestan province (southeastern Iran), soil and leaf litter samples were collected in Saravan and Gulshan counties from March to September 2021. In total, 40 species belonging to 30 genera from 18 families were collected and identified, among them genera Hoplophorella, Javacarus, subgenera Leptogalumna, Paralamellobates, and seven species, Acrotritia rustica Niedbała, 1991, Hoplophorella vitrina (Berlese, 1913), Javacarus foliatus Hammer, 1972, Lamellobates misella (Berlese, 1910), Rostrozetes ovulum ovulum (Berlese, 1908), Striatoppia cf. quadrilineata Hammer, 1982, and Scheloribates praelineatus Hammer, 1977 are newly recorded for the fauna of Iran.

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This study was carried out to determine the fauna of oribatid mites (Oribatida) in Hormozgan province (southern Iran). Berlese funnel was used to obtain specimens from soil and leaf litter samples in various habitats in the province during the months of February to October 2021. Forty-three species belonging to 30 genera from 20 families of oribatid mites were collected from Bandar Abbas, Minab, Rudan and Hajiabad counties and identified. The species Javacarus (J.) porosus Hammer, 1979, Hoplophorella (H.) hamata (Ewing, 1909) and Lamellobates (L.) molecula molecula (Berlese, 1916) are recorded for the first time from Iran.

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Data was collected from 45 monthly samples at three vegetation layers spanning from 1950 to 2500 meters above sea level in the Arjan Plain Biosphere Reserve, Fars Province, Iran. A total of 12,648 individuals were collected, leading to the identification of 89 species of oribatid mites from 39 families and 53 genera The data for the Shannon diversity index was analyzed using the permutation one-way analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) to understand the distribution of mites across the elevation gradients. Significant variations were observed in the distribution of oribatid mites at different elevational strata. Layer 2 exhibited the highest species richness and total abundance of oribatid mites, with 67 species and 6162 individuals, followed by layer 3 with 62 species and 4359 individuals, and layer 1 harbouring 59 species and 2140 individuals. Dominant species included Jacotella frondeus (Kulijev) and Oribatula pallida Banks in layer 1, Pilogalumna tenuiclava (Berlese), Aleurodamaeus sp.3, and J. frondeus in Layer 2, and Aleurodamaeus sp.3 and J. frondeus in layer 3. The Shannon index also revealed that species diversity of oribatid mites significantly increased with elevation increase. Furthermore, the analysis indicated a notable seasonal effect on oribatid mite biodiversity, demonstrating the lowest species richness and abundance observed in July and September.

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Many Phragmites-dominated wetlands have been markedly salinized and alkalinized in the Songnen Plain, northeastern China. Agricultural wastewater with high nitrogen content has been discharged into these alkalinized-salinized wetlands. To understand the effect of salinity-alkalinity on reed (Phragmites australis) seedlings at various nitrogen levels, we examined photosynthesis rate, chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics, and chlorophyll content of reed seedlings using gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence tests. The greatest decreases (by 82%, 15%, 82% and 98%) of net photosynthesis rate (Pn), maximal efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry (FV/FM), comprehensive photosynthesis performance index (PIABS) and plant height growth rate were observed at high salinity-alkalinity (mixed with 150 mM NaCl and 100 mM NaHCO3). Stomatal limitation was the main reason for decreased photosynthesis rate at low salinity-alkalinity (mixed with 50 mM NaCl and 25 mM NaHCO3). The activity of PSII was significantly inhibited at high salinity-alkalinity. Both donor and acceptor sides of PSII are the target sites of high salinity-alkalinity. High N (30 mM) at low salinity-alkalinity and moderate N (15 mM) at high salinity-alkalinity mitigated the toxicity of salinity-alkalinity on reeds and promoted plant height growth, chlorophyll synthesis, and PSII activity. Proper levels of N partly reduced the toxicity of salinity-alkalinity on the donor and acceptor sides of PSII. This suggests that agricultural wastewater containing high level of nitrogen may be helpful in restoration of Phragmites-dominated salinized wetland, though the N level needed for salinity-alkalinity stressed reed varies with the salinity-alkalinity level.

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Prey suppression by predators depends on effective predator: prey release ratios. The effectiveness of Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot and Typhlodromus bagdasarjani Wainstein and Arutunjan was evaluated at different predator: prey release ratios for suppression of Tetranychus urticae Koch populations on cucumber plants in the microcosm condition based on three experiments. In the first experiment, 7 days after T. urticae releases, the most reduction in the different stages (densities) of T. urticae and the most increase in both P. persimilis and T. bagdasarjani were observed in predator: prey release ratio of 1:4 followed by ratios of 1:10 and 1:20. In the second experiment, one day after T. urticae release at predator: prey release ratio of 1:4, there was no significant difference between predators effect on the decline of T. urticae stages (densities). In this case, more T. bagdasarjani at all stages was observed on the plants in comparison with P. persimilis. According to the third experiment, 7 days after T. urticae release, there was no significant difference between predator: prey ratio of 1:4 of P. persimilis and 1:2 of T. bagdasarjani on T. urticae suppression. In this case, more P. persimilis was observed on plants in comparison with T. bagdasarjani. Our study demonstrates that the most suppression of T. urticae populations occurred in predator: prey ratio of 1:4 for both predators. Based on our findings, we suggest that P. persimilis and T. bagdasarjani can be released at a ratio of 1:4 for successful control of T. urticae on cucumber.

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Molecular species identification has become more ubiquitous in diagnostics of insects, particularly in situations where morphological identification is a laborious or time-consuming process. Tetranychid mites are serious agricultural pests. Identification of tetranychid mites is usually arduous and requires a high level of taxonomic expertise because of their minute size, their close morphological similarities as well as limited number of diagnostic characters. Most species of the spider mites of the genus Tetranychus Dufour in Iran are morphologically similar, differing only in the diameter of the aedeagal knob in males. Because this genus contains many important pests, the unambiguous identification of species is crucial for effective pest management. In this study, a single-step multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (multiplex PCR) was used to discriminate two predominant spider mite species occurring in greenhouses in Iran: Tetranychus urticae Koch and Tetranychus turkestani (Ugarov and Nikolskii). The single-step multiplex PCR developed here, based on ITS regions, is rapid, reliable, sensitive and relatively simple. The entire identification protocol from DNA extraction to electrophoresis could be completed in four hours. Moreover, it is adequately simple to be implemented in any molecular laboratory.
 

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Stethorus gilvifrons (Mulstant) is an important voracious predator of the spider mites, which consumes all the life stages of spider mites. In this study, the effects of prey species and host plants on development and life table parameters of S. gilvifrons were studied. To this end, preimaginal development, survival, adult longevity and fecundity of S. gilvifrons fed on Tetranychus urticae Koch (on maize and cowpea) and Eutetranychus orientalis Klein (on castor bean plants) were studied. Experiments were conducted based on two-sex life table procedure under laboratory conditions at 27±1°C, 60–70% RH and 16:8 hours L:D. The shortest developmental time and female longevity were recorded on maize and cowpea, respectively, and the longest was on castor bean. While the lowest values of fecundity, net Reproductive rate (R₀) and intrinsic rate of increase (r) were estimated at 107.65±11.49 offspring, 20.63±4.41 offspring and 0.1001±0.0072 d^-1 on castor bean, respectively, the highest values of the mentioned parameters were 158.67±20.18 offspring, 43.63±8.47 offspring, and 0.1448 ± 0.0069 d^-1 on maize, respectively. The results proved the significant effects of the host plants and prey species on developmental time and demographic parameters of S. gilvifrons. The obtained results could be useful for mass rearing of S. gilvifrons and for better understanding of its population dynamics in relation to the prey species and host plants.