Natural predatory survey on vineyards infested by grape erineum mite, Colomerus vitis (Pagenstecher) (Acari: Eriophyidae) in western Iran

The grape erineum mite (GEM), Colomerus vitis (Pagenstecher) (Acari: Eriophyidae) is considered to be one of the most important pests, that sometimes causes irreversible damages to grapevine cultivars in western parts of Iran. Studies were carried out in order to find natural enemies associated to GEM, during 2011-2013. Results indicated that natural enemies included two species of predatory mites belonging to the families Phytoseiidae [Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) khosrovensis, T. (Anthoseius) bagdasarjani], Tydeidae (Neopronematus sp.), one species of Anystidae (Anystis baccarum), one species of Stigmaeidae (Zetzellia mali), one species of dipteran: Cecidomyiidae (Arthrocnodax vitis Rubsaamen), four species, belonging to the family Coccinellidae (Stethorus gilvifrons, Coccinella septempunctata, Hipodamya varigiata, Harmonia sp.), two species of predatory bugs belonging to the family Anthocoridae (Orius albidipennis, O. niger) and one species of Chrysopidae (Chrysopa carnea). Amongst them the cecidomiid, the tydeid mite and the phytoseiid mites, had higher population densities in this area.