Fauna of prostigmatic mites (Prostigmata) associated with scale insects (Coccoidea) in Kermanshah county

Scale insects (Coccoidea) cause lots of damages to plants every year. Some mites (Acari) as one component of the scale insect’s ecosystem, can reduce the population of these pests in case of not using pesticides. The aim of this study was to collect and identify some prostigmatic mites associated with scale insects that may have predatory relationship with scale insects or use scale insects as shelter. For this purpose, the scale insect infected parts of the host plants transferred to the laboratory and the related mites segregated. After process of clarification and slide preparation, 12 species belonging to 11 genera and seven families of Prostigmata collected and identified in association with 10 species from nine genera belonging to five families of the scale insects. Within these mites, a new record for Iranian fauna collected that showed with the asterisc (*). Prostigmata: Anystidae: Anystis baccarum; Erythraeidae: Abrolophus sp., Callidosoma sp., Leptus sp.; Iolinidae: Pronematus rykei, Pronematus ubiquitus; Microtrombidiidae: Eutrombidium sp.; Smarididae: Fessonia sp., Tenuipalpidae: Aegyptobia eriogonum*, Cenopalpus pulcher; Tetranychidae: Tetranychus urticae, Eotetranychus sp. Coccoidea: Eriococcidae: Acanthococcus isacanthus; Coccidae: Eulecanium tiliae, Coccus hesperidum, Saissetia oleae; Diaspididae: Diaspidiotus prunorum, Lepidosaphes malicola, Parlatoria oleae; Orthezidae: Orthezia urticae; Pseudococcidae: Planococcus citri, Planococcus vovae.