Study on eriophyoid mites of walnut trees and their natural enemies in west of Iran

Walnut is endemic to flora of the western part of Iran. Different insects and mites cause leaf deformation on walnut trees. In this study, three Eriophyeid mites were collected and determined, namely Eriophyes tristriatus (Nalepa), E. erineus Nalepa, and E. brachytarsus Keifer. This study showed that the E. tristriatus was dominant species in this area. Although, their damages have not economical importance. But in some locations, they cause considerable deformations of the leaves of walnut. The above mentioned mites have numerous natural enemies, such as Typhlodermus (Amblyseius) ketanehi (Dose), Kuzinellus kuzini (Wainestein), Paraseiueus jirofticus Daneshvar, Tydeus caryae Khanjani & Ueckermann, Anystis baccarum (L.), Orius minutum L., larvae of Feltiella acarivora (Felt), larvae and adult Stethorus gilvifrons (M.), Taeniothrips inconesquens Uzel., Thrips albapilosus Uzel. Amongst them Phytoseiid mites and T. carya have high population in this area and their efficiency were estimated to be about 14%. Their population reach to it’s highest intesity in September each year.