Persian Journal of Acarology
Volume:6 Issue: 1, Winter 2017

In this investigation an attempt has been made to study the species composition, distribution and seasonal fluctuation of acarine community (Arachnida: Acari) in two undisturbed and well-vegetated plots located within Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoolo-gical Park, Darjeeling, India. The study continued for three consecutive years (January to December 1999–2001) revealed the presence of 10 acarine genera of which six belonged to Oribatida and four to Mesostigmata. However no Prostigmata or Astigmata were recorded. In most of the samples Oribatida outnumbered the Mesostigmata. The total population of Acari during the period of study exhibited an irregular trend of fluctuation showing post winter or pre-monsoon maxima and monsoon minima. The Oribatida which dominated the population were the main contributor of the population abundance curve as observed in this study. Of the 4 edaphic factors (viz. pH, temperature, moisture and organic matter) studied, only the content of organic matter showed a significant and positive correlation with the population while the remaining three (viz. pH, temperature, moisture) had a negative correlation with the population. Both the plots were more or less identical in climatological, edaphological factors as well as vegetation cover with little variation in altitude and did not exhibit any significant variation in diversity index value.

In Iran, cheyletid mites (Acariformes: Cheyletidae) were collected over 15 years (1996–2010) in stored cereal. Samples were collected from silos, flour-mills, barn and rice-mills in 12 provinces scattered throughout the North, Centre, East and West of Iran. 8 genera and 13 species were recorded: Acaropsellina sollers (Kuzin, 1940), Cheletomorpha lepidopterorum (Show, 1794), Cheyletus bidentatus Fain & Nadchatrum, 1980, Cheyletus carnifex Zachvatkin, 1935, Cheyletus eruditus (Schrank, 1781), Cheyletus malaccensis Oudemans, 1903, Cheyletus malayensis Culiffe, 1962; Cheyletus trouessarti Oudemans, 1903, Culifella variegata (Barilo, 1985), Lepidocheyla gracilis Volgin, 1963, Nodele calamondin Muma, 1964, Neoeucheyla iranica Fain & Ardeshir, 2000, Zachvatkiniola reticulata (Cunliffe, 1962). Cheyletus bidentatus is a new record for the mite fauna of Iran. The widespread mites were Acaropsellina sollers and Cheyletus malaccensis (the most frequent species found in all samples). The greatest presence of predatory mites (25%) was recorded in wheat and dust.

During the study on eriophyid mites associated to Fabaceae plants in Naghare village, Lorestan province (Iran), one new Aculus species (Acari: Eriophyidae), A. lorestaniensis sp. nov., was found on Glycyrrhiza glabra L. and herein described and illustrated. This is the first Aculus mites associated to a host plant of the genus Glycyrrhiza.

Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) are obligatory blood feeders and important external parasites of wildlife, domestic animals and humans in tropical and subtropical areas. Ticks primarily transmit different pathogenic organisms to livestock and humans, and secondly harm their animal hosts by decreasing blood protein content and nutrients due to partial exsanguinations, induce allergic reaction and sometimes cause tick paralysis or toxicosis. In this study, ticks have been collected from different body parts of stable kept male and female camels (Camelus dromedarius) in monthly intervals from late April 2012 to late March 2013 in Masileh region of Qom province, Iran. All tick have been collected and identified according to male individual characters. Totally, 1265 ticks (42.5% and 57.4% from stable male and female camels respectively) have been collected. Tick identification based on male characters revealed Hyalomma dromedarii (40.7%), H. schulzei (40.3%) and H. marginatum (18.8%). Heavy camel infestation by H. schulzei was recorded for the first time from central part of Iran. Different tick infestation rates were recorded during June and January, from zero to 254 ticks. The highest mean number of collected ticks was 9.6 under tail of female camels among five body places during August. Statistical analysis showed a significant correlation between the number of collected ticks and sampling intervals, sex of camels and place of camel bodies. Out of five camel body places, ticks were collected regularly from four body parts. Periodical infestation by H. dromedarii under tail, belly, thigh and neck of both camel sexes was found to be longer than for H. schulzei and H. marginatum. It could be concluded that any control measure for camel tick infestation should be planned before March-April in Masileh region of Qom, Iran.

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) is one of the most important agricultural pests of the world. It causes direct and indirect damage on plants which decreases in photosynthesis and crop yield. The effect of sublethal concentrations of Artemisia annua L. (Asteraceae) and Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Lamiaceae) essential oils were assessed on development and reproduction para-meters of two-spotted spider mite T. urticae. Lethal and sublethal concentrations were estimated by fumigant bioassay of essential oils on the adults of T. urticae. The raw life history data of all individuals were analyzed according to the age-stage, two-sex life table theory. LC30 and LC50 of A. annua (2.908 and 4.14 µl/80 ml air) and R. officinalis (1.339 and 2.006 µl/80 ml air) showed that rosemary essential oil has higher fumigant toxicity against T. urticae. Sublethal concentration of the two plant oils led to significant decrease in fecundity, generation time and adult longevity compare to the control. In addition, plant oils decreased the net reproductive rate (R0), intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), and significantly increased doubling time (DT) of T. urticae in compare with control. Obtained results indicated that, sublethal concentra-tions of A. annua and R. officinalis oils could influence on biological indices of T. urticae.

Today, with the advanced statistical techniques and neural networks, predictive models of distribution have been rapidly developed in Ecology. Purpose of this research is to predict and map the distribution of Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) using MLP neural networks combined with genetic algorithm in surface of farm. Population data of pest was obtained in 2016 by sampling in 100 fixed points in cucumber field in Ramhormoz city, Khuzestan province, Iran. To evaluate the ability of neural networks combined with genetic algorithm to predict the distribution, statistical comparison between the predicted and actual values of some parameters such as variance, statistical distribution and linear regression coefficient was performed. Results showed that in training and test phases of neural network combined genetic algorithm, there was no significant difference between variance and statistical distribution of actual values and predicted values, but distribution was no significant. Our map showed that patchy pest distribution offers a large potential for using site-specific pest control on this field.

The present study is the first report of a green iguana infested with Hirstiella sp., as a new mite genus recorded from Iran.

In the present study, for the first time, we document discovery of the predatory mite N. californicus in some rose greenhouses in Yasouj, Iran. Furthermore, variation in spermathecal calyx shape is also discussed.

Scientific biography of late Prof. Gerd Alberti is presented.