Persian Journal of Acarology
Volume:9 Issue: 2, Spring 2020

The adult female of Otopheidomenis zalelestes is redescribed and illustrated with many photographs based on three non-paratype females collected by Treat in 1955 and in 1966 on museum-preserved specimens of a female and male of the noctuid moth Zale lunata Drury that were donated to the author's collection by Treat decades ago. The chaetotaxy of genua and tibiae I-IV and several other details, including the sigilla and distance measurements between the paired dorsal idiosomal setae never discussed before, are included. These are compared with several paratype females of this species borrowed from the Ohio State University Acarology Laboratory (OSAL), Columbus, OH. This included a female showing the tubular laelapid type insemination system (spermatheca) and a male showing the spermatodactyl and basifemur of leg II showing a hump-like projection having a tiny seta on it which are described and illustrated.

This paper describes two eriophyid species, poorly detailed in the past, which have been found for the first time in Iran. Aceria varia (Nalepa) (Eriophyinae: Acerini) was collected on Populus alba L. (Salicaceae) and Tegoprionus dentatus (Nalepa) (Phyllocoptinae: Anthocoptini) on Galium aparine L. (Rubiaceae) in Miandoab region of West Azerbaijan province (Iran). More information about the type host plants, other hosts and habitus of five Aceria species associated with P. alba and a gross comparison of some traits among Tegoprionus species known worldwide are provided.

Faunal study of oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) in Taft township (Yazd province, central Iran) was conducted for the first time. In total, 63 species belonging to 48 genera and 31 families were collected and identified. Among them, five species Cosmochthonius plumatus Berlese, 1910, Thamnacarus smirnovi Bulanova-Zachvatkina, 1978, Acrotritia simile Mahunka, 1982, Belba bulanovae Subías, 2016, and Bipassalozetes lineolatus (Sitnikova, 1975) are newly recorded for mite fauna of Iran, and 13 families, 25 genera and 36 species are reported for the first time from the Yazd province.

During the study of the eriophyoid mite fauna of Miandoab region (West Azerbaijan province, Iran), specimens of two eriophyoid families, four subfamilies, four tribes, 11 genera and 19 species were collected and identified. Among them, three species including Aceria kiefferi (Nalepa), Phyllocoptes bilobospinosus Chetverikov and Diptacus gigantorhynchus (Nalepa) were recorded for the first time in Iran. The most abundant species was Acalitus phloeocoptes (Nalepa) and six other species including Aceria cf. tosichella Keifer, A. anthocoptes (Nalepa), Calepitrimerus baileyi Keifer, Aculus fockeui (Nalepa & Trouessart), Abacarus cf. hystrix (Nalepa) and Rhynophytoptus nemalobos Lotfollahi & de Lillo were abundant species in the surveyed region. The old species, A. kiefferi is redescribed and illustrated herein, according to the current standard, due to the poor details of the previous old descriptions.

Argas reflexus group includes argasid ticks associated with bird species. We found adults of an Argas species within the houses near to domestic pigeon nests in Lorestan province, western Iran. Primarily, the specimens were recognized as A. hermanni Audouin, 1827 based on described morphological characters. The traditional taxonomic decision was supported by BLAST analysis of the mitochondrial nucleotide sequences. DNA barcoding approach can verify morphological identification of tick species. This study is the first Iranian record of A. hermanni, supported by DNA sequence evidences.

The quality of the important host plants affects the survival, development, and reproduction of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch. The biology and life table parameters of T. urticae, on four cultivars of common Regular and Sweet pea and Polesta & G6 bean, were examined under laboratory conditions of 27  1 ℃, 60–80% R.H. and photoperiod 16L: 8D h. Both males and females of T. urticae successfully developed from egg to adult on different host plants. Results revealed that the survival rate varied from 53% on Regular pea to 99% on G6 bean cultivars. The developmental time from egg to adult was significantly influenced among the tested host plant cultivars and ranged from 9.75 days on G6 bean to 20.42 days on Regular pea (p = 0.00). Female longevity was significantly longer on Regular and Sweet pea than on Polesta and G6 bean. The highest fecundity per female was recorded on G6 bean, but the lowest was on Regular pea cultivars. Consequently, population growth parameters were also significantly influenced by different host plants. The net reproductive rate (R0), the intrinsic rate of natural increase (r), and the finite rate of increase (λ) of T. urticae were significantly higher on G6 bean than the other three cultivars. Also, the longest mean generation time (T) and doubling time (DT) were noted on Regular pea, but the shortest value on G6 and Polesta bean cultivars. Obtained results based on the intrinsic rate of natural increase revealed that G6 and Polesta bean were more suitable than the two pea cultivars as hosts for T. urticae. Therefore, the lower population growth rate of the T. urticae could be the result of antibiotic resistance in the cultivars Regular and Sweet pea.

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), is capable of dramatically decreasing growth and yield of bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Egypt. Aiming to offer an alternative method to be used for its control, we evaluated the effect of salicylic acid (SA) on induced resistance in bean seedlings against spider mite attack. Possible defense responses that were involved were also elucidated. The 9 and 18-day results proved that foliar application of SA at 50 and 100 mg l-1 has a clear influence on containing mite populations, with higher efficiency observed at the higher concentrations. Consistent with the incidence of induced resistance and defense reactions, the remarkable increase in peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activities and phenolic and flavonoid contents was detected in SA and/or the infestation bean treatments. In contrast, catalase (CAT) activity showed a different trend, as it was significantly decreased in the leaves subjected to individual infestation. The highest levels of all tested enzymes and compounds were noticed after 18 days at 100 mg l-1 SA combined with the infestation treatments. In addition, increased mite population density led to a reduction in chlorophyll content, but SA was able to partly revert that loss in a concentration and time–dependent manner with 100 mg l-1 concentration being more effective at 18 days following application. Together, these results indicate that SA treatments at the proper concentration and time could potentiate the resistance in bean plants against T. urticae.