Persian Journal of Acarology
Volume:10 Issue: 1, Winter 2021

Ponds are small lentic waterbodies that lack the deep aphotic layer. They can be either perennial or temporary as well as of natural or anthropogenic origin. Despite their small size and isolated nature, they are often considered as reservoirs of biodiversity for neighboring ecosystems, and could in fact be considered as special ecotones that house numerous semi-aquatic species. Although relatively poorly researched, ponds have been shown to contribute to regional biodiversity as much as rivers or lakes. The great local diversity of these petite ecosystems was once again proven in a small perennial pond (approximately 25 meters long and 10 meters wide) in the Dinaric Western Balkan ecoregion, where four water mite species were recorded, three of which are new findings for the water mite fauna of Croatia. Habitat conditions, i.e. macrophyte coverage and environmental water properties of the pond, proved to be suitable for typical pond species such as Piona laminata but also seemed to reflect conditions similar to helocrenes as species usually associated with these spring habitats were also found: Hydryphantes armentarius and Tartarothyas romanica.

A new species, Barbutia arasbaraniensis sp. nov. (Acari: Barbutiidae), is described and illustrated based on deutonymph and male specimens. Also, the key to all known deutonymph species of Barbutia is updated.

A new species of the genus Stigmaeus (Stigmaeidae), S. exilis sp. nov., is described based on the adult females collected from soil in a dead walnut tree hollow from Sansa Gorge, Turkey. Illustrations and phase contrast microscopic images of the new species are also given here. This species can be distinguished by having thin and slender body, anterior margin of prodorsum microtuberculate, posterior margin of propodosomal shield indenting forward by striae, apodemal marking present, eyes and postocular bodies absent, median zonal shield entire, suranal shield entire and bearing three pairs of setae, and femur II with four setae.

A compilation of halacarid mite species (Halacaridae) found from more than 900 m above sea level altitudes have been carried out based on published records. Sixteen species were listed from high altitudes from more than 900 m above sea level belong to nine genera: Copidognathus (1 species), Halacarellus (2 species), Limnohalacarus (2 species), Lobohalacarus (1 species), Parasoldanellonyx (2 species), Porohalacarus (3 species), Porolohmannella (1 species), Ropohalacarus (1 species) and Soldanellonyx (3 species). All species listed from more than 900 m a.s.l., also reported from lower altitude area. Proper investigation may result many more species from upper altitude areas.

The raccoon, Procyon lotor, is native to North and Central America but has been introduced to several Old World countries including Iran. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of ectoparasites of raccoons in Iran. During 2015–2017, a total of 30 feral raccoons were collected from Guilan Province, northern Iran. The fur of raccoons was examined for the presence of ectoparasites. The collected ectoparasites were preserved in 70% ethanol and microscopically and morphologically identified. In total, 11 fleas and 244 ixodid ticks were collected from 18 (60%) raccoons for the first time in Iran. Two raccoons (6.7%) harbored just fleas, five raccoons (16.7%) both fleas and ticks and 11 raccoons (36.7%) just ticks. Two species of fleas: Ctenocephalides felis (cat flea) and Pulex irritans (human flea) were collected from seven raccoons (23.3%). Four species of ixodid ticks: Haemaphysalis concinna, Ixodes ricinus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus and R. turanicus were collected from 16 raccoons (53.3%). All ectoparasites, except for cat flea, were found on raccoons for the first time. The prevalence, mean abundance and mean intensity of ectoparasites and the indices of affinity, association and diversity were calculated. The pair of species H. concinna/I. ricinus showed significant association and the infestation with I. ricinus in cubs was significantly higher than in adults (P ˂ 0.05). The medical importance of zoonotic infections transmittable by raccoons and their ectoparasites is discussed. The investigation of different possible vector-borne infections in raccoons and their ectoparasites in the study area is suggested.

During a study, two tick species viz. Amblyomma gervaisi and Am. helvolum were collected from snakes covering 15 species belonging to 12 genera. The period of extended survey of snake- tick association was undertaken from 2009 to 2015 covering both natural and captive habitats from six districts of West Bengal, India. It was observed that Am. gervaisi mostly prefers Naja naja, Daboia russelii and Ptyas mucosa as host, whereas Am. helvolum prefers N. kaouthia and Bungarus fasciatus. Naja kaouthia is preferred as host by both Am. gervaisi and Am. helvolum. Eryx johnii and Gongilophis conicus are found to be infested by both Am. gervaisi and Am. helvolum, whereas Python molurous is only infested by Am. helvolum. No ticks are found to associate with six snake species viz., Xenochrophis piscator, Lycodon aulicus, L. jara, Ahaetulla nasuta, Chrysopelea ornata, and Boiga trigonata. It is noted that tick loads on host snakes in natural habitats is greater than captivity, with few negligible exceptions. Statistical analysis of tick prevalence and abundance are done stating that Am. gervaisi is dominant snake infesting tick compared to Am. helvolum in West Bengal. Species population of both Am. gervaisi and Am. helvolum denote female's domination with low species specificity.

In this study, life table parameters of the two-spotted spider mite (TSSM) on four organic plants belonging to, Brassicaceae: Siberian (Russian) kale, Brassica napus L. var. pabularia L., Lacianto (Tuscan/Italian) kale, Brassica oleracea var. palmifolia, and Lamiaceae: Spearmint, Mentha spicata L. and Saudi Mint, Mentha longifolia L. were evaluated. The study also aimed to investigate plant nutritional content and morphological characters to explain how plant sources affect the life parameters of TSSM. Plants were cultivated in two organic locations: Giza Governorate (30° 09' 07.0" N, 30° 51' 00.2" E), and Fyoum Governorate (29° 34' 40.9" N, 30° 55' 38.3" E). Experiments were under laboratory conditions at 28 ± 2 °C and 75–80% RH. TSSM had the shortest life cycle, longevity, life span, the highest values of intrinsic rate of increase (rm), net reproductive rate (R0), finite rate of increase (λ), gross reproductive rate (GRR), shortest mean generation time (T) and doubling time (DT) on Siberian kale (Brassicaceae). Plant leaves were scanned by SEM to determine how plant texture could affect the TSSM's biology. Plant nutritional contents resulted in highly significant differences among the dry material of four tested plants for Nitrogen (N), Phosphor (P), Potassium (K), Sodium (Na) and Calcium (Ca). It is concluded that organic plant source, definitely affect life table parameters and behavior of TSSM. Plant-herbivore relation, were significant due to plant nutritional contents and morphological characters.

Capsicum is a highly nutritious and commercial vegetable crop grown in open field and protected conditions throughout the world. But two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch and yellow mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) cause major problems in its cultivation under protected conditions resulting in significant losses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of different biorationals especially neem fruit aqueous extract against T. urticae and P. latus under poly-nethouse and open field conditions in different vegetable growing areas of the state from 2017–2019. Results revealed that the homemade neem fruit aqueous extract (NFAE) was moderately effective causing 41–62% reduction in the mite population. In the NFAE treated plots the yield varied from 234.76 to 242.79 q/acre as compared to 247.99 q/acre in Malathion 50 EC® 4ml/L with significant differences as compared to control (224.69 q/acre). These botanicals can be integrated for effective mite management programs under protected conditions.

Pesticide-resistant populations of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, have been reported in many countries. This problem has led to the search for alternative control methods. One of these alternative strategies is aqueous ozone. During a series of preliminary test, the effect of different concentrations of aqueous ozone on mortality of T. urticae on pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) was evaluated in greenhouse conditions at 25 ± 2 °C; 50 ± 5% RH and 16:8 (L:D) photoperiod. Then efficacy of ozone to control the pest was evaluated in different experimental conditions including three exposure times (5, 10 and 15 seconds), different time of spraying (8 am, 2 pm and 8 pm), and different ages of the host plant (4, 8 and 12 weeks old). Each experiment was carried out in a randomized complete design with six replications. Based on the screening tests, ozone concentration of 43 g/m3 was found to give efficient results in terms of mortality rates of the mites and morphological traits of the host plant. The mortality rate of the mites increased with increasing exposure time. Although the interaction effect between ozone concentration and exposure time was significant, in other experiments, no significant difference in the mortality percentage of the mite among either times of application, or ages of the host plant was found. In none of these experiments, no symptom of injury to the host plant foliage such as chlorosis, necrosis, yellowing or malformation was observed after aqueous ozone spraying. Based on these results, aqueous ozone at a specific concentration and conditions can reduce the population density of T. urticae without any visible damage on the pepper foliage. However, more research needs to be done before ozonated water can be deployed commercially as a pesticide.

In this study, twenty-two species from twelve genera and two families were collected and identified. Among them 11 species were recorded for the first time from Lorestan Province and Aceria querci (Garman, 1883) was recorded for the first time outside the USA. Host plant names are in accordance with "The Plant List on-line database" (2013).