Persian Journal of Acarology

Abstract During a survey of gall-inducing aphids on pistachio trees in Razavi-Khorasan Province, larvae of a parasitic mite were collected inside the galls of Forda hirsuta (Aphididae). The mite was identified as Erythraeus (Erythraeus) pistacicus Haitlinger, Mehrnejad & Šundić based on morphological, and molecular data. This is the first record of this mite from the host aphid, F. hirsuta, and also the third record of the occurrence of the mite in Iran. The survey of possible infections with bacterial symbionts in natural populations of E. (E.) pistacicus from Mashhad and Feizabad localities in northeastern Iran revealed the presence of three bacterial symbionts, Wolbachia, Planomicrobium, and Cardinium at different infection rates (55%, 30%, and 10% respectively), while Arsenophonus, Rickettsia, and Spiroplasma were not detected. Investigating bacterial symbionts in predatory insects/mites provide a valuable framework for better understanding the complex interactions between symbionts and their hosts and will lead to developing more efficacious biocontrol strategies particularly, those seeking to decrease reliance on chemical pesticides.

Abstract 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.

Abstract A new species of the genus Vittacus, V. veronicae Guo, Sadeghi & Xue sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on females collected from Veronica anagallis-aquatica L. (Plantaginaceae) in Ali Abad-e Katool, Golestan Province of Iran. This is the first report of the genus Vittacus from Iran. A key to the species of Vittacus is provided.