Omid Joharchi

The strawberry tarsonemid mite, Phytonemus pallidus (Banks), is a significant pest of strawberries in many countries, particularly in Iran. The use of a phytoseiid species that is sufficiently small to penetrate cyclamen mite habitats and naturally active at low greenhouse temperatures offers a notable advantage for effective control of strawberry mites. In this study, the efficacy of Neoseiulus longilaterus (Athias-Henriot), a predatory mite collected from the primary habitat of P. pallidus within a commercial greenhouse in Iran, was assessed for its ability to suppress P. pallidus. Its performance was compared with that of Amblyseius swirskii (Athias- Henriot) and Amblyseius herbicolus (Chant) under controlled laboratory conditions (25 ± 1 C; 80 ± 5% relative humidity; 16:8 photoperiod). Each experimental unit consisted of a single petiole leaf, with the petiole tip placed in a 10 mL glass vial filled with water. Predatory mites were released at a predator-to-prey ratio of 1:10, and assessments were conducted after 7 and 14 days. Control leaves received no predator releases. The release of all three phytoseiid mite species resulted in significant reductions in P. pallidus populations per leaf compared to the control. The most substantial suppression (91.33%) was observed following N. longilaterus release 14 days after application. Specifically, an initial population of 30 P. pallidus decreased to 3.1 and 2.6 individuals per leaf at 7 and 14 days, respectively, following N. longilaterus release. Both A. swirskii and A. herbicolus reduced P. pallidus populations by approximately 26% and 13.3% respectively, after 14 days, with no significant difference between them. The high efficacy of N. longilaterus in reducing strawberry mite populations under laboratory conditions, combined with its compatibility with the strawberry mite’s primary habitat, suggests its potential as a promising biological control agent against P. pallidus.

Hoplomegistidae are large trigynaspid mites found as adults on passalid beetles in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Central and South America. The family comprises ten species, of which only two species occur in Southeast Asia, both described recently from the Southern part of China. Here, we describe a new species, Stenosternum leptaulax n. sp., found on Leptaulax koreanus (Coleoptera: Passalidae) from the Republic of Korea. This is the first report of a trigynaspid mite from Korea. Our description also includes the larva, protonymph and deutonymph, representing the first description of the immatures for this family.

Neoseiulus neoparaki (Ehara) (Parasitiformes: Phytoseiidae) was described about 50 years ago and known only based on its original description from Japan. The original description is quite detailed and include most of diagnostic characters, but still not complete since it lacks the chelicera dentition and some important morphological features regarding leg chaetotaxy. Therefore, this species is redescribed and illustrated based on the material collected from Kuril bamboo, S. kurilensis in Sakhalin Island, Russia. This is the first discovery of N. neoparaki after its original description, and therefore the first report for Russia.

A new predatory mite species of the genus Leioseius Berlese, L. subarcticus Joharchi n. sp., is described and illustrated on the basis of morphological characters of adults collected in the subarctic zone of northern Tyumen, from the soil covered with lichens. We also provide additional morphological information and new illustrations for L. changbaiensis Yin and Bei. The species known only from the type series, was found under bark in China (Changbai Mountains, Jilin Province) and is now recorded for the first time in the Altai Republic, Russia, close to type locality from the same habitat. In addition, an identification key to all known Russian species of the genus is presented.

This paper reports on a new species of mite of the genus Julolaelaps Berlese in Republic of Korea. Females and males of a new species, Julolaelaps gigas sp. nov., were collected on a captive giant African millipede, Archispirostreptus gigas (Spirostreptida: Spirostreptidae). The new species is described and illustrated based on morphological characters of the adult females and males and compared with known congeners. This new species is the first record of Julolaelaps from Republic of Korea. In addition, an updated key to all known species of the genus is presented.

The development and life history parameters of Neoseiulus agrestis feeding on the storage mite, Thyreophagus sp., were studied at three different temperatures of 20, 25, and 30 °C. The results show that juvenile development and oviposition period as well as reproductive potential of this predatory mite are significantly affected by the temperature. The development times of immature and the life expectancy of adults ranged from 11.36 to 6.06 days and 58.71 to 38.65 days, respectively, depending on the temperature. The average total number of eggs laid per female at 20 °C (27.21), 25 °C (46.38), and 30 °C (61.12) differed significantly from each other. The highest net reproductive rate (R0) was 51.95 (offspring/individual) at 30 °C, although there was no significant difference from that obtained at 25 °C (37.10). Furthermore, the highest intrinsic rate of increase (rm) is 0.286 day-1 at 30 °C. Moreover, the highest finite rate of increase (λ = 1.331 day-1) and the shortest mean generation time (T = 13.786 days) and doubling time (DT = 2.418 days) were also determined at 30 °C. Our results indicate that N. agrestis successfully completed immature development and can survive and reproduce at all temperatures tested. However, a number of biological traits of this predator are affected by the temperature on this food source. Finally, a temperature of 30 °C seems to be more suitable for mass rearing of this predator on Thyreophagus sp. Further studies should be carried out to determine the biological characteristics and life cycle parameters of N. agrestis on various important pests such as spider mites, whiteflies and thrips.

A new mite species, Gaeolaelaps leptaulax n. sp., collected on an endemic bess beetle, Leptaulax koreanus Nomura, Kon, Johki and Lee (Coleoptera: Passalidae), from Republic of Korea is described and illustrated based on morphological characters of female, male and protonymph specimens. In addition, an identification key to all known Korean species of the Gaeolaelaps is presented, and ambiguities on the identification of some previously recorded species of the genus are discussed.

Surveys were carried out to determine Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) species in oak plantations (Quercus spp., Fagaceae) in different regions of Turkey. As a result, Typhloseiulus anatolicus sp. nov. Döker is described and illustrated based on female and male specimens. The new species is placed in the simplex species group of Tsolakis and Ragusa due to the elongated calyx of spermatheca. It differs from its congeners by having seta J2 more than six times longer than seta j6, and seta S5 about three times longer than seta R1 as well as eight setae on genu II, in the female. In addition, Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) rapidus Wainstein and Arutunjan, and Paraseiulus incognitus Wainstein and Arutunjan are reported for the first time for the Turkish fauna. Although T. (A.) rapidus was reported for the Turkish fauna by an earlier study, we consider the previous report invalid, because it shows three pairs of preanal setae as opposed to four pairs in the original description and the material examined in this study. Furthermore, P. incognitus is removed from junior synonymy with P. soleiger and redefined. Therefore, in this study, we retain these two species as distinct species due to differences in their adenotaxy.

This paper reports on three species of the genus Holostaspis (Laelapidae) associated with ants in Russia: Holostaspis ambigua Babaeian, Mašán and Halliday were collected from nest of Formica polyctena Förster (Formicidae), Holostaspis intermedia Joharchi n. sp. were collected from nest of Formica exsecta Nylander (Formicidae) and Holostaspis macrodactyla Joharchi n. sp. were collected from nest of Formica gagatoides Ruzsky (Formicidae). Two new species are described and illustrated from adults. In addition, an identification key to all known Russian species of the genus is presented.