Study on host range and distribution of Parasitengona mite larvae in Kermanshah province of Iran

Subject Areas : entomology and othea arthropods

Masoud Arbabi ¹ (موسسه تحقیقات گیاه پزشکی کشور)
S. Mohamadi ² (Entomology Department, Islamic Azad University, Arak Branch, Arak)
A. N. Mirmoayedi ³ (Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, Kermanshah Razi University, Kermanshah)

Received: 2009-04-07 Accepted : 2010-03-16 Published : 2010-08-23

Keywords:

Abstract :

Geographical distribution larvae of Parasitengona mites belonging to Erythraeina and Trombidina were investigated with collection of them from different body parts of 20 insect species for the first time in Kermanshah province. Period of mite larvae sampling conducted from spring till middle of autumn seasons in two years (2007-2008). The mite larvae collected from Islamabad-Gharb, Mahidasht, Ghilan-Gharb, Sarpolehzahab, Kermanshah, Cozaran, Dalaho, Harsian, Paveh, Kangavar, Homeil, Ghasershireen, Sahneh. In this study nine species belong to 4 mite families identified so far from seven species belong to three grasshopper families Acrididae (Caliptamus tenuicercis Tarbinsky,Caliptamus sp.,Tetanocera robustaLoew,), Pamphagidae (Iranotmethis persa Saussure, Nocarodes crispus Mishchenko), Tettigoniidae (Platycleis (Squamiana) squamiptera Uvarov), and Cicadidae (Cicadatia persica Kirkaldy), Buprestidae (Julodis laevicostata Gorg., J. armenica Mars), Chrysomelidae (Galeruca spectabilis Faldermann), Meloidae(Lydus sp.), Tenebrionidae (Adesmia sp., Pachyscelis sp.,Tentyria sp.), Coccinellidae, Curculionidae and some other insect such as sunn pest and butterflies. Five mite larvae are new to mite fauna in species (three) and genus (two) level. Out of 7000 insects so far collected on 14 localities, more than 85 percent of them were belong to different grasshopper species which only 7.08% of them observed associated with grasshopper number of larvae (5 individual’s larvae mite) recorded on two grasshopper species (P. squamiptera, T. robusta). All insects collected in Mahidasht observed coexistence with larvae mite among surveyed localities whereas the least of larvae mite recorded only on grasshopper in Sahneh region. Maximum geographical distribution among mite species observed for E. sepasosariani in eight regions. Maximum biological activities and abundance seen during June-August for all mite species collected in all the regions. With reference to extensive Parasitengona larvae mite distribution in pastures of Kermanshah province and their feeding effects on grasshopper, It seems that they can be natural biological control agents on grasshopper population in this province.