Mesostigmatid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) associated with tea orchards in Iran

Abstract

A faunistic study of mesostigmatid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) associated with tea orchards in Guilan province, Northern Iran was carried out during 2018 and 2019. Plant, soil and litter samples were collected from tea orchards in eastern and western parts of Guilan province. Mesostigmatid mites were extracted by using Berlese funnel or direct examinations of plant materials under a stereomicroscope. Collected mites were cleared in Nesbitt’s fluid and mounted in Hoyer’s medium on microscopic slides. Totally, 33 species belonging to 25 different genera and 16 families were collected and identified. Except Amblyseius herbicolus, Lasioseius extremus, L. sugawarai and Transeius wainsteini which had been previously reported from tea orchards, others 29 species are new records for tea mite’s fauna in Iran. Collection information and dominances (%) of identified species are provided. A tabulated checklist of 44 mesostigmatid mite species recorded from tea orchards in Iran is also provided.