---

The present checklist is a compilation of the eupodoid mites of Iran using published records and original data from recent researches. It contains 19 species belonging to 13 genera and five families. Family Cocceupodidae Jesionowska, 2010 (because of moving the genera to a new family) and two species i.e. Foveacheles (Foveacheles) cegetensis Zacharda, 1983 and Linopodes antennaepes Banks, 1894 are new records for Iranian mite fauna. In addition to some corrections to specific identities which have been previously reported in Iranian literature, we report here the known geographical distribution and habitats in Iran and distribution in the world as well.

---

The iolinid mite Coccalicus clavatus Willmann, 1952 was collected during a survey from the soil of Gilanegharb, Kermanshah, Iran in 2022. This species was first described in the family Alycidae by Willmann in 1952 and then André and Uusitalo transferred it to the family Iolinidae in 2006, accompanied by transferring species from the genus Paratydaeolus to the genus Coccalicus. Some challenges about species characters of this mite are discussed in this paper and the synonymy of C. lukoschusi and C. clavatus is proposed. The genus consists of 12 species with clavate trichobothria, and is related to various habitats like soil, stored products, under barks, on leaves of different plants, and on birds. They have been reported from Europe, Antarctica and North America and this is the first record of the Coccalicus mites from Asia.

---

Rhizoctonia root rot caused by Rhizoctonia solani is one of the critical factors influencing bean plants' yield. This study investigates the effects of some biofertilizers for controlling R. solani and their impact on the growth parameters of bean plants in the greenhouse. Biofertilizers, Funneliformis mosseae (F. mos), vermicompost (Verm), and mealworm frass (Meal), were used in a completely randomized design with five replications. Compared with diseased control, biofertilizers applied separately or in combination, reduced disease severity (except Meal) and disease incidence (except Verm). The combination of Meal + Verm had the best effect on both indices. All biofertilizer treatments increased the dry root weight (except Verm and F. mos + Meal + Verm), fresh root, and foliage weight. Also, root length, and dry foliage weight was increased only in combination treatments, and stem length in Meal + Verm and F. mos + Verm. The highest growth of foliage parameters, root length, and fresh and dry root weight was observed in Meal + Verm, F. mos + Verm, and F.mos + Meal, respectively. The highest mycorrhizal colonization was in F. mos and F. mos + Verm. Therefore, combinations of biofertilizers had better effects on the plant growth and inhibition of Rhizoctonia root rot. The tested biofertilizers and their combinations could be considered as promising tools for reducing the use of chemicals and enhancing sustainable agriculture and disease management. The appropriate timing and application rates for these biofertilizers must be determined accurately during field experiments.

 

---

The population densities and spatial distribution patterns of Zetzellia pourmirzai Khanjani and Ueckermann and its preys Cenopalpus irani Dosse and Bryobia rubrioculus (Scheuten) were studied in a sprayed orchard in Kermanshah, a western province of Iran, from 31 May till 7 November, 2007. The interaction (density dependence) between the plant feeding mites and their predator was determined as well. Population density of the phytophagous mites and their predator were counted on 130 leaves (sampling unit) every 10 days. The mean population density of C. irani per leaf was significantly higher than that of the other mites. The population densities of C. irani, B. rubrioculus, and Z. pourmirzai were highest on 9 August (11.092 per leaf), 20 July (0.554 per leaf) and 30 July (1.385 per leaf), respectively. The index of dispersion, regression models (Taylor and Iwao), and Lloyd’s mean crowding to mean showed an aggregated distribution for all species. Some changes in the distribution from aggregated to random was indicated by Morisita’s index during different sampling dates. These changes showed that the spatial distribution of these mites can vary during the season. The smallest optimum sample sizes, calculated with Taylors' coefficients, were 20.806, 192.912, and 128.117 for C. irani, B. rubrioculus and Z. pourmirzai, respectively. Linear regression of predator to prey population densities showed a density-dependant predation by Z. pourmirzai on C. irani and on B. rubrioculus. In addition, a significant linear regression was obtained between temperature and the population fluctuations of these mites. The spatial distribution parameters of the tetranychoid mites and their predator could be used to improve sampling programs and to estimate the population densities of these mites and the efficacy of the predator being used in orchards IPM.

---

The nut scale, Eulecanium tiliae (L.) is a potential pest, infesting deciduous trees in Iran, where it is common in urban horticultural areas and usually present in high population on some stone fruit trees, such as Prunus spp., including Prunus cerasus. It has higher occurrence and population in sustainable orchards. This pest has one generation per year and second nymphs overwinter on one or two-years old branches. High populations of this pest can cause death of branches, twigs and degeneration of leaves chloroplasts. In this research, the spatial distribution pattern and population fluctuation for all stages of E. tiliae were investigated in a cherry orchard of Kermanshah region during two studied seasons from 2016 to 2018. Four different methods were used to calculate distribution pattern including index of dispersion, Morisita’s index and regression methods (Taylor’s and Iwao’s). Sample size was determined for the first time, according to a primary sampling date and corrected for other sampling dates according to the data of the previous sampling date. Data analysis was performed using Minitab16 and Office Excel 2016 statistical softwares. Most used methods revealed aggregated distribution pattern of the pest in both years. The results obtained from the Morisita’s index during activity showed the random distribution of the second nymphs (in 16 April 2016, Z= -1.218, I_б= 0.440) (in 16 April 2017, Z= -0.179, I_б= 0.942) (-1.96< Z< 1.96). These changes showed that the spatial distribution could change during the season. Knowledge of the pest spatial distribution pattern can be used to arrange sampling program in pest management.