Study of Mitesʹʹ fauna and their natural enemies on the ornamental plants in greenhouses of Guilan and West Mazandaran province

ABSTRACT: Some plant mites are considered as important pests of ornamental plants in greenhouse environments that sometimes bring irreversible damage to ornamental plants. Damaging species of plant mites have been collected and reported from most parts of Iran and the world. In order to study the fauna of mites and their natural enemies on ornamental plants, during years 2003-2006, sampled from different parts of plants and identify different species of mites from greenhouses of different parts of Guilan and West of Mazandaran was carried out. During this period, 40 species of ornamental plants in greenhouses of above regions were identified that thereby the organs of infected and suspicious to mites were collected and transfer to laboratory. Of these, over 28 species of ornamental plants and weeds infected to damaging mites. Mites and their natural enemies after collecting were transferred to the laboratory. and were kept separately in 70% alcohol solution and based on the family were identified using identification keys. In this study, 6 damaging plant mite species belonging to families Tenuipalpidae, Tetranychidae, one genus and 4 species of predatory mites of the family Phytoseiidae, Trombidiidae, Tydeidae were identified totally. Also in this research, predatory ladybird beetle, belonging to the family Coccinellidae with the scientific name of Stethotus gilvifrons Mulsant were collected and identified.