Mesostigmata diversity by manure type. A reference study and new datasets from southwestern Iran.

Farahi, S., Shishehbor, P., Nemati, A. and Perotti, M. A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3769-7126 (2022) Mesostigmata diversity by manure type. A reference study and new datasets from southwestern Iran. Experimental and Applied Acarology, 86. pp. 517-534. ISSN 0168-8162 doi: 10.1007/s10493-022-00710-1

Abstract/Summary

Manure-inhabiting Mesostigmata mites are important biological control agents of pest flies. However, the biodiversity of this mite community is mainly known from Europe or America and, especially, from cattle manure. This study examined the diversity and abundance of Mesostigmata mites associated with different types of manure in an (intensive) agricultural region of the middle East, Ahvaz and its suburbs, southwest Iran. Mite samples were extracted from manure of cattle, buffalo, sheep, horse, poultry and quail in 30 livestock and poultry farms. In total, 40 species belonging to 24 genera and 16 families were identified. The most diverse families were Laelapidae with eight species, Macrochelidae with seven and Parasitidae with six. Macrocheles muscaedomesticae and Uroobovella marginata were the most widespread species, recorded in 28 and 27 out of 30 collecting sites, respectively. Two species, M. sumbaensis and U. marginata, were found in all studied manures. Simpson’s diversity index recorded the highest diversity in buffalo and sheep manure. Real and theoretical species richness (rarefaction curves) were congruent in number of individuals. The presence of seven species of Macrochelidae in the manure confirms that these are important predators of the house fly for the region of Ahvaz and its suburbs. Members of the Parasitidae were highly prevalent; with one species known as a specialized predator of house fly eggs. This work aims to encourage further studies on the biology and the predatory traits of these Mesostigmata, to continue assessing the feasibility of these mites as effective biological control agents of filth flies in different types of manure and from different corners of the world.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/102417
Identification Number/DOI	10.1007/s10493-022-00710-1
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Biological Sciences > Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Publisher	Springer
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