Abstract

To determine the predatory mite family Phytoseiidae associated with spider mites in northwest Iran, a survey was carried out during 2006-2007. Nineteen species from 7 genera of the family Phytoseiidae were collected and identified. Measurements are given and some morphological characters are discussed. A key is provided to identify the adult females of the known 27 species of Phytoseiidae of that area. The following new synonymies are proposed: Neoseiulus vardgesi (Arutunjan, 1968) as a junior synonym of N. zwoelferi(Dosse, 1957); Transeius caspiansis(Denmark and Daneshvar, 1982) and T. pat ellae(Karg, 1982) as junior synonyms of T. wainsteini(Gomelauri, 1968); Phytoseius ciliatusWainstein, 1975 as a junior synonym of P. juvenisWainstein and Arutunjan, 1970; and Typhlodromus iranensis(Denmark and Daneshvar, 1982) as a junior synonym of T. (A.)kazachstanicusWainstein, 1958.