| Parasitism rate of Oedipoda miniata (Pallas, 1771) (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in the eastern Zagros Mountains |
| Paper ID : 1004-IPCA4 (R3) |
| Authors |
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Najmeh Kiany *1, Marjan Seiedy1, Masoud Hakimitabar2, Martin Husemann3 1School of Biology and Center of Excellence in Phylogeny of Living Organisms, College of Science, University of Tehran 2Department of Horticulture and Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood , Iran 3Centrum für Naturkunde, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany |
| Abstract |
| The band-winged grasshoppers (Oedipodinae) are an almost cosmopolitan subfamily within the family Acrididae. Within the Oedipodinae, the species Oedipoda miniata (Pallas, 1771) is widely distributed across the Mediterranean to Central Asia; it is also common in Iran. Several parasitengone mites parasitize Oedipoda miniata, especially species of the genera Eutrombidium, Charletonia and Leptus. We investigated the parasitism rate of this species by terrestrial Parasitengona. Sampling was done from May to September, 2020 in the eastern Zagros Mountains, Fars Province. Grasshoppers were collected using a sweeping net along five transects with a length of 22-29 km along a straight line. The distance between each transect was between 36 to 44 kilometers. Nineteen different localities, including lowlands and highlands of the eastern parts of Zagros Mountains were sampled. Individual host specimens were transferred to separate vials right after capturing. The exact place of mite attachment was recorded and mites were detached from grasshoppers by a minute insect pin; mites were kept in separate collecting vials containing 96% ethyl alcohol. Among 284 grasshoppers collected, 39.4 % were parasitized and 470 parasitic mites were collected. The most preferred sites of attachment were the hind wings. A maximum number of 48 parasitic mites was attached to the hind wings of a single grasshopper. Most grasshoppers were parasitized by Eutrombidium spp. The rate of parasitism in the study area was high, reaching its maximum of 60% at Dodej village in Zarghan city. |
| Keywords |
| Key words: Parasitengona, Eutrombidium, Grasshoppers, Zagros Mountains, Trombidiformes |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Poster Presentation) |