Preliminary observations on mites found in domesticated animal food factories in Karaj, Iran

Between March 2004 and May 2005, 16 species of mites belonging to the suborders Prostigmata and Oribatida, and order Mesostigmata were found in wheat, barley, beet pulp and cottonseed meal (in the residue from, for example, the floor, equipment and the outside of sacks) in five factories producing food for domesticated animals. Mites were not found in samples of maize and bran collected. The factories are all in the Karaj region of Alborz Province in Iran.