D. A. Chant

Comparative studies of two species of predacious phytoseiid mites (Acarina : Phytoseiidae), with special reference to their responses to the density of their prey

Predacious mites of the family Phytoseiidae form a diverse group that occurs throughout the world. They have been recognized as one of the most valuable groups of predators of tetranychid mites since the beginning of this century (CHANT, 1959). Since the late 1950s, many experimental studies in which phytoseiid mites were artificially introduced have been conducted, both in controlled environments, such as glasshouses, and in the field. More precise studies on the interactions between natural populations of phytoseiids and their prey mites also have been conducted (see reviews by HUFFAKER et al., 1969, HUFFAKER et al., 1970, and McMURTRY et al., 1970). In some of these studies (e. g. HUFFAKER and KENNETT, 1953, 1956; COLLYER, 1958, 1964; CHANT, 1961a; BRAVENBOER and DOSSE, 1962; LAING and HUFFAKER, 1969; FLAHERTY and HoY, 1971) the effects of the predators on their prey populations were profound, but in others (e.g. ANDERSON and MORGAN, 1958; CHANT, 1959) certain species of phytoseiids were of little value in the control of tetranychid mites. In addition, the effectiveness of a certain species of phytoseiid was shown to vary depending on a number of environmental factors (CHANT and FL~SCHNER, 1960). Nevertheless, most of these studies demonstrated only the overall impact of the predators on their prey populations, and they did not reveal the actual mechanisms of the controlling processes. There are several difficulties involved in studies of the interactions between phytoseiid mites and their prey. Firstly, because of the small sizes of the animals (only 300 to 600/~, and 400 to 900/~ in body length of the adult females of phytoseiid and tetranychid mites, respectively), accurate population censuses are often difficult. Secondly, because their generations overlap and mortality in the prey populations, including mortality caused by predation, cannot be assessed practically, approaches such as life table analyses or key factor analyses are not feasible. Thus, simple population studies of these mites alone Obviously have limited value for determining

Adult idiosomal setal patterns in the family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Gamasina)

ABSTRACT Forty-one pairs of setae and a single post-anal seta are known to occur on the idiosoma of adult Phytoseiidae. Twenty-one pairs and the post-anal seta are present on all known species in the family. Variations in the occurrence of the remaining 20 pairs produce different idiosomal setal patterns: 85 patterns for the adult females and 71 for the adult males. Comparisons of the setal patterns between different body areas show that there has been extensive homoplasy in the evolution of idiosomal setal patterns. Idiosomal chaetotaxy of the Phytoseiidae is compared to that of the Ascinae and the Otopheidomenidae.

A review of the subfamilies Phytoseiinae and Typhlodrominae (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Abstract The family Phytoseiidae Berlese is considered to be comprised of 3 subfamilies: Amblyseiinae Muma, Phytoseiinae Berlese and Typhlodrominae New status. The taxa comprising the subfamilies Phytoseiinae, with 142 known species, and Typhlodrominae, with 452 known species, are reviewed to the level of species groups. There are 3 genera and 5 species groups in the Phytoseiinae and 6 tribes, 20 genera, 8 subgenera and 28 species groups in the Typhlodrominae. Four new tribes, 5 new genera, one new subgenus and 13 new species groups are proposed. The exemplar species of each of the taxa are illustrated.

A review of the subfamily Amblyseiinae Muma (Acari: Phytoseiidae): Part I. Neoseiulini new tribe

Abstract Neoseiulini new tribe is considered to be comprised of eight genera, one of which is new, with a total of 321 nominal species. These genera are reviewed to the level of species groups and subgroups. Exemplars for each taxon are illustrated.

A review of the subfamily Amblyseiinae Muma (Acari: Phytoseiidae): Part III. the tribe Amblyseiini Wainstein, subtribe Amblyseiina n. subtribe

Abstract The tribe Amblyseiini Wainstein is diagnosed and 3 new subtribes are proposed: Amblyseiina n. subtribe, Proprioseiopsina n. subtribe, and Arrenoseiina n. subtribe. The subtribe Amblyseiina is reviewed in detail. Three new genera are proposed: Transeius n. gen., Maunaseius n. gen., and Graminaseius n. gen. The established genera are: Amblyseiella Muma, Amblyseius Berlese, Chelaseius Muma and Denmark, and Honduriella Denmark and Evans. Keys to the genera in the subtribe Amblyseiina are provided and exemplar species are figured. We propose a cladogram suggesting the relationships between the 3 subtribes in the Amblyseiini and between the constituent genera in the Amblyseiina.

A review of the subfamily Amblyseiinae muma (Acari: Phytoseiidae): Part VI. the tribe Euseiini n. tribe, subtribes Typhlodromalina n. subtribe, Euseiina n. subtribe, and Ricoseiina n. subtribe

Abstract The tribe Euseiini n. tribe is proposed and diagnosed and 3 new subtribes are proposed and diagnosed: Ricoseiina n. subtribe, Typhlodromalina n. subtribe, and Euseiina n. subtribe. Four new genera are proposed: Prasadromalus n. gen., Ueckermannia n. gen., Amblydromalus n. gen., and Moraeseius n. gen. Six established genera are included in the tribe Euseiini: Euseius Wainstein, Iphiseius Berlese, Quadromalus Moraes, Denmark and Guerrero, Ricoseius De Leon, Tenuisternum Fiaboe, Moraes and Gondim, and Typhlodromalus Muma. We propose Iphiseius degenerans Berlese, 1921, as the senior synonym of I. martigellus (El-Badry), 1968. We propose the new name Euseius liangi for sacchari (Liang and Ke), 1983, a junior homonym of sacchari (Ghai and Menon), 1967, and we propose the new name prasadi for pruni (Gupta), 1975, a junior homonym of pruni (Oudemans), 1929. Keys to and diagnoses of the genera are provided and exemplar species are figured. We propose a cladogram suggesting the relationships between the 3 subtribes and between the constituent genera.

A review of the subfamily Amblyseiinae Muma (Acari: Phytoseiidae): Part ii. The tribe Kampimodromini Kolodochka

Abstract The tribe Kampimodromini Kolodochka is revised herein and the tribe is reviewed. Four new genera are proposed: Parakampimodromus n. gen., Kampimoseiulella n. gen., Paraamblyseiulella n. gen. and Neoparaphytoseius n. gen. Keys to the constituent generic and subgeneric taxa are provided and exemplar species are figured. We propose a cladogram suggesting the relationships between these taxa.

A review of the subfamily amblyseiinae Muma (Acari: Phytoseiidae): Part V. tribe Amblyseiini, subtribe Proprioseiopsina Chant and McMurtry

Abstract The subtribe Proprioseiopsina Chant and McMurtry is diagnosed and reviewed. Five genera are included: Flagroseius Karg, Proprioseiulus Muma and Denmark, Proprioseiopsis Muma, Swirskiseius Denmark and Evans, and Tenorioseius Wainstein. Keys to the constituent genera are provided and representative species are figured. We propose gonzalezi n. nom. as a replacement name for globosus (Gonzalez and Schuster), a junior homonym of Proprioseiopsis globosus Karg. We present a cladogram suggesting the relationships between these taxa.

A review of the subfamily Amblyseiinae Muma (Acari: Phytoseiidae): part iv. tribe Amblyseiini Wainstein, subtribe Arrenoseiina Chant and McMurtry

Abstract The subtribe Arrenoseiina Chant and McMurtry is diagnosed and reviewed. One new genus is proposed: Pararrenoseius n. gen. The other genera included are: Arrenoseius Wainstein, Iphiseiodes De Leon, Phytoscutus Muma, and Paraamblyseius Muma. Keys to the constituent generic taxa are provided and representative species are figured. We propose a cladogram suggesting the relationships between these taxa.

A review of the subfamily amblyseiinae muma (Acari: Phytoseiidae): Part VII. Typhlodromipsini n. tribe

Abstract The tribe Typhlodromipsini n. tribe is diagnosed and 5 new genera are proposed: Diaphoroseius n. gen., Aristadromips n. gen., Phytodromips n. gen., Metadromips n. gen., and Afrodromips n. gen. Three established genera are included in this tribe: Typhlodromips De Leon, Scapulaseius Karg and Oomen-Kalsbeek, new status, and Knopkirie Beard. Keys to these genera are provided and exemplar species are figured. We propose a cladogram suggesting the relationships between the constituent genera. We also amend the generic name Ueckermannia (to Ueckermannseius) that we proposed in an earlier paper (2005).