Harold A. Denmark

Some Generic Descriptions and Name Changes in the Family Phytoseiidae (Acarina: Mesostigmata)

Five newly delineated genera, Proprioseiulus, Noeledius, Chelaseius, Athiasia, and Orientiseius are described. Four genera are synonymized: Amblyseiulus with Proprioseiopsis, Paradromus with Kampimodromus, Cydnodromus with Neoseiulus, and Clavodromina with Paraseiulella. Ricoseius is elevated to generic status. Systematic problems in Phytoseius are discussed and clarified. Type synonymy in Clavidromus is indicated.

Some Phytoseiid mites of Paraguay (Phytoseiidae: Acarina)

A summary of the phytoseiids of South America is presented and 5 species are reported for the first time from Paraguay. These include Proprioseiopsis citri (Muma), Euseius citrifolius n. sp., Euseius flechtmanni n. sp., Euseius paraguayensis n. sp., and Galendromus sp. A key is constructed for the 3 new species of Euseius.

Phytoseiidae of Jamaica, an annotated list (Acari: Mesostigmata)

Abstract This is a faunal summary of phytoseiids in Jamaica in which 3 new species, Iphiseiodes neonobilis, Typhlodromalus rosayroi, and Amblydromella kazimiae, are described. Twenty-five other species are recorded from the island, 22 for the first time, giving a total of 28 phytoseiids known from Jamaica.

Regulation of Importation of Arthropods Into and of Their Movement Within Florida

A committee has been established to regulate the movement of arthropods into and within the State of Florida which is composed of: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry and Division of Animal Industry; Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services; University of Florida, Department of Entomology and Nematology; U. S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service; U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Public Health Service, Foreign Quarantine Program; and Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission. Among the organisms for which requests have been made (170 to date) are: insects, millipedes, mites, scorpions, spiders, ticks, snails, and protozoan malaria parasites. They were requested for a variety of studies, including insecticidal tests, biological control investigations with parasites and predators, genetic studies, and ant colonies, scorpions, and spiders for both scientific studies and as pets.

Six New Phytoseiidae from Florida (Acarina: Phytoseiidae)

The number of known phytoseiid species has increased greatly in the past ten years. Recent collections, especially in the southeastern United States and the Caribbean area, have added many new species and distribution records in this family of mites. These mites are usually considered predaceous. However, like so many previously described species of phytoseiids, nothing is known about the food habits of the six species described in this paper. General nomenclature and terminology used here are those of Muma (1961) and as modified by Muma (1964). Peritremal terminology is that of De Leon (1966). Spermathecal terminology is that of Schuster and Smith (1960). Spermatodactyl terminology is that of De Leon (1961). Illustrations were made with the aid of a phase-contrast microscope at 500 magnifications. The peritremal plates and genitalia were illustrated at 600 or 800 magnifications to better delineate morphological details. All measurements are in microns. Mesostigmatid mites of the monogynaspid family Phytoseiidae are characterized by a two-tined palpal apotele, chelate chelicerae, undifferentiated hypostomal setae, a smooth or indistinctly serrate tectum, a quadrate sternum with two to five pairs of lateral setae, an entire or transversely divided dorsal scutum provided with less than 22 pairs of setae, one or two pairs of sublateral setae, peritremes extending anteriorly from the meso-lateral stigmate, a ventral anus, and cursorial type legs provided with pretarsi and ambulacra. Females have the genital pore protected by an anterior membrane of the genital scutum, the genital scutum with one pair of lateral setae and more or less truncate posteriorly, a pair of spermathecae that open between the coxae of legs III and IV, a ventrianal scutum provided with one to five pairs of preanal setae in addition to the paraanals, and two to six pairs of ventrolateral setae. Males have cheliceral spermatodactyls, the genital pore protected by the anterior margin of the sternal scutum, a shield-shaped ventrianal scutum provided with three to five pairs of preanal setae and one pair of ventro-lateral setae.

Ricoseius Loxocheles (Phytoseiidae: Acarina)

A second specimen of Ricoseius loxocheles (De Leon) has been found, redescribed and illustrated to correct errors in the original description. This specimen is from Brazil.

Sibling Species of Phytoseiidae (Acarina: Mesostigmata)

A sibling species of Athiasia arenicola (Muma) is described and the following groups of sibling species are diagnosed and distinguished: Proprioseius meridionalis Chant and P. anthurus Denmark and Muma; Proprioseiopsis rotundus (Muma) and P. cannaensis (Muma); Proprioseiopsis mexicanus (Garman) and P. lepidus (Chant), and P. temperellus (Denmark and Muma); Proprioseiopsis dorsatus (Muma) and P. solens (DeLeon); Chelaseius floridanus (Muma) and C. vicinus (Muma); Typhlodromips dentilis (DeLeon) and T. arenillus (Denmark and Muma); Neoseiulus paspalivorus (DeLeon) and N. mumai (Denmark); Phytoseius macropilis (Banks), P. betulae Denmark, and P. chanti Denmark; Galendromus longipilus (Nesbitt) and G. occidentalis (Nesbitt); and Athiasia arenicola (Muma) and A. imbricata new species Muma and Denmark.

Intraspecific Variation in Phytoseiidae (Acarina--Mesostigmata)

One of the more intriguing problems confronting the systematist is intraspecific variation. The ability to distinguish, segregate or associate individual specimens at the species level is largely dependent on the stability of the selected diagnostic characters. When stability is lacking, a knowledge of the range of variability is essential to accurate work. As mite studies have been intensified, it has become increasingly evident that mites exhibit varying degrees of intraspecific variation. In some groups a remarkable stability is found, in others variation seems to be the norm. Interest in the problem is evidenced in discussions presented by Goksu et al. (1960) on Trombiculidae, Newell (1958) on Trombidiidae, Summers (1960) on Stigmaeidae, Wharton (1957) on parasitic Acarina and Yunker (1955) on a species of Knemidokoptes. In the family Phytoseiidae numerous variants have been reported. Seasonal variation of Kampimodromus aberrans (Oud.) as evidenced by degree of sclerotization and spinal length and serration was recorded by Chant (1955). Variation of dorsal scutal reticulation on Amblyseius peregrinus (Muma) was reported by Muma (19,55). DeLeon (1957, 1958, 1959) recorded apparent variation in the number of lateral setae on Clavidromina corna (DeLeon) and C. elliptica (DeLeon) caused by the occurrence of S2 on the dorsal scutum. In 1959 Chant stated Phytoseiid mites show little intraspecific variation and the criteria for specific separation, though appearing to be of minor importance, can usually be used with confidence, but in the same work he cited variation of diagnostic characters for Metaseiulus validus (Chant), Galendromus occidentalis (Nesbitt), Typhlodromella rhenana (Oud.), Dubininellus macropilis (Banks) and D. bakeri (Chant). While synonymizing T. kazachstanicus Wainstein with T. rhenana (Oud.), Chant also stated that Intra-specific variation accounts for the few small differences that seem to be evident. Later Chant and AthiasHenriot (1960) made a detailed presentation of character variation in species of Phytoseius Ribaga and Dubininellus Wainstein. As yet, however, no discussion of the systematic impact of such variations has been presented.

Life History and Synonymy of Grylloprociphilus Imbricator (Fitch) (Homoptera: Aphididae)

Fagiphagus Smith, 1974, is considered to be a junior synonym of Grylloprociphilus Smith and Pepper, 1968, and Grylloprociphilus frosti Smith and Pepper, 1968, is a synonym of Eriosoma imbricator Fitch, 1851. Grylloprociphilus imbricator (Fitch), n. comb., has American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) as its primary host and the roots of bald cypress (Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich.) as its secondary host. The synonymy is discussed and a description is given of the apterous alienicola. Pheidole moerens (Wheeler) and Solenopsis invicta Buren (Formicidae) have been found as ant tenders.

A Preliminary List of Ants Associated with Aphids in Florida

A list is given of 18 species of ants found associated with 34 species of aphids in Florida.