J. A. McMurtry

Revision of the lifestyles of phytoseiid mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) and implications for biological control strategies

ABSTRACT A new classification of lifestyles of phytoseiid mites is proposed based on the findings and suggestions from many studies conducted in the fifteen years since the publication of the lifestyle system by McMurtry & Croft (1997). In this newly proposed classification, Type I (Specialized mite predators) is divided into three subtypes to highlight mite prey specificity: subtype I-a—Specialized predators of Tetranychus species (Tetranychidae); subtype I-b—Specialized predators of web-nest producing mites (Tetranychidae); subtype I-c—Specialized predators of tydeoids (Tydeoidea). Type II (Selective predators of tetranychid mites) remains essentially the same. Type III (Generalist predators) is a huge and diverse group of general feeders; predators in this category are now grouped into five subtypes based on the microhabitat occupied and morphology: subtype III-a—Generalist predators living on pubescent leaves; subtype III-b—Generalist predators living on glabrous leaves; III-c—Generalist predators living in confined spaces on dicotyledonous plants; III-d—Generalist predators living in confined spaces on monocotyledonous plants; III-e—Generalist predators from soil/litter habitats. Type IV (Pollen feeding generalist predators) also remains essentially the same. Two possible additional lifestyles include phytoseiids living on aquatic plants and phytoseiids able to pierce leaf cells. Behavioral and biological information is updated and implications for biological control strategies are discussed.

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.

Geographic races in the predaceous mite, Amblyseius potentillae (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Abstract A stock of Amblyseius potentillae (Garman) originating from apple in the Netherlands was reproductively compatible with a stock from citrus in Italy. The two populations, considered geographic races , differed in their response to photoperiod and relative humidity. An eight-hour photophase induced a reproductive diapause in the Netherlands race but not in the Italian race. A higher relative humidity was required for hatching of eggs of the Netherlands race than for those of the Italian race.

Studies on how Phytoseiid mites feed on spider mites and pollen

ABSTRACT Galendromus occidentalis, Phytoseiulus fragariae, Euseius stipulatus, Amblyseius similoides and Iphiseius degenerans feed on spider mites by cutting into the cuticle of the prey with their chelicerae; the corniculi are partially introduced after cheliceral penetration. The number of feeding episodes on the body and/or legs of the same prey varies according to the predator species. Evidence suggests that proteolytic enzyme(s) are injected into the prey with at least some preoral digestion. E. stipulatus and A. similoides pick up pollen grains individually with one of the chelicerae without cutting into the grain; the exine is then ruptured in the course of alternative movements of the chelicerae, and the pollen grain contents withdrawn. Females of the two species consumed a similar mean number of pollen grains (ca. 100) regardless of starvation time (24–72 h) and feeding period (1–2 h). Cheliceral morphology is discussed in relation to feeding.

Studies of cheliceral and deutosternal morphology of some phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) by scanning electron microscopy

ABSTRACT The female chelicerae are described, figured and compared for 15 species in 8 genera of phytoseiid mites. Lobes, hyaline expansions on the fixed digit of female chelicerae, not always visible in optical microscopy, vary considerably between species in size and shape. The deutosternal groove and its structures are also figured and discussed.

Phytoseiidae database: a website for taxonomic and distributional information on phytoseiid mites (Acari).

This paper announces a database on the taxonomy and distribution of mites of the family Phytoseiidae Berlese, which is available online at http://www.lea.esalq.usp.br/phytoseiidae/. Synthesis of species diversity per genus, subfamily and country are given. Information about use of the database is provided.

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).

A review of the subfamily amblyseiinae muma (Acari: Phytoseiidae): part viii. the tribes macroseiini chant, denmark and baker, Phytoseiulini n. tribe, afroseiulini N. tribe and Indoseiulini Ehara and Amano

Abstract The tribes Macroseiini Chant, Denmark and Baker, Phytoseiulini n. tribe, Afroseiulini n. tribe and Indoseiulini Ehara and Amano are diagnosed and reviewed. Four genera are included: Macroseius Chant, Denmark and Baker, Phytoseiulus Evans, Afroseiulus n. gen., and Gynaeseius Wainstein. These genera are diagnosed and representative species are figured. The genus Macmurtryseius Kolodochka and Denmark is proposed as a junior synonym of Gynaeseius. The generic name Gynaeseius is the senior synonym of Indoseiulus Ehara.

Revision of the genus Iphiseiodes DeLeon (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Abstract The genus Iphiseiodes DeLeon is revised. The five species: Iphiseiodes quadripilis Banks, Iphiseiodes nobilis (Chant and Baker), Iphiseiodes kamahorae DeLeon, Iphiseiodes zuluagai Denmark and Muma and Iphiseiodes neonobilis Denmark and Muma are redescribed. All species are figured and a key to females is provided.

The Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) as Biological Control Agents

Phytoseiidae is the most important family of plant inhabiting predatory mites. These mites are extensively used as biological control agents for management of mite and insect pests of crops grown in greenhouses and in open field. Interest in research on phytoseiids has steadily increased worldwide during the last 50 years, resulting in a large number of papers regarding their taxonomy, biology, ecology and practical use. Currently, there are more than 2,700 species described in this family, which are organized in 91 genera. Phytoseiids have been reported from all continents, except Antarctica. Descriptions of new species and conduction of works on bioecological studies as well as on their practical use continue steady. This chapter is not intended to be an exhaustive review of research involving phytoseiids. Instead, it gives a set of statistics about the taxonomy, world distribution and micro-habitats occupied by these mites. A summary of more recent investigations on these mites has been also collated in this chapter. Suggestions are presented for activities that could help improvement of biological control projects.