Family PHYTOSEIIDAE Berlese, 1916
- Phytoseiini Berlese, A. 1916. Centuria prima di Acari nuovi. Redia. Giornale di entomologia, Firenze 12: 19-67.
Introduction
Most species in the family Phytoseiidae are arboreal predators, but some feed on pollen, nectar, honeydew, and fungi (Lindquist et al., 2009). They have been used extensively as biological control agents, especially for Tetranychidae and other pest mites (reviewed by Gerson et al. 2003). The Australian fauna of Phytoseiidae was reviewed by Schicha (1987). More recent studies have added many new species and extensively revised the classification, so that the Australian fauna now includes 31 genera and 159 species. The world-wide fauna of more than 2,000 species was catalogued by de Moraes et al. (2004), and that classification is followed here, with a few minor changes derived from more recent publications (for example Denmark & Evans, 2019). A database of information about Phytoseiidae is available on-line (http://www.lea.esalq.usp.br/phytoseiidae/). A summary of the classification of subfamilies and genera can be found in Chant & McMurtry (2007), but it is subject to constant change and revision. Beaulieu & Weeks (2007) reviewed the state of knowledge and ecological significance of this group in Australia. Unidentified species have been recorded from Australia a number of times as listed for each genus, and unidentified Phytoseiidae were also reported by Whitney & James (1996), Walter & O'Dowd (1999), Adolphson & Kinnear (2008), Callan et al. (2011), Proctor et al. (2011) and Majer et al. (2013).
Berlese (1910) described Ameroseius favosus from Australia. Berlese (1916) transferred this species to Lasioseius (Leioseius). Westerboer & Bernhard (1963) pointed out that this species does not belong in Leioseius. Halliday et al. (1998) showed that this species belongs to the Phytoseiidae, but its correct genus placement has not been resolved.
Some Australian species have been misidentified, or confused with European species. Some species included in the Australian fauna by Womersley (1954) and other authors are here excluded, with details as explained below. Schicha (1987) also listed some inaccurate identification labels on Womersley specimens that did not appear in publications.
Amblyseius chascomenis was described from Argentina by Sheals (1962), and his collection data were reproduced by Schicha (1981). Ragusa & Athias-Henriot (1983) incorrectly state that Schicha recorded this species from Australia.
A number of authors, including Womersley (1954), Buchanan et al. (1980) and Karg (1991), have recorded Amblyseius reticulatus Oudemans, 1930 (now Neoseiulus reticulatus) from Australia. However, it appears that these records are all based on misidentifications, notably of A. loxtoni Schicha, 1979 (see Schicha 1987; de Moraes et al. 2004). Denmark & Evans (2011) repeated the incorrect record of this species from Australia.
There are several records of Phytoseius macropilis (Banks, 1909) from Australia (e.g. Readshaw 1969, 1975; Miedema 1987; Karg 1991), but these are all derived from an original misidentification of P. fotheringhamiae by Womersley (1954). Schicha (1984) showed that P. macropilis does not occur in Australia. The incorrect record of P. macropilis from Australia was repeated by Papadoulis et al. (2009).
Chant (1959), Westerboer & Bernhard (1963), Miedema (1987) and Karg (1991) recorded Amblyseius bakeri (Garman, 1948) from Australia, but these records are all derived from a misidentification by Womersley (1954). Typhlodromus bakeri sensu Womersley was a mixture of T. machaon and T. australicus (Schicha 1983, 1987; de Moraes et al. 2004). The incorrect record of A. bakeri from Australia was repeated by Papadoulis et al. (2009) and Denmark & Evans (2011).
Womersley (1954) recorded Amblyseius obtusus (Koch) from Australia on the basis of four specimens. However, those specimens have been shown to be a mixture of four other species, which were identified as Proprioseiopsis messor (Wainstein), Neoseiulus australograminis (Wainstein), Amblyseius graminis Chant and Neoseiulella cottieri (Collyer) (see Wainstein 1977; de Moraes et al. 2004). The specimen that Wainstein (1977) identified as A. graminis was then corrected to A. sturti by Schicha (1987), so there are no confirmed records of Amblyseius graminis in Australia. The incorrect record of A. graminis from Australia was repeated by Papadoulis et al. (2009) and Denmark & Evans (2011).
Collyer (1964) reported Amblyseius mexicanus (Garman) from New Zealand and Australia. According to Schicha (1987) this was probably a misidentification of Amblyseius messor (Wainstein). This species is listed by de Moraes et al. (2004) as Proprioseiopsis mexicanus (Garman), and it is recorded from Australia under that name by Denmark & Evans (2011). However, its presence in Australia must be considered as unconfirmed.
Typhlodromus rhenanus (Oudemans) was recorded from Australia by a number of authors, including Readshaw (1969). According to Schicha (1987) this was a misidentification of T. dossei.
Euseius haramotoi (Prasad 1968b, page 1517) was incorrectly recorded from Australia by de Moraes et al. (2004, catalogue number 0407), because it was confused with Typhlodromus haramotoi Prasad, 1968a (page 1370) (catalogue number 1951 in de Moraes et al. 2004). This error was repeated by Denmark & Evans (2011). For more detail, see the entry under Amblydromella haramotoi.
Typhlodromina musero (Schicha 1987) was described from New Zealand, and incorrectly recorded from Australia by Walter (1997) and Halliday (1998).
Excluded Taxa
- Misidentifications
Phytoseiidae: Amblyseius bakeri (Garman, 1948) — Garman, P. 1948. Mite species from apple trees in Connecticut. Bulletin of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station 520: 5-57
Phytoseiidae: Amblyseius chascomenis Sheals, 1962 — Sheals, J.G. 1962. Mesostigmata : Gamasina (Acari). Biologie de l'Amérique Australe 1: 83-110
Phytoseiidae: Amblyseius graminis Chant, 1956 — Chant, D.A. 1956. Some mites of the subfamily Phytoseiinae (Acarina: Laelaptidae) from Southeastern England, with descriptions of new species. The Canadian Entomologist 88: 26–37
Phytoseiidae: Amblyseius mexicanus (Garman, 1958) — Garman, P. 1958. New species belonging to the genera Amblyseius and Amblyseiopsis with keys to Amblyseius, Amblyseiopsis and Phytoseiulus. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 51: 69–79
Phytoseiidae: Amblyseius obtusus (Koch, 1839) — Koch, C.L. 1839. Deutschlands Crustaceen, Myriapoden und Arachniden. Ein Beitrag zur Deutschen Fauna. Regensberg : Herrich-Schäffer Vol. 27.
Phytoseiidae: Amblyseius reticulatus Oudemans, 1930 — Oudemans, A.C. 1930. Acarologische aanteekeningen. Entomologische Berichten (Amsterdam) 8(175): 135-140
Phytoseiidae: Euseius haramotoi (Prasad, 1968) — Prasad, V. 1968. Amblyseius mites from Hawaii. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 61: 1514–1521
Phytoseiidae: Phytoseius macropilis (Banks, 1909) — Banks, N. 1909. New Canadian mites. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 11: 133–143 + Plates X–XIII
Phytoseiidae: Typhlodromina musero (Schicha, 1987) — Schicha, E. 1987. Phytoseiidae of Australia and Neighboring Areas. Oak Park, Michigan : Indira Publishing 187 pp.
Phytoseiidae: Typhlodromus rhenanus (Oudemans, 1905) — Oudemans, A.C. 1905. Hiat 20 afbeeldingen rondgaan van Acari en hunne details. Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 48: LXXVII–LXXXI
General References
Adolphson, H. & Kinnear, A. 2008. Acari (mite) assemblages under plantations of bluegum, Eucalyptus globulus, in southwestern Australia. Pedobiologia 51: 427–437
Beaulieu, F. & Weeks, A.R. 2007. Free-living mesostigmatic mites in Australia: their roles in biological control and bioindication. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 47: 460–478
Berlese, A. 1910. Lista di nuove specie e nuovi generi di Acari. Redia. Giornale di entomologia, Firenze 6: 242-271
Berlese, A. 1916. Centuria prima di Acari nuovi. Redia. Giornale di entomologia, Firenze 12: 19-67
Buchanan, G.A., Bengtson, M. & Exley, E.M. 1980. Population growth of Brevipalpus lewisi McGregor (Acarina : Tenuipalpidae) on grapevines. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 31: 957-965
Callan, S.K., Majer, J.D., Edwards, K. & Moro, D. 2011. Documenting the terrestrial invertebrate fauna of Barrow Island, Western Australia. Australian Journal of Entomology 50: 323–343
Chant, D.A. 1959. Phytoseiid mites (Acarina : Phytoseiidae). Part I. Bionomics of seven species in southeastern England. Part II. A taxonomic review of the family Phytoseiidae, with descriptions of 38 new species. The Canadian Entomologist Supplement 12: 1-166
Collyer, E. 1964. The occurrence of some mites of the family Phytoseiidae in New Zealand, and descriptions of seven new species. Acarologia 6: 632-646
de Moraes, G.J., McMurtry, J.A., Denmark, H.A. & Campos, C.B. 2004. A revised catalog of the mite family Phytoseiidae. Zootaxa 434: 1–494
Garman, P. 1948. Mite species from apple trees in Connecticut. Bulletin of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station 520: 5-57
Halliday, R.B., Walter, D.E. & Lindquist, E.E. 1998. Revision of the Australian Ascidae (Acarina: Mesostigmata). Invertebrate Taxonomy 12: 1-54
Karg, W. 1991. Die Raubmilbenarten der Phytoseiidae Berlese (Acarina) Mitteleuropas sowie angrenzender Gebiete. Zoologische Jahrbücher. Abteilung für Systematik, Ökologie und Geographie der Tiere 118: 1-64
Lindquist, E.E., Krantz, G.W. & Walter, D.E. 2009. Order Mesostigmata. pp.124-232 in Krantz, G.W. & Walter, D.E. (eds). A Manual of Acarology. Lubbock, Texas : Texas Tech University Press Third edition, 807 pp.
Majer, J.D., Callan, S.K., Edwards, K., Gunawardene, N.R. & Taylor, C.K. 2013. Baseline survey of the terrestrial invertebrate fauna of Barrow Island. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 83: 13-112.
Miedema, E. 1987. Survey of phytoseiid mites (Acari : Phytoseiidae) in orchards and surrounding vegetation of northwest Europe, especially in the Netherlands. Keys, descriptions and figures. Netherlands Journal of Plant Pathology 93(Supplement 2): 1-64
Prasad, V. 1968a. Some Typhlodromus mites from Hawaii. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 61: 1369-1372
Prasad, V. 1968b. Amblyseius mites from Hawaii. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 61: 1514–1521
Proctor, H., Kanowski, J., Catterall, C.P., Wardell-Johnson, G. & Reis, T. 2011. Rainforest-restoration success as judged by assemblages of soil- and litter-dwelling mites (Arachnida: Acari). Zoosymposia 6: 234–254
Ragusa, S. & Athias-Henriot, C. 1983. Observations on the genus Neoseiulus Hughes (Parasitiformes, Phytoseiidae). Redefinition. Composition. Geography. Description of two new species. Revue Suisse de Zoologie 90: 657-678
Readshaw, J.L. 1969. Predatory mites in Australian apple orchards. CSIRO Division of Entomology Annual Report 1968-1969: 42
Readshaw, J.L. 1975. The ecology of tetranychid mites in Australian orchards. Journal of Applied Ecology 12: 473-495
Schicha, E. 1981. A new species of Amblyseius (Acari : Phytoseiidae) from Australia compared with ten closely related species from Asia, America & Africa. International Journal of Acarology 7: 203-216
Schicha, E. 1983. New species, new records, and redescription of phytoseiid mites from Australia, Tahiti and the African region (Acari : Phytoseiidae). International Journal of Entomology 25: 103-126
Schicha, E. 1984. Contribution to the knowledge of the genus Phytoseius Ribaga in Australia, the south Pacific and Indian Ocean regions with four new species and records of known species (Acarina : Phytoseiidae). International Journal of Acarology 10: 117-128
Sheals, J.G. 1962. Mesostigmata : Gamasina (Acari). Biologie de l'Amérique Australe 1: 83-110
Wainstein, B.A. 1977. A contribution to the fauna of the family Phytoseiidae (Parasitiformes) in Australia. Zoologicheskii Zhurnal 56: 1413-1416
Walter, D.E. 1997. Notes on Australian Typhlodrominae (Acari: Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae), with descriptions of two new species of Neoseiulella Muma from tropical rainforests in far north Queensland. Australian Journal of Entomology 36: 333-338
Walter, D.E. & O'Dowd, D.J. 1999. The good, the bad and the ugly: which really inhabit leaf domatia? pp. 215–220 in Needham, G.R., Mitchell, R., Horn, D.J. & Welbourn, W.C. Acarology IX. Volume 2. Symposia. Columbus, Ohio : Ohio Biological Survey.
Westerboer, I. & Bernhard, F. 1963. Die familie Phytoseiidae Berlese 1916. pp. 451-777 in Stammer, H.J. (ed.). Beiträge zur Systematik und Ökologie Mitteleuropäischer Acarina. Band II. Mesostigmata. Leipzig : Akademische Verlagsgesselschaft Geest & Portig K.-G.
Whitney, J. & James, D.G. 1996. The phytoseiid fauna of grapevines in Australia. International Journal of Acarology 22: 279-284
Womersley, H. 1954. Species of the subfamily Phytoseiinae (Acarina : Laelaptidae) from Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology 2: 169-191
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05-Dec-2019 | Acari | 20-Sep-2021 | MODIFIED | Dr Bruce Halliday |
| 01-May-2017 | Acari | 20-Sep-2021 | MODIFIED | Dr Bruce Halliday |
| 07-May-2013 | 20-Sep-2021 | MODIFIED | ||
| 06-Nov-2011 | 06-Nov-2011 | MOVED | ||
| 08-Aug-2010 | 08-Aug-2010 | MOVED | ||
| 08-Aug-2010 | 09-Jul-2010 | ADDED | ||
| 09-Jul-2010 | 09-Jul-2010 | ADDED | ||
| 08-Jul-2010 | MODIFIED |