Mesostigmata

t

Taxonomy

updated 2025

Diagnostic characters

• Phytoseiidae with both setaeseta:
  (pl. setae, from L. = bristle) cuticular process composed of a hollow shaft (sometimes filled with a refractive material) produced from a membranous socket (the alveolus); the hair-like, spine-like, branched or variously expanded structures on the surfaces of the legs and body.  Most setae function as mechanoreceptors, but others (e.g., solenidia) are chemoreceptors or have unknown or ambiguous functions.
  z3 and s6 suppressed (4 anterolateral setaeanterolateral seta:
  either of the setae (al 1–2) on the anterior lateral surface of a leg or palp segment in the Mesostigmata
  vs 5 or 6)
• One of the S-series or Z1 usually present. 
• r-R series reduced to 2 pairs of setaeseta:
  (pl. setae, from L. = bristle) cuticular process composed of a hollow shaft (sometimes filled with a refractive material) produced from a membranous socket (the alveolus); the hair-like, spine-like, branched or variously expanded structures on the surfaces of the legs and body.  Most setae function as mechanoreceptors, but others (e.g., solenidia) are chemoreceptors or have unknown or ambiguous functions.
  , r3 and R1 (except rarely, e.g., Ricoseius loxocheles De Leon which has 3 pairs).

Similar taxa

Phytoseiinae and Typhlodrominae have lost either or both of setae z3 and s6 (6 anterolateral setae). Some distinctive genera of Amblyseiinae are keyed out separately herein: Euseius, Paraphytoseius, Phytoseiulus, Iphiseius.

Ecology and distribution

Members of the Amblyseiinae are perhaps the most commonly encountered phytoseiid mites, especially members of the genera Phytoseiulus, Amblyseius, Neoseiulus and Euseius, because of their use in biological control.

References

• Athias-Henriot 1957Athias-Henriot 1957:
  Athias-Henriot C. 1957. Phytoseiidae et Aceosejidae (Acarina: Gamasina) d'Algérie. I. Genres Blattisocius Keegan, Iphoseius Berlese, Amblyseius Berlese, Phytoseius Ribaga, Phytoseiulus Evans. Bulletin de la Société d'Histoire Naturelle de l'Afrique du Nord 48: 319–352.
• Beard and Walter 1996Beard and Walter 1996:
  Beard JJ, Walter DE. 1996. Australian mites of the genera Paraphytoseius and Paraamblyseius (Acarina: Phytoseiidae). Australian Journal of Entomology 35: 235–241.
• Chant and McMurtry 1994Chant and McMurtry 1994:
  Chant DA, McMurtry JA. 1994. A review of the subfamilies Phytoseiinae and Typhlodrominae (Acari: Phytoseiidae). International Journal of Acarology 20: 223–310.
• Chant and McMurtry 2003aChant and McMurtry 2003a:
  Chant DA, McMurtry JA. 2003a. A review of the subfamily Amblyseiinae Muma (Acari: Phytoseiidae): Part I. The tribe Neoseiulini new tribe. International Journal of Acarology 29: 3–46.
• Chant and McMurtry 2003bChant and McMurtry 2003b:
  Chant DA, McMurtry JA. 2003b. A review of the subfamily Amblyseiinae Muma (Acari: Phytoseiidae): Part II. The tribe Kampimodromini. International Journal of Acarology 29: 179–224.
• Chant and McMurtry 2004Chant and McMurtry 2004:
  Chant DA, McMurtry JA. 2004. A review of the subfamily Amblyseiinae Muma (Acari: Phytoseiidae): Part III. The tribe Amblyseiini Wainstein: subtribe Amblyseiina n. subtribe. International Journal of Acarology 30: 171–228.
• Chant and McMurtry 2005Chant and McMurtry 2005:
  Chant DA, McMurtry JA. 2005. 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. International Journal of Acarology 31: 187–224.
• Denmark 1988Denmark 1988:
  Denmark HA. 1988. Revision of the genus Paraamblyseius Muma (Acari: Phytoseiidae). International Journal of Acarology 14: 23–40.
• Denmark 1993Denmark 1993:
  Denmark HA. 1993. Revision of the genus Phytodromus Muma (Acari: Phytoseiidae). International Journal of Acarology 19: 107-121.
• Denmark and Muma 1989Denmark and Muma 1989:
  Denmark HA, Muma MH. 1989. A revision of the genus Amblyseius Berlese, 1914 (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Occasional Papers of the Florida State Collection of Arthropods 4: 1–149.
• Denmark and Schicha 1975Denmark and Schicha 1975:
  Denmark HA, Schicha E. 1975. A new species of Amblyseius Berlese (Acarina: Phytoseiidae) from apple in Australia. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 99: 145–150.
• Krantz and Ainscough 1990Krantz and Ainscough 1990:
  Krantz GW, Ainscough B. 1990. Mesostigmata. pp. 583–665. In: Dindal DL, ed. Soil biology guide. John Wiley & Sons, Brisbane.
• Pritchard and Baker 1963Pritchard and Baker 1963:
  Pritchard EA, Baker EW. 1963. Mites of the family Phytoseiidae from Central Africa, with remarks on the genera of the world. Hilgardia 33: 205–309.
• Schicha 1987Schicha 1987:
  Schicha E. 1987. Phytoseiidae of Australia and neighbouring areas. Indira Publishing House, Oak Park, Michigan.
• Schuster and Pritchard 1963Schuster and Pritchard 1963:
  Schuster RO, Pritchard EA. 1963. Phytoseiid mites of California. Hilgardia 43 (7): 191–285.
• Tseng 1976Tseng 1976:
  Tseng YH. 1976. Systematics of the mite family Phytoseiidae from Taiwan, with a revised key to the genera of the world (II). Journal of the Agricultural Association of China 94: 86–128.
• Walter 1999Walter 1999:
  Walter DE. 1999. A review of Australian Asperoseius Chant, Euseius Wainstein, Okiseius Ehara and Phytoscutus Muma (Acari: Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) with a key to the genera of Australian Amblyseiinae and descriptions of three new species. Australian Journal of Entomology 38: 85–95.
• Walter et al. 1998Walter et al. 1998:
  Walter DE, Azam G, Waite G, Hargreaves J. 1998. Risk assessment of an exotic biocontrol agent: Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) does not establish in rainforest in south-east Queensland. Australian Journal of Ecology 23: 587–592.