Phytoseiulus

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Taxonomy

Diagnostic characters of adult female

• Dorsal shield ca. 0.315–0.330 mm long
• Dorsal shield setae j5 and S5 both present, j5 barbed and reaching insertion of j6; j6 barbed and as long or longer than Z1; R1 and r3 simple, similar in length.
• Peritrematal shield fused to dorsal shield anteriorly
• Fixed digit of chelicera elongate and with row of 7–8 teeth
• Calyx of spermatheca vase-shaped with neck
• Sternal shield with 3 pairs of setae; st4 on small platelets.
• Anal opening on ianal shield with 3 setae; setae JV2 in the soft cuticle
• Ventral setae JV4 absent
• Genu IV with barbed macroseta (ca. 0.085 mm long); macroseta on basitarsus IV simple (ca. 0.125 mm long)

Similar species

Phytoseiulus longipes has a sternal shield with only 2 pairs of setae (st1–2) and lacks dorsal shield setae j5 and S5. Phytoseiulus fragariae has simple setae j6 shorter than Z1 and setae JV4 present laterad the ventrianal shield. Phytoseiulus macropilis usually has a ventrianal shield with 4–5 setae (rarely an anal shield with 3 setae) and a barbed macroseta on basitarsus IV.

Ecology and distribution

Phytoseiulus persimilis is perhaps the most successful and widely distributed biological control agent of the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae and of other spider mites that form dense webbing.

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.
• 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.
• Takahashi and Chant 1993Takahashi and Chant 1993:
  Takahashi F, Chant DA. 1993. Phylogenetic relationships in the genus Phytoseiulus Evans (Acari: Phytoseiidae). II. Taxonomic Review. International Journal of Acarology 19: 23–37.
• 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 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.