Phytoseiulus

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Taxonomy

Diagnostic characters of adult female

• Dorsal shield ca. 0.300–0.325 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 of variable length
• Sternal shield with 3 pairs of setae; st4 on small platelets
• Anal opening usually on ventrianal shield with 5 setae; however, antero-lateral margins of the shield may be eroded and one or both setae JV2 in the soft cuticle
• Ventral setae JV4 absent
• Genu IV with barbed macroseta (ca. 0.075 mm long); macroseta on basitarsus IV barbed (ca. 0.110 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. Phytoseiulus persimilis always has an anal shield and has a simple macroseta on basitarsus IV.

Ecology and distribution

Phytoseiulus macropilis is known from the United States, Brazil, the Canary Islands, Africa, and the Cook Islands, Hawaii, Fiji, French Polynesia, Moto Quavarei, New Caledonia and Tahiti in the Pacific Ocean.

References

• Banks 1905Banks 1905:
  Banks N. 1905. Descriptions of some new mites. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 7: 133–142.
• 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.