Phytoseiulus
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Taxonomy
Name
Phytoseiulus fragariae Denmark & Schicha
Diagnostic characters of adult female
- Dorsal shield ca. 0.320–0.330 mm long
- Dorsal shield setae j5 and S5 both present, j5 short and not reaching insertion of j6; j6 simple and shorter 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 7–9 teeth
- Calyx of spermatheca funnel-shaped
- Sternal shield with 3 pairs of setae; st4 on small platelets.
- Anal opening on ventrianal shield with 5 setae
- Setae JV2 on subpentagonal to subcordate ventrianal shield and JV4 in soft cuticle
- Genu IV with simple macroseta (ca. 0.060 mm long); macroseta on basitarsus IV simple (ca. 0.086 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 macropilis usually has an irregular ventrianal shield with 4–5 setae (rarely an anal shield with 3 setae), a long and barbed seta j6, and a barbed macroseta on basitarsus IV. Phytoseiulus persimilis has an anal shield with only 3 setae, a long and barbed seta j6, and a barbed macroseta on basitarsus IV. Both P. macropilis and P. persimilis have vase-shaped spermathecae with distinct necks and basal swellings.
Ecology and distribution
Phytoseiulus fragariae is known only from Brazil in South America.
References
- Denmark and Schicha 1983Denmark and Schicha 1983:
Denmark HA, Schicha E. 1983. Revision of the genus Phytoseiulus Evans (Acarina: Phytoseiidae). International Journal of Acarology 9: 27–35.
- Evans 1958Evans 1958:
Evans GO. 1958. A new mite of the genus Phytoseiulus Evans (Acarina: Phytoseiidae) from Southern Rhodesia. Journal of the Entomological Society of South Africa 21: 306–308.
- 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.
