This review categorizes the diversity of life-styles in the Phytoseiidae, based primarily on food habits and related biological and morphological traits. The life-styles proposed are as follows: Type I, specialized predators of Tetranychus species represented by the Phytoseiulus species; Type II, selective predators of tetranychid mites (most frequently associated with species that produce dense webbing) represented by Galendromus, some Neoseiulus, and a few Typhlodromus species; Type III, generalist predators represented by some Neoseiulus species and most Typhlodromus and Amblyseius species, as well as species in all other genera about which information is available; Type IV, specialized pollen feeders/generalist predators represented by Euseius species. Consideration is given to the relative importance of each of these types in biological control and pest management programs.

A new classification of lifestyles of phytoseiid mites is proposed based on the findings and suggestions from many studies conducted in the fifteen years since the publication of the lifestyle system by McMurtry & Croft (1997). In this newly proposed classification, Type I (Specialized mite predators) is divided into three subtypes to highlight mite prey specificity: subtype I-a-Specialized predators of Tetranychus species (Tetranychidae); subtype I-b-Specialized predators of web-nest producing mites (Tetranychidae); subtype I-c-Specialized predators of tydeoids (Tydeoidea). Type II (Selective predators of tetranychid mites) remains essentially the same. Type III (Generalist predators) is a huge and diverse group of general feeders; predators in this category are now grouped into five subtypes based on the microhabitat occupied and morphology: subtype III-aGeneralist predators living on pubescent leaves; subtype III-b-Generalist predators living on glabrous leaves; III-c-Generalist predators living in confined spaces on dicotyledonous plants; III-d-Generalist predators living in confined spaces on monocotyledonous plants; III-e-Generalist predators from soil/litter habitats. Type IV (Pollen feeding generalist predators) also remains essentially the same. Two possible additional lifestyles include phytoseiids living on aquatic plants and phytoseiids able to pierce leaf cells. Behavioral and biological information is updated and implications for biological control strategies are discussed.

This paper announces a database on the taxonomy and distribution of mites of the family Phytoseiidae Berlese, which is available online at http://www.lea.esalq.usp.br/phytoseiidae/. Synthesis of species diversity per genus, subfamily and country are given. Information about use of the database is provided.

Mites of the family Phytoseiidae are the most common predators of phytophagous mites on most plant species. Some species are widely studied and used for the biological control of mite pests. Many new species continue to be discovered as collections are intensified in certain regions or habitats, e.g. in Africa, Asia, Central and South America. The last catalog of Moraes et al. (1986) included about 1500 described species. This updated catalog includes almost 2250 species. As in the last catalog, it includes references to descriptions and redescriptions of species, synonymies and recorded world distributions.

Mites of the family Phytoseiidae, a diverse and widespread group, occur throughout the world from the Arctic through the tropics. The number of described species has increased from fewer than 20 in 1951 (Nesbitt, 1951) to over 450 in 1965 (Chant, personal communication). Opinion differs among' taxon

No abstract

No abstract

The literature pertalOlOg to the bionomics of some of the mos t important tetranychids is r~viewed. Considerable attention is paid to the possihiliries of spider mites reaching pest le~els /as a 'resu lt of environmental factors. It is concluded that more infor--m ation is needed on economic injury levels of various species on d ifferent crops and under various climatic conditions. The in-I fluences of cultural practices and their interactions as related to population development of tetranychids also need more i tu dy. Furthermore, work is need~d on the influence of climatic conditions on development of retranychid mite populations together with possible predictability 'of outbreak situations. Finally; we need to know more about ·th)e fundamental relations between the host-planr-qualiry and spider mite development, and the, impact of spider mites on the development .of their .host p lants.