Description of the ontogenetic changes in the morphology of Neoseiulus cucumeris (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Abstract

This paper reports the results of our studies of the morphological ontogeny of Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) based primarily on specimens reared in a laboratory at Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, Auckland, New Zealand. We describe all postembryonic stages and illustrate them in detail: the larva, protonymph, deutonymph (male and female), and adult female and male.