Predatory mites (Acari: Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) intercepted from samples imported to Taiwan, with description of a new species

Abstract

Global trade has increased the invasion risk of exotic organisms and damaged agricultural and natural ecosystems. The Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ) handles quarantine services of animal- and plant-associated pests and diseases in Taiwan. The predatory mite family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) is a well-known group due to the potential use of certain species as biocontrol agents for small phytophagous pests. Some species are available in commercial markets and frequently used in biological control in many agricultural systems, especially in greenhouse crops. However, exotic biological control agents may interfere with natural or naturalised populations of predatory mites and they may threaten indigenous populations via intraguild predation. The present study aims to provide a checklist of phytoseiid mite species found in plant quarantine from 2006–2013. Twenty-five species belonging to two subfamilies and eight genera were found in samples imported to Taiwan from twelve countries, including one new species Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) ueckermanni sp. nov. from South Africa. The checklist provides distribution, remarks, and also an identification key for all species.

Description of Neoseiulus hexaporus sp. nov. and a redescription of Neoseiulus mumai (Acari: Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) from Florida citrus groves

“…Neoseiulus hexaporus sp. nov. can be separated by the combination of the following characters from all other species of the species group; 6 pairs of dorsal solenostomes ( gd4 absent), small crescentic preanal solenostomes located close to each other (distance about 14), only one macroseta on leg IV (26 long), seven setae on genu II, and peritremes extending to level between setae j1 and j3 (Athias-Henriot 1966, Schicha 1981, Zannou et al 2006, Liao et al 2020, Döker et al 2021).…”

“…The paspalivorus species group was defined primarily by having a large, rectangular female ventrianal shield, and a dorsal shield with marked shoulders at the level setae z4 (Tseng 1983, Chant and McMurtry 2003). This group consisted of a total of 19 valid species which were reported from various geographical regions of the world (Schicha 1981, Zannou et al 2006, Lofego et al 2009, Ferragut and Navia 2017, Kamran et al 2019, Kreiter et al 2020, Liao et al 2020). This group can be considered a species complex, with some species differing by relatively subtle morphological characteristics related to the length of dorsal setae, leg chaetotaxy in particular of trochanter and femur I, femur and genu II, and the presence/absence of macrosetae in legs (Zannou et al 2006, Ma et al 2020, Döker et al 2021).…”

Reassessing the presence of alien predatory mites and their prospects in the face of future climate change

“…The specimens were deposited at the Department of Entomology, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan. Phytoseiids were identified according to the taxonomic references provided by Tsolakis and Ragusa, 27 Beaulieu and Beard, 28 and Liao et al 25 …”

“…1). No alien predatory mites have been observed in these surveys 25 . To confirm the establishment of alien predatory mite populations, detailed monthly surveys were initiated in 2022 at previous release sites, such as Lishan and Fushoushan farm (Supporting information Fig.…”

“…Predatory mite survey in Taiwan: (a) collection sites of Liao et al ., 25 (b) collection sites in alpine orchards. Green areas represent agricultural areas.…”