Six New Phytoseiidae from Florida (Acarina: Phytoseiidae)

Abstract

The number of known phytoseiid species has increased greatly in the past ten years. Recent collections, especially in the southeastern United States and the Caribbean area, have added many new species and distribution records in this family of mites. These mites are usually considered predaceous. However, like so many previously described species of phytoseiids, nothing is known about the food habits of the six species described in this paper. General nomenclature and terminology used here are those of Muma (1961) and as modified by Muma (1964). Peritremal terminology is that of De Leon (1966). Spermathecal terminology is that of Schuster and Smith (1960). Spermatodactyl terminology is that of De Leon (1961). Illustrations were made with the aid of a phase-contrast microscope at 500 magnifications. The peritremal plates and genitalia were illustrated at 600 or 800 magnifications to better delineate morphological details. All measurements are in microns. Mesostigmatid mites of the monogynaspid family Phytoseiidae are characterized by a two-tined palpal apotele, chelate chelicerae, undifferentiated hypostomal setae, a smooth or indistinctly serrate tectum, a quadrate sternum with two to five pairs of lateral setae, an entire or transversely divided dorsal scutum provided with less than 22 pairs of setae, one or two pairs of sublateral setae, peritremes extending anteriorly from the meso-lateral stigmate, a ventral anus, and cursorial type legs provided with pretarsi and ambulacra. Females have the genital pore protected by an anterior membrane of the genital scutum, the genital scutum with one pair of lateral setae and more or less truncate posteriorly, a pair of spermathecae that open between the coxae of legs III and IV, a ventrianal scutum provided with one to five pairs of preanal setae in addition to the paraanals, and two to six pairs of ventrolateral setae. Males have cheliceral spermatodactyls, the genital pore protected by the anterior margin of the sternal scutum, a shield-shaped ventrianal scutum provided with three to five pairs of preanal setae and one pair of ventro-lateral setae.