Species of Phytoseiid mites from northern tundra vegetation (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Abstract

Of the 3 subfamilies in the mite family Phytoseiidae Berlese, only the subfamily Amblyseiinae Muma is represented from northern tundra vegetation above the tree line. Twenty-three species in 4 genera (Neoseiulus Hughes, Amblyseius Berlese, Chelaseius Muma and Denmark and Proprioseiopsis Muma) have been recorded from northern tundra, in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Russia and Norway. No species have been recorded above the tree line in Sweden. Collection data for each species are given and each is illustrated. A distinction is made between species that also occur below the tree line and, presumably, migrated onto the tundra after the last ice age and species that appear to occur only above the tree line and, presumably, evolved there.