The Phytoseiidae are the most common plant inhabiting predatory mites. They have been considered to play an important role in the natural control of some phytophagous mites and insects. Several phytoseiid species have been commercially produced for the control of pest mites, thrips and whiteflies.
This database contains updated taxonomic information about the phytoseiid species described up to July of 2012, based mostly on Moraes et al. (1986; 2004; in preparation). It was prepared according to the taxonomic system summarized in Chant & McMurtry (2007) [Chant, D.A. & J.A. McMurtry. 2007. Illustrated keys and diagnoses for the genera and subgenera of the Phytoseiidae of the world (Acari: Mesostigmata). Indira Publishing House, West Bloomfield, 220 p.], and contains information almost 2700 phytoseiid species names.

IN PROGRESS!!!! In the next few months, the database will also include information about distribution and plant substrates onto which the phytoseiids have been collected around the world.

NOTE: a major effort was done to include precise information about all known phytoseiid species; we would be very grateful to users that let us know of mistakes or omissions on our part.

THIS IS NOT A TAXONOMIC REVISION. THEREFORE, IT CONTAINS NO OFFICIAL TAXONOMIC DECISIONS. PLACEMENT OF A SPECIES UNDER A GENUS DIFFERENT FROM WHICH IT IS KNOWN FROM THE LITERATURE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A "NEW COMBINATION". Thus, no new names are proposed for homonymies which could have resulted from the different placement of species in genera according to the system used in this catalog. Similarly, no new names are proposed for homonymies which have already been created in the literature and for which new names have not yet been proposed.