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, based mostly on Moraes et al. (1986; 2004). 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 about 2700 named species.

IN PROGRESS!!! The database will shortly also include information about 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.

How to cite

Demite, P.R., Moraes, G.J. de, McMurtry, J.A., Denmark, H.A. & Castilho, R. C. (current year) Phytoseiidae Database. Available from: www.lea.esalq.usp.br/phytoseiidae (accessed XX/XX/XXXX)

Publication

Demite, P.R., McMurtry, J.A. & Moraes, G.J. de (2014) Phytoseiidae Database: a website for taxonomic and distributional information on phytoseiid mites (Acari). Zootaxa, 3795 (5): 571-577. [ PDF ]

NOTES

The symbol (*) after a phytoseiid name indicates that it is a junior synonym.
The symbol (^) after a species indicates that its assignment to that genus is provisional, either because presently available information does not allow its categorical classification  or because its characteristics do not fit any described genus.
The abbreviation (OBS) indicates the availability of a note concerning the reference immediately before it, which can be seen on the screen by moving the pointer over that abbreviation.

LAST UPDATE: September 2021

DESCRIBED SPECIES: 2880

VALID SPECIES: 2557

REFERENCES: 2120

STATISTICS: Access: 28878 (Source: Google Analytics) | Citations: 224 (Source: Google Schoolar)