A revision of the Australian mite genus Australiseiulus Muma (Acarina: Phytoseiidae)

Abstract

The genus Australiseiulus Muma contains the most holotrichous members of the mite family Phytoseiidae, and is the only known endemic phytoseiid genus in Australia. The revised and redefined genus contains five species in 2 species-groups, differentiated by the position of podonotal setae z6 and the number of teeth on the movable cheliceral digit. The australicus-group contains A. australicus (Womersley) and A. angophorae (Schicha); the goondi-group contains A. goondi, sp. nov., A. dewi, sp. nov. and A. poplar, sp. nov. Both species-groups are defined, all species are diagnosed, a key to adult females and detailed descriptions of the three new species and A. australicus are provided. In addition, immatures of A. australicus and A. goondi are described for the first time.