A review of the Australian Phytoseiinae (Acari : Mesostigmata : Phytoseiidae)

Abstract

We revise the Australian Phytoseiinae (Acari : Mesostigmata : Phytoseiidae) based on a study of over 1000 slide-mounted specimens. Of the three currently recognised genera in the subfamily, onlyPhytoseius is known from Australia, but endemic species occur in each of its three species-groups. We describe 11 new species, including P. bunya, the first Australian representative of the purseglovei-group. The plumifer-group is represented by five species including P. danutae, sp. nov. and P. improcerus Corpuz, a Philippine mite newly reported from Australia; in addition, P. leaki Schicha is newly reported from New Zealand. In Australia, the horridus-group contains two oceanic-island species, P. hawaiiensis Prasad and P. mayottae Schicha (newly reported), and two complexes of Australasian endemics. The fotheringhamiae-complex has seven species, including three new species from tropical rainforests in far north Queensland – P. paluma,P. camelot and P. devildevil; in addition, P. fotheringhamiae is newly reported from New Zealand. The douglasensis-complex also has seven species, including six new species from Queensland and the Northern Territory: P. oreillyi, P. acaciae, P. brigalow, P. mantoni, P. darwin and P. litchfieldensis. All 22 species of Phytoseiusknown from Australia are keyed and diagnosed, and their distributions are detailed.