Comments on the identity of <em>Neoseiulus californicus</em> sensu lato (Acari: Phytoseiidae) with a redescription of this species from southern China

Abstract

The identity of Neoseiulus californicus sensu lato is reviewed and its polymorphic nature in published descriptions is discussed. Some mistakes in previous redescriptions of this species are clarified by studying the voucher specimens. A new strain of this species was discovered from Eriobotrya japonica in Dinghushan National Nature Reserve, Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province, southern China, and both adult male and female of this population are redescribed. Previous records of N. californicus and N. fallacis in China are reviewed. Preanal glands are described for the first time for a phytoseiid species. World distribution records for N. californicus sensu lato are reviewed, with extension of its range to southern China and Australia/Oceania.

Two new species of Gaeolaelaps (Acari: Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) from Iran, with a revised generic concept and notes on significant morphological characters in the genus

“…Although both poroids and gland pores vary considerably in aspect across species, and even within a species (e.g. some poroids are quite distinct from others at different locations on the dorsal shield), gland pores share similarities, and are often more conspicuous, and sometimes brighter in their center (especially gd8 in laelapids, as well as gd9, which sometimes opens more laterad), and extend deeper in the body than poroids, with often their diverticulae, or their calyx, discernible beneath (see Athias-Henriot (1969b), Alberti & Coons (1999, p. 715), and Xu et al (2013)). In some ascids (Antennoseius spp.)…”

Acarine biocontrol agents Neoseiulus californicus sensu Athias-Henriot (1977) and N. barkeri Hughes (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) redescribed, their synonymies assessed, and the identity of N. californicus (McGregor) clarified based on examination of types

“…Prior to this concept, Schuster & Pritchard (1963) provided a similar species description, but it is unclear if it represents the same species as that of Athias-Henriot (see Griffiths (2015), and a section below). Redescriptions made since 1977 are all essentially compatible with Athias-Henriot's concept, including that of Tixier et al (2008) and Xu et al (2013), and many others (McMurtry, 1977;Beglyarov, 1981;Schicha, 1987;Jung et al, 2006;Guanilo et al, 2008a, b;Lofego et al, 2009;Kade et al, 2011;Abo-Shnaf & de Moraes, 2014; see also Demite et al, 2017). The male of Nc-AH was never described by Athias-Henriot; however, most features of the male were provided by Xu et al (2013); other authors provide scant redescriptions of the male, with limited illustrations and/or measurements, that are based on males associated with females that are essentially compatible with Athias-Henriot's concept (Ramírez et al, 1988;Çakmak & Çobanoglu, 2006;Guanilo et al, 2008aGuanilo et al, , 2008bPapadoulis et al, 2009;Abo-Shnaf & de Moraes, 2014).…”

“…However, there remains an element of confusion as to the true identity of this animal (Griffiths, 2015). From its original description by McGregor (1954) to the more recent descriptions by Xu et al (2013), a significant amount of morphological variation has been recorded for this taxon, which suggests that more than one species is represented by the name N. californicus Material and methods The original descriptions of N. californicus and N. mungeri, particularly the illustrations therein, were scrutinised to find similarities/differences with other species descriptions and specimens examined. Details of the specimens examined are presented in Table 1.…”

<strong>Molecular and biological characterization of <em>Neoseiulus</em> species from China</strong>

“…In the first taxonomy of Neoseiulus, the Neoseiulus sp. was identified as N. fallacis, but in the following research Xu et al (2013) classified this species to N. californicus; however there were some differences between Chinese specimens of N. californicus and the specimens collected from elsewhere (Xu et al 2013;Lv et al 2016).…”