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The Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) as Biological Control Agents

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Book cover Prospects for Biological Control of Plant Feeding Mites and Other Harmful Organisms

Part of the book series: Progress in Biological Control ((PIBC,volume 19))

Abstract

Phytoseiidae is the most important family of plant inhabiting predatory mites. These mites are extensively used as biological control agents for management of mite and insect pests of crops grown in greenhouses and in open field. Interest in research on phytoseiids has steadily increased worldwide during the last 50 years, resulting in a large number of papers regarding their taxonomy, biology, ecology and practical use. Currently, there are more than 2,700 species described in this family, which are organized in 91 genera. Phytoseiids have been reported from all continents, except Antarctica. Descriptions of new species and conduction of works on bioecological studies as well as on their practical use continue steady. This chapter is not intended to be an exhaustive review of research involving phytoseiids. Instead, it gives a set of statistics about the taxonomy, world distribution and micro-habitats occupied by these mites. A summary of more recent investigations on these mites has been also collated in this chapter. Suggestions are presented for activities that could help improvement of biological control projects.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to Prof. Dr. Gilberto J. de Moraes (ESALQ-USP, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil) for his numerous comments and suggestions in the preparation of this chapter. Peterson R. Demite and N. Famah Sourassou are FAPESP Postdoctoral fellows (Process # 2011/08941-3 and 2012/21422-2, respectively).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, 4487, Sunriver, Oregon, 97707, USA

    James A. McMurtry

  2. Departamento de Entomologia e Acarologia, Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz”, Universidade de São Paulo, 13418-900, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil

    Nazer Famah Sourassou & Peterson Rodrigo Demite

  3. Instituto Federal Goiano, câmpus Urutaí, Urutaí, GO, 75790-000, Brazil

    Peterson Rodrigo Demite

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  1. James A. McMurtry
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  2. Nazer Famah Sourassou
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  3. Peterson Rodrigo Demite
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Correspondence to James A. McMurtry .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology and Nematology Tropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida - IFAS, Homestead, Florida, USA

    Daniel Carrillo

  2. Departamento de Entomologia e Acarologia, Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil

    Gilberto José de Moraes

  3. Department of Entomology and Nematology Tropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida - IFAS, Homestead, Florida, USA

    Jorge E. Peña

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McMurtry, J.A., Sourassou, N.F., Demite, P.R. (2015). The Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) as Biological Control Agents. In: Carrillo, D., de Moraes, G., Peña, J. (eds) Prospects for Biological Control of Plant Feeding Mites and Other Harmful Organisms. Progress in Biological Control, vol 19. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15042-0_5

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