Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 5740 No. 1: 31 Dec. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-12-31
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5740.1.4
Page range: 6-25
Abstract views: 30
PDF downloaded: 0

Ontogenetic characterization of Phytoseius huaxiensis (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Shanxi Key Laboratory of Bioagent Utilization and Eco-Pesticide Innovation; College of Plant Protection; Shanxi Agriculture University; Taigu; China
Shanxi Key Laboratory of Bioagent Utilization and Eco-Pesticide Innovation; College of Plant Protection; Shanxi Agriculture University; Taigu; China
Shanxi Key Laboratory of Bioagent Utilization and Eco-Pesticide Innovation; College of Plant Protection; Shanxi Agriculture University; Taigu; China
Plant Health & Environment Laboratory; Ministry for Primary Industries; Auckland; New Zealand
Shanxi Key Laboratory of Bioagent Utilization and Eco-Pesticide Innovation; College of Plant Protection; Shanxi Agriculture University; Taigu; China
Acari Parasitiformes Mesostigmata Phytoseius developmental stages

Abstract

Morphological ontogeny provides critical insight into character polarity, stage-specific diagnostic traits, and evolutionary relationships in Phytoseiidae. To advance understanding of these aspects, we reared Phytoseius huaxiensis Xin, Liang & Ke under controlled laboratory conditions and documented its complete developmental stages—larva, protonymph, deutonymph, and adult. Each stage is described and illustrated, with emphasis on diagnostic features and ontogenetic changes in dorsal shield structure, idiosomal and leg setation, and gnathosomal morphology. Comparative analysis with other phytoseiid taxa reveals both conserved and divergent traits, refining genus-level diagnoses and contributing to phylogenetic interpretation across the family.

 

References

  1. Athias-Henriot, C. (1971) Nouvelles notes sur les Amblyseiini (Gamasides odospermiques, Phytoseiidae) I. La dépilationdes génuauxet tibias des pattes. Acarologia. 13 (1), 4–15. [in French]
  2. Athias-Henriot, C. (1975) Nouvelles notes sur les Amblyseiini II. Le relevéorganotaxique de la face dorsal adulte (Gamasides protoadeniques, Phytoseiidae). Acarologia, 17 (1), 20–29.
  3. Beard, J.J. (2001) A review of Australian Neoseiulus Hughes and Typhlodromips De Leon (Acari: Phytoseiidae: Amblyseiinae). Invertebrate Systematics, 15, 73–158. https://doi.org/10.1071/IT99017
  4. Chant, D.A. & McMurtry, J.A. (2007) Illustrated Keys and Diagnoses for the Genera and Subgenera of the Phytoseiidae of the World. Indira Publishing House, West Bloomfield, 219 pp.
  5. Chant, D.A. (1958) Immature and adult stages of some British Phytoseiidae Berl., 1916 (Acarina). Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology, 43, 599–643. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1958.tb01581.x
  6. Demite, P.R., Moraes, G.J. de, McMurtry, J.A., Denmark, H.A. & Castilho, R.C. (2025) Phytoseiidae Database. Available from: www.lea.esalq.usp.br/phytoseiidae (accessed 21 August 2025)
  7. Denmark, H.A. (1966) Revision of the genus Phytoseius Ribaga, 1904 (Acarina: Phytoseiidae). Florida Department of Agriculture Bulletin, 6, 1–105.
  8. Evans, G.O. (1963a) Observations on the chaetotaxy of the legs in the free-living Gamasina (Acari: Mesostigmata). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Zoology, 10, 277–303. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.part.20528
  9. Evans, G.O. (1963b) Some observations on the chaetotaxy of the pedipalps in the Mesostigmata (Acari). Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 13, 6, 513–527. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222936308651393
  10. Li, D.-D., Yi, T.-C. & Jin, D.-C. (2020) Morphological changes in Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Zootaxa, 4857 (1), 71–96. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4857.1.5
  11. Li, D.-D., Yi, T.-C., Guo, J.-J. & Jin, D.-C. (2022) Morphological changes and ontogenetic development of Amblyseius eharai Amitai & Swirski (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Zootaxa, 5187 (1), 270–290. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5187.1.15
  12. Liao, J.-R., Ho, C.-C., Lee, H.-C. & Ko, C.-C. (2020) Phytoseiidae of Taiwan (Acari: Mesostigmata). National Taiwan University Press, Taipei, 538 pp.
  13. Liu, Y., Wang, J., Xu, X., Liang, G., Fan, Q.-H. & Ma, M. (2023) Description of the life stages of Amblyseius taiguensis Liu, Ma & Fan, sp. nov. (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from China. Systematic and Applied Acarology, 28 (11), 1748–1766. https://doi.org/10.11158/saa.28.11.5
  14. Ma, M., Fan, Q.-H. & Zhang, Z.-Q. (2018a) Morphological ontogeny of Amblydromalus limonicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Systematic and Applied Acarology, 23 (9), 1741–1765. https://doi.org/10.11158/saa.23.9.3
  15. Ma, M., Fan, Q.-H., & Zhang, Z.-Q. (2018b) Ontogenetic changes in the morphology of Eharius chergui (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Zootaxa, 4540 (1), 23–39. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4540.1.5
  16. Ma, M., Fan, Q.-H. & Zhang, Z.-Q. (2019a) Ontogenetic changes in the morphology of Phytoseius leaki Schicha, 1977 (Acari: Phytoseiidae). International Journal of Acarology, 45 (1–2), 56–68. https://doi.org/10.1080/01647954.2018.1544664
  17. Ma, M., Fan, Q.-H. & Zhang, Z.-Q. (2019b) Phytoseiid mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) of the Cook Islands. Zootaxa, 4646 (3), 527–540. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4646.3.5
  18. Ma, M., Fan, Q.-H. & Zhang, Z.-Q. (2020a) Neoseiulus kikuyu sp. nov. (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae): descriptions of all life stages from New Zealand. Systematic & Applied Acarology, 25 (11), 2098–2114. https://doi.org/10.11158/saa.25.11.13
  19. Ma, M., Fan, Q.-H. & Zhang, Z.-Q. (2020b) Ontogenetic changes in the morphology of Neoseiulus barkeri (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Zootaxa, 4900 (1), 5–19. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4900.1.4
  20. Ma, M., Fan, Q.-H. & Zhang, Z.-Q. (2023) Description of the ontogenetic changes in the morphology of Neoseiulus cucumeris (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Zootaxa, 5324 (1), 7–23. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5324.1.4
  21. Ma, M., Zhang, K., Fan, Q.-H. & Zhang, Z.-Q. (2024) Description of ontogenetic changes in the morphology of Amblyseius herbicolus (Chant, 1959) and Amblyseius lentiginosus Denmark & Schicha, 1974 (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Zootaxa, 5485 (1), 7–37. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5485.1.4
  22. Moraes, G.J., McMurtry, J.A. & Denmark, H.A. (1986) A Catalog of the Mite Family Phytoseiidae: References to Taxonomy, Synonymy, Distribution and Habitat. Embrapa-DDT, Brazil, 356 pp.
  23. Moraes, G.J., McMurtry, J.A. & Denmark, H.A. (2004) A revised catalog of the mite family Phytoseiidae. Zootaxa, 434 (1), 1–494. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.434.1.1
  24. Rowell, H.J. & Chant, D.A. (1979) Observations on the ontogeny of setae in the family Phytoseiidae (Acarina: Gamasina). Canadian Journal of Zoology, 57 (3), 670–682. https://doi.org/10.1139/z79-080
  25. Schicha, E. (1977) Immature stages of three mite species (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from apple in Australia. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, 101, 149–161.
  26. Shang, S.Q. & Zhang, Z.-Q. (2024) First report on the biology of Phytoseius leaki (Acari: Phytoseiidae) and its predation on different stages of Brevipalpus papayensis (Acari: Tenuipalpidae). Systematic and Applied Acarology, 29 (3), 445–448. https://doi.org/10.11158/saa.29.3.7
  27. Swirski, E. & Shechter, R. (1961) Some phytoseiid mites (Acarina: Phytoseiidae) of Hong-Kong, with a description of a new genus and seven new species. The Israel Journal of Agricultural Research, 11, 97–117.
  28. Van Lenteren, J.C., Bolckmans, K., Köhl, J., Ravensberg, W.J. & Urbaneja, A. (2018) Biological control using invertebrates and microorganisms: plenty of new opportunities. BioControl, 63 (1), 39–59. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-017-9801-4
  29. Walter, D.E. & Beard, J.J. (1997) A review of the Australian Phytoseiinae (Acari: Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae). Invertebrate Systematics, 11, 823–860. https://doi.org/10.1071/IT97010
  30. Walter, D.E. (1992) Leaf surface-structure and the distribution of Phytoseius mites (Acarina, Phytoseiidae) in South-Eastern Australian forests. Australian Journal of Zoology, 40 (6), 593–603. https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO9920593
  31. Wu, W.N. (1997) A review of taxonomic studies of the genus Phytoseius (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from China. Systematic and Applied Acarology, 2 (1), 149–160.
  32. Wu, W.N. & Fang, X.D. (2021) Phytoseiidae systematics and management of pests. Guangdong Scince and Technology Press, Guangzhou, China, 428 pp. [in Chinese]
  33. Wu, W.N. & Li, Z.Q. (1984) Three new species of the genus Phytoseius from South China (Acarina: Phytoseiidae). Acta Entomologica Sinica, 27 (4), 457–461. [in Chinese] https://doi.org/10.11158/saa.2.1.21
  34. Wu, W.N., Liang, L.R. & Lan, W.M. (1997) Acari: Phytoseiidae. Economic Insect Fauna of China 53. Beijing, China, Science Press, 227 pp.
  35. Wu, W.N., Ou, J.F. & Huang, J.L. (2009) Fauna Sinica: Invertebrata, Volume 47: Arachnida: Acari: Phytoseiidae. Beijing, China, Science Press, 511 pp.
  36. Xin, J.L., Liang, L.R. & Ke, L.S. (1982) Two new species of Phytoseius Ribaga from Yunnan and Guizhou (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Zoological Research, 3, 57–60.
  37. Zhang, B., Ma, M. & Fan, Q.-H. (2021) Morphological ontogeny of Neoseiulus zwoelferi (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Zootaxa, 5086 (1), 7–28. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5086.1.4
  38. Zhang, K., Zhang, Q. & Zhang, Z.-Q. (2025a) Fresh and frozen dried fruit mites (Carpoglyphus lactis) supported the rearing of a predatory mite Phytoseius leaki (Acari: Phytoseiidae) with specialised niche requirements. Journal of Stored Products Research, 112, 102651. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2025.102651
  39. Zhang, Q., Zhang, K. & Zhang, Z.-Q. (2025b) Leaf trichome density influences oviposition preference in Phytoseius leaki Schicha (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Systematic and Applied Acarology, 30 (4), 826–830. https://doi.org/10.11158/saa.30.4.13
  40. Zhang, Z.-Q. (2003) Mites of Greenhouses: Identification, Biology and Control. CABI, Walingford, UK, 218 pp. https://doi.org/10.1079/9780851995908.0141
  41. Zhang, Z.-Q. (2018) Repositories for mite and tick specimens: acronyms and their nomenclature. Systematic and Applied Acarology, 23 (12), 2432–2446. https://doi.org/10.11158/saa.23.12.12

How to Cite

Feng, X., Liu, Y., Diao, C.-X., Fan, Q.-H. & Ma, M. (2025) Ontogenetic characterization of Phytoseius huaxiensis (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Zootaxa, 5740 (1), 6–25. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5740.1.4