A new species of subgenus Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) De Leon (Acari: Phytoseiidae), and phytoseiid mites intercepted in samples imported from 12 different countries to Taiwan

Abstract

Global trade has increased the invasion risk of exotic organisms and damaged agricultural and natural ecosystems. The Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ) handles quarantine services of animal- and plant-associated pests and diseases in Taiwan. The predatory mite family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) is a well-known group due to the potential use of certain species as biocontrol agents for small phytophagous pests. Some species are available in commercial markets and frequently used in biological control in many agricultural systems especially in greenhouse crops. However, exotic biological control agents may interfere with native or naturalized populations of predatory mites and they may threaten indigenous populations via intraguild predation. The present study aims to provide the phytoseiid mite species found in plant quarantine from 2006-2013. Twenty-five species belonging two subfamilies and eight genera were found in samples imported to Tawan from twelve countries, including one new species Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) ueckermanni sp. nov. from South Africa. The checklist provides distribution, remarks, and also an identification key for all species.