New surveys of phytoseiid mites (Acari: phytoseiidae) on citrus in Peru
2026 - Volume: 66 Issue: Suppl pages: 263
https://doi.org/10.24349/zwhl-jg9b
ICA 2026 - XVII International Congress of Acarology, 20-24 July 2026, Montpellier
Keywords
Agroecosystems
Diversity
Ecosystems services
Predatory mites
Abstract
Phytoseiidae is an important family of predatory mites associated with plants in both natural and agricultural environments. In Peru, 66 species belonging to 19 genera have been recorded, which represents only a small portion of the actual diversity in the country. Surveys conducted in agricultural environments, besides providing knowledge about biodiversity, can lead to the discovery of promising species for use in biological control programs. Thus, this study aimed to inventory the diversity of these predators associated with citrus, a major agricultural crop in the country. Samples were collected between 2022 and 2025 across 15 citrus cultivation areas in seven departments: Amazonas (Bagua Grande district: 1 collection area); Ica (Chincha district: 1); Junín (Perené district: 3); Lambayeque (Olmos district: 1); Lima (San Miguel district: 1; Sayán district: 1); Loreto (Iquitos district: 1) and Pasco (Pozuzo district: 3; Oxapampa district: 2 and Huancabamba district: 1). Twenty species of phytoseiids were recorded, belonging to eight genera: Amblyseiinae (18 species) – Amblyseius (11), Euseius (1), Iphiseiodes(2), Neoseiulus (1), Phytoscutus (1), Proprioseiopsis (2); and Typhlodrominae (2 species) – Typhlodromina (1), Typhlodromus(1). The most frequent species, sampled in the largest number of areas, were: Amblyseius vasiformis Moraes & Mesa, recorded in 4 areas, followed by Amblyseius herbicolus (Chant) (3), and Amblyseius aerialis (Muma), Amblyseius leonardi McMurtry & Moraes and Euseius concordis (Chant) (2). The areas with the highest species richness were those in the department of Pasco (Pozuzo: 8 species; Oxapampa: 6, and Huancabamba: 3); Pasco was the department with the highest recorded diversity (13 species). The results indicate that phytoseiid diversity on citrus in Peru is still underestimated, and the information presented supports further studies related to the management and use of beneficial mites in this crop.
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