Phytoseiid mites of Martinique, with redescription of four species and new records (Acari: Mesostigmata)

Authors report results of a study performed between May 2011 and September 2013 on cover plants tested for future uses in citrus orchards in Martinique. A total of twenty-two species were found among which eight are very common in the West Indies. A catalogue of four new records for Martinique and three new records for the French West Indies is provided, with some information on their biology when available, and biogeography. Some considerations for six additional species, two rarely recorded in the West Indies and four already recorded and very common but with some new data and discussions, are also provided. Among these 13 species, four are re-described.


Introduction
Several species in the family Phytoseiidae are important natural enemies controlling phytophagous mite and small insects in natural areas and crops all around the world (McMurtry and Croft 1997;McMurtry et al. 2013). This family is widespread all over the world and consists of 2,479 valid species dispatched in three subfamilies and 94 genera .
The Caribbean area constitutes one of the world's hotspots of biodiversity. The hotspot of biodiversity concept was defined by Myers (1988) in order to identify the most immediately important areas for conservation of biodiversity. These hotspots hold high endemism levels and have lost at least 70 % of their original natural vegetation (Myers et al. 2000). The characterization of the phytoseiid mite diversity in the Caribbean area is thus contributing to this general topic of conservation. Nine species of phytoseiid mites were found in a first survey conducted in various locations in Guadeloupe and Martinique (Kreiter and Moraes 1997). In a second survey, 41 additional species were recorded from all islands of the French Antilles (Moraes et al. 2000), including three new species to science [Neoseiulus martinicensis Moraes & Kreiter, Amblyseius neoarcus (Moraes & Kreiter), and Metaseiulus (Metaseiulus) neoflumenis Moraes & Kreiter]. In a third survey, conducted mainly in Guadeloupe and Martinique, six additional species were added to the French Antilles fauna, including a new species to science, Neoseiulus cecileae Kreiter (Kreiter et al. 2006). The known number of species from the French Antilles was then of 56. Eleven new species for French Antilles were found from April 2008 to February 2011 during a fourth survey and a new species to Science, Transeius mariae-angeae Kreiter was described (Mailloux et al. 2010;Kreiter et al. 2013).
In conclusion, a total of 67 species belonging to 22 genera were thus known at the beginning of the year 2011 from the French Antilles after these four surveys. These species The following abbreviations are used in this paper for morphological characters: dsl = dorsal shield length; dsw = dorsal shield width; lisl = Largest inguinal sigilla (= "metapodal plate") length; lisw = Largest inguinal sigilla (= "metapodal plate") width; sisl = smallest inguinal sigilla (= "metapodal plate") length; vsl = ventrianal shield length; vsw ZV2 and anus = ventrianal shield width at ZV2 level and at anus level; scl = spermatheca cervix length; scw = spermatheca cervix width; fdl = fixed digit length; mdl = movable digit length.
The following abbreviations are used in this paper for institutions: CBGP = Centre de Biologie pour la Gestion des Populations; CIRAD = Centre International de Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement; CAEC = Campus Agro-environnemental Caraïbe; INRA = Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique; MSA = Montpellier SupAgro, France; UMR = Unité Mixte de Recherche.

Results and discussion
A total of 22 species were found from May 2011 to September 2013 in these surveys. Eight species were already very well-known, very common in French West Indies, already recorded and sometimes re-described in previous papers (Kreiter and Moraes 1997;Moraes et al. 2000;Kreiter et al. 2006Kreiter et al. , 2013: Arrenoseius urquharti (Yoshida-Shaul & Chant), Amblyseius aerialis (Muma), A. largoensis (Muma), A. tamatavensis Blommers, Euseius ovaloides (Blommers), Paraphytoseius orientalis (Narayanan, Kaur & Ghai), Phytoseiulus macropilis (Banks) and Phytoseius rex De Leon. These species are very common everywhere in French West Indies and giving a very long list of new records has no interest. Measurements of individuals of these eight species are very close to those of original descriptions, of measurements given by several authors and especially very close to those already published in Kreiter and Moraes (1997), Moraes et al. (2000) and Kreiter et al. (2006Kreiter et al. ( , 2013.
A catalogue of the 14 remaining species is completed by the available information on the biology and the distribution, along with taxonomical data.
Six species are already known among which four [Neoseiulus longispinosus (Evans), Neoseiulus tunus (De Leon), Proprioseiopsis mexicanus (Garman) , and P. ovatus (Garman)] are rather common but some interesting new data and new discussions are provided.
New locations for the two remaining very rarely collected species in the French Antilles (Phytoseius bennetti De Leon and Typhlodromina subtropica Muma & Denmark) are provided and P. bennetti is re-described.
And finally, one species (Phytoseius sp.) probably new to Science is unfortunately not described in this paper because only one female was collected and with some broken legs, especially the two leg IV, which prohibit to our point of view any possible description of a new species (but many characters, especially spermatheca and ventrianal shield are totally original among the subfamily). Amblyseiinae Muma, 1961: 273.

Tribe Amblyseiini Muma
Amblyseiini, Muma, 1961: 68. Subtribe Amblyseiina Muma Amblyseiina Muma, 1961: 69. Genus Transeius Chant and McMurtry Transeius Chant & McMurtry, 2004: 181. Transeius aciculus (De Leon) Typhlodromips aciculus De Leon, 1967: 28;Moraes et al., 1986: 135;Moraes et al., 2004b: 205. Amblyseius aciculus, Moraes et al., 1991: 122; Transeius aciculus, Chant & McMurtry, 2004: 185;Chant & McMurtry, 2007: 71. This species was described as a Typhlodromips and mentioned in this genus by Moraes et al. (2000) from various islands of French West Indies but not from Martinique. This species was then mentioned as a Transeius (Kreiter et al. 2006) but still from Guadeloupe. Only few specimens of T. aciculus were recorded during previous surveys. This is the first record of T. aciculus from Martinique and the first survey with a lot of specimens collected. It is found in the low vegetation, grasses, especially on companion plants in citrus orchards (Dubois, 2009;Mailloux et al. 2010). Species of the genus Transeius are considered as type III (generalist predators) by McMurtry et al. (2013) but the biology of that species remains totally unknown. The description of De Leon (1967) includes minute drawings, a poor description and is difficult to use for an accurate identification. There are no re-description with new details and new drawings for that species. We re-describe here Transeius aciculus (De Leon) with new measurements, new details on shapes of characters and new drawings.
Legs Remarks -The specimens collected in Martinique (Table 1) are very similar to those collected in Guadeloupe except from some slightly greater setae (J2, Z5, S4). They are also very similar to the one of the type specimens but setae are all slightly longer. Specimens from Colombia reported by Moraes et al. (1991) show a shorter S2 than the types.

Transeius terminatus (Chant and Baker), new combination Kreiter and Tixier
Amblyseius terminatus Chant & Baker, 1965: 25;Chant & McMurtry, 2004: 197;Chant & McMurtry, 2007: 81. Typhlodromalus terminatus, Moraes et al., 1986: 135;Denmark et al., 1999: 63 ;Moraes et al., 1986: 135;Moraes et al., 2004b: 205. This species was described as an Amblyseius by Chant and Baker (1965), reported in this genus in the Phytoseiidae Database of Demite et al. (2017). We propose in this paper a new combination. This is the first record of this species for French Caribbean Islands. The description of Chant and Baker (1965) is now old, poor, with very minute drawings, difficult to use and there are no redescription with new drawings for that species. We re-describe here Transeius terminatus (Chant & McMurtry) new. comb. with new measurements, new details on the shape of some characters and new drawings. Species of the genus Transeius are considered as type III (generalist predators) by McMurtry et al. (2013) but the biology of this species remains totally unknown. We have also examined: one holotype female on one slide with label: Managa, San Pedro, Honduras, 01-02-1959 on Baltimora recta L., J.G. Matthysse (USNM n°30008), 3 ♀♀ (and additionally: 1 ♂ of Typhlodromalus aripo De Leon, 2 Astigmatina and 3 Thysanoptera on the same slide) borrowed to the National Museum of Natural History; 2 ♀♀ on two slides with label: Belize, Toledo district, near Upper Bladen Branch Rivers, sapling, climax forest, 11-11-1965, borrowed to the Canadian National Collection. Notice that they were identified as T. terminatus but are actually 2 ♀♀ of the genus Amblyseius, of the species group chiapensis, probably cupulus Denmark & Muma but this must be confirmed. Remarks -The measurements of the five specimens collected in Martinique are very close to the measurements of original specimens collected in Manaca, San Pedro, Honduras, on Baltimora recta L. (Asteraceae) by Chant and Baker (1965). This species was mentioned in the Moraes et al. (1986)'s catalogue of the family Phytoseiidae and in the Denmark et al. (1999)'s catalogue of Phytoseiidae of Central America as Typhlodromalus terminatus and in Chant andMcMurtry (2004, 2007), in Prasad (2012) and in the phytoseiid Database of Demite et al. (2017) as Amblyseius terminatus. Examination of the holotype has shown that this species is actually neither an Amblyseius nor a Typhlodromalus but a real Transeius sensu Chant and McMurtry (2004) and that our specimens are similar to the holotype and belong to this genus. Macrosetae are actually not present on all legs but only on leg IV and the ratio length seta s4 / length S2 is much less than 2.7. We are proposing a new combination, Transeius terminatus (Chant and Baker) new comb.

Amblyseius collaris Karg
Amblyseius collaris Karg, 1983: 317;Moraes et al., 1986: 11;Denmark & Muma, 1989: 48;Moraes et al., 2004b: 20;Chant & McMurtry, 2004: 201;Chant & McMurtry, 2007: 78. This species was already known from Guadeloupe but only recorded with one female (Moraes et al. 2000). This is the first record of A. collaris from Martinique. Species of the genus Amblyseius are considered as type III (generalist predators) by McMurtry et al. (2013) but the biology of that species remains totally unknown. The description of Karg (1983) and of Denmark and Muma (1989) are quite poor in details, difficult to use for an accurate identification and there are no re-description with new drawings and new details for that species. We re-describe here Amblyseius collaris Karg with new measurements, new details on the shape of some characters and new drawings.
Description (Table 2 and   12 (12-13), 10 12 (10-13) S5 6 (5-8) 11 12 (10-13) r3 10 12 9 (8-10) R1 15 ( Data from this study for Martinique, from Karg (1983) and Denmark and Muma (1989) for Venezuela, and from Castro et al. (2010) for Costa Rica. Remarks -Measurements of the three females collected (Table 2) fit very well with the measurements of the holotype female (Karg 1983;Denmark and Muma 1989) except for slightly longer s4, Z4 and Z5 and SgeIV and StiIV. These are the longest setae and variations are always more important (Tixier 2012). Measurements (Table 2) fit also very well with measurements of specimens collected in Costa Rica (Castro et al. 2010) except in this case shorter s4, Z4 and Z5 and SgeIV and StiIV in specimens from Martinique. These long setae may be very variable for the genus Amblyseius and at least for that species. Genus Proprioseiopsis Muma Proprioseiopsis Muma, 1961: 277. Proprioseiopsis mexicanus (Garman) Amblyseiopsis mexicanus Garman, 1958: 75. Amblyseius mexicanus, Moraes & McMurtry, 1983: 134. Proprioseiopsis mexicanus, Muma & Denmark, 1970: 48;Denmark & Muma, 1973: 237;Moraes et al., 1986: 118;Kreiter & Moraes, 1997: 379;Moraes et al., 2004b: 181;Chant & McMurtry, 2005a: 13;Chant & McMurtry, 2007: 89. This species was already known from all islands of French West Indies (Kreiter & Moraes 1997;Moraes et al. 2000, Kreiter et al. 2006Mailloux et al. 2010) but it was found only in very large number during a previous study on companion plant in Guadeloupe (Mailloux et al. 2010) and in an actual study in La Réunion (Le Bellec, unpublished data). This species seems to be very abundant on weeds in the lower vegetation. Phytoseiid mites of the genus Proprioseiopsis have been found mainly in ground surface, humus, litter, soil, moss or on grass (Muma and Denmark 1970;McMurtry et al. 2015). Proprioseiopsis mexicanus population increase when fed Tetranychus urticae Koch eggs (Mégevand et al. 1993) and this species seems to be a good predator of thrips (Kreiter, unpublished data). It is one of the prevailing phytoseiid species on citrus orchards in Alabama (Fadamiro et al. 2009). Denmark and Evans (2011) mentioned that the species can be reared on T. urticae and Oligonychus pratensis (Banks) and is associated with Bryobia praetiosa Koch, Bryobia sp. and Panonychus ulmi (Koch). It was also found in association with Tetranychus evansi Baker & Pritchard (Furtado et al. 2014) but mentioned as a poor predator of that species. The biology of this species is however almost unknown.

St1-St1
49 ( Moraes and McMurtry (1983) for the holotype, from Moraes and McMurtry (1983) and Moraes et al. (1991) for Cuba, and from Guanilo et al. (2008a) for Peru.  Kreiter and Moraes (1997) for Guadeloupe, from Guanilo et al. (2008a) for Peru.  Table 5 show great variations. Those of the 11 females from Martinique fit very well with the measurements of the holotype female except for slightly longer s4, Z4, Z5 and SgeIV and shorter StIV. Measurements of females fit also very well with those of specimens collected in Peru and Argentina (Guanilo et al. 2008a, b). Some measurements of the two specimens from Ecuador show differences (j3, z2, s4, Z4, Z5 far longer and Z1, S2, S4, r3 shorter). This might be an indication of another species of Proprioseiopsis involved.

Subtribe Euseiina Chant and McMurtry
This species was already known from Guadeloupe and Les Saintes (Moraes et al. 2000) but not from Martinique. This is the first record of this species from this island. This species seems to be rather rare on companion plants as it was collected in few numbers. It was also found in association with T. evansi (Moraes and McMurtry 1983) but probably an inefficient predator of that species. The biology of this species is totally unknown.
This species is very common on citrus (Muma 1955(Muma , 1967Peña, 1992;Childers 1994;Childers 2004, 2005;Fadamiro et al. 2008Fadamiro et al. , 2009) and solanaceous plants (McMurtry 1983;Fiaboe et al. 2007) in several countries and is very often reported as the most abundant species. Typhlodromalus peregrinus can be found at the underside of mature citrus leaves, inside tree canopy, under empty scale armour, clump and dead scale insects, whitefly exuvia, sooty mould and mines of Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Muma 1967;Childers 1994;Villanueva and Childers 2011). Muma (1969) reported that T. peregrinus was able to reproduce and develop on Panonychus citri (McGregor) but perform better on eggs and crawlers of Parlatoria pergandii Comstock, and Eotetranychus sexmaculatus (Riley). This phytoseiid was also reported to feed on Phyllocoptruta oleivora (Ashmead), with at least partial rust mite suppression on lime (Peña, 1992). Thus, T. peregrinus seems to be a generalist species with the ability to reproduce and develop on the two key pests of Guadeloupe and Martinique citrus, P. citri and P. oleivora and probably several occasional pests. Its optimal preys were evaluated as Aleyrodidae, Coccidae, and Tetranychidae by Muma (1971).
The following organisms were evaluated by Fouly et al. (1995) as suitable diet in the laboratory at 26°C: all stages of T. urticae; immature stages of P. citri; pollens of Malephora crocea (Jacquemin) Schwant., Quercus virginiana Miller, and Typha latifolia L.
The occurrence of high densities of this species on ground cover vegetation (weeds) of Alabama citrus orchards (Fadamiro et al. 2008(Fadamiro et al. , 2009 can be explained by the possibility that grasses may serve as overwintering sites and alternative food sources, which is probably the most important factors in French West Indies citrus orchards as there is no overwintering in citrus crop in this tropical area. Typhlodromalus peregrinus was collected from 64 ground cover plants in Florida citrus fields (Childers and Denmark, 2011) with highest numbers found on the following plants: Bidens alba (L.) DC., Solanum americanum Miller (one plant of the ground cover on which T. peregrinus was collected previously in Guadeloupe), Amaranthus spinosus L., Gnaphalium pensylvanicum (Willdenow) Cabrera, Lantana camara L. and Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants.
In Florida, the highest numbers of T. peregrinus in ground cover corresponded with peaks in thrips numbers, suggesting possible predation on one or more species of thrips occurring. Childers and Denmark (2011) suggest that this species should therefore be evaluated as a predator of thrips larvae and/or adults. Significant increases in numbers of T. peregrinus were also correlated with increased levels of several pollen species on citrus leaves (Villanueva and Childers 2004).
Thus, considering all these elements, it is possible that T. peregrinus may constitute a key species in citrus orchards in French West Indies: in Guadeloupe where it is abundant on companion plants in citrus orchard (Kreiter et al. 2013) and in Martinique apparently in the same way in the case of this study.
Specimens examined -75 ♀♀ + 9 ♂♂ in total (13 ♀♀ + 6 ♂♂ measured). We have also examined: one holotype and four paratype ♀♀ (all measured) and one paratype ♂ and six paratype immatures (not measured) of Typhlodromalus peregrinus (Muma) Table 7 show low variations. Measurements of the 13 females fit very well with all those of all other specimens from all other locations. The maximum divergence is observed with measurements of the holotype especially with the longer Z5 and StIV in the holotype and the longer j6, z4, Z1, s4, S2 and S4 in specimens from Martinique. All measurements obtained for males (Table 8) are very close. Muma and Denmark (1962) pointed out that T. peregrinus is a highly variable species in relation to dorsal setal lengths, shape of the ventrianal shield and leg macrosetae. McMurtry (1983) stated that T. peregrinus is very close to T. aripo (De Leon) and that detailed comparative studies were necessary in order to determine if these species are both valid or not. In the study of Moraes and Mesa (1988), T. peregrinus was separated from T. aripo based only on some differences in setal lengths. In T. peregrinus, z4 is nearly 20 % longer than z2, whereas in T. aripo z4 is nearly twice longer than z2. These authors considered that T. peregrinus showed generally shorter setae j3, z4, Z4, Z5 and longer j4, j5, j6 and J2. Looking at the table 9, j3 is equal for both species, Z5 is longer in T. peregrinus and not shorter, and all setae j-J mentioned as longer in T. peregrinus are actually shorter. If we compare our measurements to measurements of type material of both species, if more lengths correspond to T. peregrinus, some data are very confusing as they are closer to T. aripo. The synonymy between these two species is consequently suspected. Data from this study for Martinique, from Kreiter et al. (2013) for Guadeloupe, from Ferragut et al. (2011) for Dominican Republic, from Moraes et al. (2013) for Brazil (São Paulo), from McMurtry (1983) for Guatemala, from Moraes and Mesa (1988) for Colombia, from Guanilo et al. (2008aGuanilo et al. ( , 2008b, respectively for Peru and Argentina, and holotype (Minneola, Florida, USA, on orange).

Dsl 377
Dsw 223  Kreiter et al. (2013) for Guadeloupe, from Muma and Denmark (1962) for Florida without any setae length, from Guanilo et al. (2008a) for Peru. 33 3 Data from this study for Martinique and other data from measurements made by authors on type specimens as indicated in the paragraph "Specimens examined" of Typhlodromalus peregrinus .

Tribe Neoseiulini Chant and McMurtry
Neoseiulini Chant & McMurtry, 2003a: 6. Genus Neoseiulus Hughes Neoseiulus Hughes, 1948: 141. Neoseiulus benjamini (Schicha 1981) Amblyseius benjamini, Schicha, 1981; Amblyseius (Amblyseius) benjamini, Ueckermann & Loots 1988. Neoseiulus benjamini, Moraes et al., 1986: 72;Moraes et al., 2004b: 108;Chant & McMurtry, 2003: 27;Chant & McMurtry, 2007: 25. Neoseiulus benjamini (Schicha) was previously known from Australia and South Africa (Schicha 1981;Ueckermann and Loots 1988;Beard 2001) and found recently in the Neotropical area, in Brazil where it seems to be quite common in several states (Lofego et al. 2009;Lofego 2011, 2012;Demite et al. 2011Demite et al. , 2012. This is the first record of this species in the French Caribbean islands. Lofego et al. (2009) found a great variation in the number of teeth on both cheliceral digits, even between right and left chelicerae of the same individual. Neoseiulus benjamini belongs to paspalivorus species group (14 species) of the large genus Neoseiulus and it is more similar to N. mumai (Denmark), N. paspalivorus (De Leon) and N. baraki (Athias-Henriot). Neoseiulus paspalivorus was previously found in Guadeloupe in two locations (Moraes et al. 2000;Mailloux et al. 2010, specimens of N. paspalivorus misidentified as N. baraki;Kreiter et al. 2013, correct identification as N. paspalivorus) but not in Martinique. However N. paspalivorus differs from N. benjamini by having the pre-anal pores longitudinally aligned with the base of JV2 and setae Z4 and StIV shorter (12 and 18 μm respectively against 18 and 25-28 respectively for our two specimens). Whether these differences can really allow distinctions between different species and not variations of the same or disable to distinguish a significant number of cryptic species demands a further investigation. Molecular and other tools (Tixier et al. 2009;Famah Sourassou et al. 2012) would be of great help for not only a lot of phytoseiid mites identification but also for that species group in particular. This species was found on pineapples associated with Dolichotetranychus floridanus (Banks) and Bryobia tuberosa Meyer (Schicha 1987) but most of the biology of N. benjamini remains totally unknown. Remarks -The measurements reported in the table 10 of the two specimens collected during this study agree well with measurements of specimens of Lofego et al. (2009) from Brazil and even also with the holotype of Schicha (1981), with only very slight differences.
2004b: 129; Chant & McMurtry, 2003: 37;Chant & McMurtry, 2007: 29. This species was already mentioned from Guadeloupe and other Islands of the French Antilles (Moraes et al. 2000;Mailloux et al. 2010;Kreiter et al. 2013) but only in very few localities on various host plants. It is distributed in many countries of the world, mainly in tropical areas.
The biology of this species has been studied for pest control purposes including side effects of acaricides (Bin Ibrahim and Tan 2000). The activity, feeding, development, predation, cannibalism, intra-guild predation and behaviour have been extensively studied by several authors (Schausberger and Croft 1999a, b;Croft et al. 1999a, b;Schausberger and Croft 2000a, b;Blackwood et al. 2001). It was found very rarely except in a study on companion plants in citrus orchards in Guadeloupe (Mailloux et al. 2010;Kreiter et al. 2013) and La Réunion (Le Bellec, unpublished data). This species seems to be more common on grasses of the lower vegetation, especially Fabaceae with populations of tetranychid mites. Remarks -Although showing some great variations, especially with the holotype from Indonesia re-described by Schicha (1975), all the measurements and description of the specimens collected in this study fit very well those concerning other populations given in the table 11, especially with those from specimens of the French Caribbean Islands (Moraes et al. 2000) and from specimens of the Dominican Republic (Abo-Shnaf et al. 2016).

Neoseiulus paraibensis (Moraes & McMurtry)
Amblyseius paraibensis Moraes & McMurtry, 1983: 135;Moraes & Mesa, 1988: 76;Moraes et al., 1991: 126;Neoseiulus paraibensis, Moraes et al., 1986: 92;Moraes et al., 2004b: 137;Chant & Mc-Murtry, 2003: 23;Chant & McMurtry, 2007: 29. This species is known from Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama and USA (Florida), so a wide area around the Caribbean Sea. This is however the first record of this species for the Caribbean Islands and so for French Caribbean Islands. It seems to be very rare. Moraes and McMurtry (1983) have collected and described this species from Musa sp. in Brazil. But then, Moraes et al. (1991) have recorded first this species from Colombia on Oriza sativa. Rodriguez et al. (2009) andQuiros-McIntire andRodriguez (2010) have found it in Cuba and Panama respectively also on rice on which it was the more frequent and abundant predator, associated in great numbers with Steneotarsonemus spinki Smiley. However, most of its biology remains totally unknown.
Specimens examined -Lamentin, CIRAD-CAEC station (long. 14°37′N, lat. 60°58′O, alt. 25 m), 2 ♀♀ on P. phaseoloides, 20-08 and 19-11-2012. Data from this study for Martinique, from Moraes et al. (2000) for F.C.I (French Caribbean Islands, from various localities of five Islands), from Abo-Shnaf et al. (2016) for Dominican Republic, from Moraes et al. (2004a) for Skri Lanka, and from Evans (1952) for the holotype from Indonesia, re-described by Schicha (1975). Remarks -Only two females were found. All measurements reported in the table 12 agree very well with those of the original description and other subsequent measurements of specimens of several locations given in the table 12.

Neoseiulus tunus (De Leon)
Typhlodromips tunus De Leon, 1967: 29;Denmark & Muma, 1973: 253;Amblyseius tunus, Feres & Moraes, 1998: 126. Neoseiulus tunus, Moraes et al., 2004b: 148 ;Chant & McMurtry, 2003: 21;Chant & Mc-Murtry, 2007: 31. Neoseiulus tunus is one of the most frequently reported species in the Neotropical Region. This species was described briefly only from the holotype collected In Trinidad by De Leon in 1967. Soon after, another species, N. neotunus Denmark and Muma, was described on the basis of a single female and a male by Denmark and Muma in 1973 from Piracicaba, São Paulo State, Brazil. Neoseiulus tunus was then reported from other Caribbean islands and South America (Cavalcante et al. 2017). Measurements of the holotype of N. tunus were provided by Moraes et al. (2000) followed by complementary descriptions on specimens from French Caribbean Islands (Moraes et al. 2000) or from South America (for example Lofego et al. 2004;Guanilo et al. 2008a, b). The great similarity between N. tunus and N. neotunus has been outlined very early (Moraes and Mesa 1988;Lofego 1998). Denmark and Muma (1973) arguments for distinction between N. neotunus and N. tunus were based on setal ornamentation (all setae barbed except j5 and not all setae of the j-J serie smooth like in N. tunus), shape of the spermatheca (cervix fundibuliform and not cup-shaped like in N. tunus) and of leg IV macrosetae setiform (and not knobbed distally like in N. tunus).Our examination of both holotypes and of the huge number of specimens collected in this study (12 measured) let us to conclude like Cavalcante et al. (2017) that the differences mentioned in the original description of N. neotunus correspond to intraspecific variations and to agree with Cavalcante et al. (2017) that N. neotunus is a junior synonym of N. tunus. Actually, some of our specimens have all setae barbed except j5 and J5 and with knobbed macrosetae and some specimens have setae j-J smooth with setaceous macrosetae.
As populations identified as N. tunus and as N. neotunus exist in several places and are available, and as it is possible to recover specimen for a posteriori identification after molecular extraction, the best solution in order to establish definitively this synonymy is to undertake a molecular study with several populations from South and Central America and Caribbean area.

Description
Adult male -Unknown and not collected in our study.  Remarks -This species was already known from Martinique but only from a single female. Measurements of the three adult females (Table 15) agree well with measurements of three females of Guadeloupe (Table 15), better than with measurements of the 3 specimens collected in the close Dominican Republic by Ferragut et al. (2011). These specimens are smaller and have 10 to 20 % shorter setae (Table 15).
Remarks -This species was already known from Martinique but only from one female (Moraes et al. 2000). The measurements of the single adult female collected in this study agree well with the measurements of the holotype given by Muma and Denmark (1969), by Chant & Yoshida-Shaul (1983a), and very well with those of the single female collected by Moraes et al. (2000). Measurements of the single female collected and identified in this study are not provided as it was in a bad state, with setae missing. However, distinctive characters of the genus according to Chant and McMurtry (2007) and of the species as provided by Chant and Yoshida-Shaul (1983) were accessible.

Conclusion
A total of 67 species belonging to 22 genera were known at the beginning of the year 2011 from the French Antilles after four surveys. After a fifth survey focused on plants tested in order to be used as cover-crops in citrus orchard and in some citrus orchards on trees and weeds in Martinique, the number of species for French Antilles is now reached to 70 with three new records: N. benjamini, N. paraibensis and T. terminatus new. comb.
These species belong to the three subfamilies: Amblyseiinae with 54 species, Phytoseiinae with 4 species and Typhlodrominae with 12 species.
Some of species collected during this survey have interesting potential for biological control, especially P. mexicanus, T. peregrinus, and N. longispinosus. This must be underlined as new regulations on importation of macro-organisms are proposed in a lot of countries and specifically for over-sea territories for countries like France that have very far tropical territories. Therefore it is impossible to import and of course to sell and use exotic species if they are not indigenous in the territory. An importation permit must be requested, but it is expensive and chances to obtain are generally very low (Kreiter et al. 2016). The knowledge of the biodiversity, especially of efficient biological control agents from overseas territories, not only for conversation purposes but for agricultural and economical ones, is so of a considerable importance.