International Journal of Acarology ISSN: 0164-7954 (Print) 1945-3892 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/taca20 First report of Amblyseius tamatavensis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) in the United States of America İsmail Döker, Yisell Velazquez Hernandez, Catharine Mannion & Daniel Carrillo To cite this article: İsmail Döker, Yisell Velazquez Hernandez, Catharine Mannion & Daniel Carrillo (2018): First report of Amblyseius tamatavensis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) in the United States of America, International Journal of Acarology, DOI: 10.1080/01647954.2018.1461132 To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/01647954.2018.1461132 Published online: 23 Apr 2018. Submit your article to this journal View related articles View Crossmark data Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=taca20 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ACAROLOGY, 2018 https://doi.org/10.1080/01647954.2018.1461132 SHORT COMMUNICATION First report of Amblyseius tamatavensis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) in the United States of America İsmail Dökera,b, Yisell Velazquez Hernandeza, Catharine Manniona and Daniel Carrilloa aTropical Research & Education Center, Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Homestead, FL, USA; bAgricultural Faculty, Department Plant Protection, Acarology Lab, Çukurova University, Adana, Turkey ABSTRACT ARTICLE HISTORY Amblyseius tamatavensis Blommers (Acari: phytoseiidae) is reported for the first time in the United Received 22 February 2018 States of America, based on specimens collected from Laportea aestuans (Urticaceae) and Solanum Accepted 1 April 2018 americanum (Solanaceae) where it was found in association with the banded-wing whitefly Trialeurodes Published online 23 April abutiloneus (Haldeman) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in southern Florida. Further observations confirmed 2018 that this predator can feed and reproduce on sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), and KEYWORDS ficus whitefly, Singhiella simplex (Singh). This species may be an important predator as a potential Biological control; whitefly; biological control agent of whiteflies. Amblyseius tamatavensis from Florida was re-described and predatory mite; new record; illustrated based on female specimens to access intraspecific variation as well as to secure further North America diagnosis. Introduction Solanum americanum (Solanaceae), associated with banded- wing whitefly Trialeurodes abutiloneus (Haldeman) (Hemiptera: Predatory mites in the family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) Aleyrodidae) in Florida. are important natural enemies of not only plant feeding mites but also small, soft-bodied insects such as thrips and whiteflies (Chant and McMurtry 2007; McMutry et al. 2013). Some phytoseiid spe- Material and methods cies are widely used in biological control and integrated pest Plants infested with T. abutiloneus were collected in an experi- management programmes around the world. Amblydromalus mental shade-house at the University of Florida, Tropical Research limonicus (Garman and McGregor), Amblyseius swirskii Athias- and Education Center (UF-TREC, 18905 SW 280, Homestead, FL, Henriot, and Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) are the most com- 33031). Samples were examined under a binocular microscope monly used phytoseiids for augmentative biological control of and phytoseiid mites were directly mounted in Hoyer’s medium various whiteflies and thrips species in greenhouses (McMutry on microscope slides. The slides were warmed for 24 h on a et al. 2013). However, natural populations of predatory mites hotplate set at 50°C. Drawings were prepared based on the could be of primary importance for biological control, because photos that were taken using a Zeiss Axiocam 503 colour digital of their adaptation to natural habitats. camera attached to a Zeiss AX 10® Imager M2 microscope. The The diversity of Phytoseiidae in the United States has been taxonomic system used follows® Chant and McMurtry (2007). The well documented with more than 320 species (including syno- setal nomenclature used follows Lindquist and Evans (1965)as nyms) belonging to 36 genera (Denmark and Evans 2011). adapted by Rowell et al. (1978). The dorsal and ventral setal Among them, only 13 species of the genus Amblyseius are pattern is that of Chant and Yoshida-Shaul (1989, 1991, 1992). known in Florida (Denmark and Muma 1989;Denmarkand All measurements are in micrometres (µm) and presented as the Evans 2011). Amblyseius species are considered generalist pre- mean followed by the range in parenthesis. Specimens examined dators that feed and reproduce on a wide range of prey, in this study are deposited in the UF-TREC, Fruit Crops including mites of several families, as well as thrips, whiteflies, Entomology lab Homestead, FL, USA. mealybugs, and nematodes (McMutry et al. 2013). Some spe- cies are able to feed and reproduce well on pollen and can utilize plant exudates and honeydew as survival food in the Results absence of prey, or as complementary food when prey is New record for the United States of America present (McMurtry and Croft 1997). Amblyseius tamatavensis was first described from Madagascar Amblyseius tamatavensis Blommers Island based on the material collected from Citrus (Papeda) hystrix (Figures 1–5) (Rutaceae) (Blommers 1974). Natural populations of this species are currently known in more than 30 countries on four continents Amblyseius (Amblyseius) tamatavensis Blommers, 1974: 144. Ehara (Demite et al. 2018). In the Americas, it has been reported from and Amano 2002: 322; Ueckermann and Loots 1988: 76; Brazil (Gondim and de Moraes 2001), Cuba (de Moraes et al. Amblyseius tamatavensis, Moraes et al. 1989: 97; Chant and 1991), Dominican Republic (Abo–Shnaf et al. 2016), Guadeloupe, McMurtry, 2004: 203; 2007: 81; Denmark and Muma 1989: 13; Martinique (de Moraes et al. 2000–1999), and Venezuela (de Ehara and Amano 2004: 17; Ehara 2002: 33; Kreiter et al. 2002: Quirós et al. 2005). Here we report the occurrence of natural 348; Moraes et al. 1991: 119; 2000–1999: 241; 2004a: 52; 2004b: populations of A. tamatavensis for the first time in Florida and 144; 2013: 308; Oliveira et al. 2012: 5; Schicha and Corpuz-Raros the USA, collected from Laportea aestuans (Urticaceae) and CONTACT İ smail Döker [email protected] University of Florida, Tropical Research & Education Center, Department of Entomology and Nematology, Homestead, FL, USA © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group Published online 23 Apr 2018 2 İ. DÖKER ET AL. Figure 1–5. Amblyseius tamatavensis Blommers, female: 1. Dorsal shield; 2. Ventral idiosoma; 3. Chelicera; 4. Spermatheca; 5. Leg IV. 1992: 36; Schicha 1981; 40; 1987; 54; Silva et al. 2016: 1137; (distance between bases of setae S2) 209 (208–210). Dorsal setae Zannou et al. 2007: 29. smooth except for Z4 and Z5 which have very little barbs. Measurements of dorsal setae as follows: j1 32 (30–34), j3 53 Synonyms: Amblyseius aegyptiacus Denmark and Matthysse, in (52–54), j4 5(4–6), j5 5(4–6), j6 5(4–6), J2 5(4–6), J5 7(6–8), z2 Matthysse and Denmark (1981): 343 (synonymy according to 5(4–6), z4 5(4–6), z5 5(4–6), Z1 5(4–6), Z4 117 (114–120), Z5 237 Denmark and Muma 1989); Amblyseius maai Tseng 1976: 123 (232–242), s4 87 (86–88), S2 5(4–6), S4 5(44–6), S5 5( –6), r3 14 (synonymy according to Denmark and Muma 1989). (12–16), and R1 5(4–6). Female (n = 4) Dorsum (Figure 1). Dorsal setal pattern 10A:9B (r3 and R1 off Peritreme. Long, extending beyond setae j1 (slightly hooked shield). Dorsal shield oval with a waist at level Z1, smooth; bear- apically between bases of setae j1). ing seven pairs of solenostomes (gd1, gd2, gd4, gd5. gd6, gd8, and gd9); nine pairs of poroids are visible, muscle-marks (sigilla) are Venter (Figure 2). Ventral setal pattern 14:JV–3:ZV. Sternal shield visible on podosoma, length of dorsal shield (j1–J5) 295 (292– smooth except a few striations anteriorly between setae ST1, 298), width (distance between bases of setae s4) 183 (180–184), sclerotized with three pairs of setae (ST1, ST2, ST3), two pairs of INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ACAROLOGY 3 poroids (pst1 and pst2). Distance (ST1–ST3) 63 (60–64), width food (Thyreophagus cracentiseta, Acari: Acaridae) suitable for (ST2–ST2) 67 (66–68). Metasternal setae ST4 and a pair of pores mass production of this predator. We observed feeding and (pst3) on metasternal shields. Genital shield smooth; width at reproduction of A. tamatevensis on B. tabaci,andficuswhitefly, level of genital setae (ST5) 68 (66–72). Ventrianal shield smooth Singhiella simplex (Singh) under lab conditions. These two inva- sub-pentagonal, a slight waist is visible at level of setae ZV2; sive whiteflies are major pests of ornamental, vegetable, and bearing three pairs of pre-anal setae (JV1, JV2, and ZV2), a pair fruit crops in Florida (Legaspi et al. 2011). Therefore, further of para-anal (Pa) and a post-anal setae (Pst), and with a pair of efforts to evaluate biological traits of A. tamatavensis and its crescentic pre-anal solenostomes (gv3) posteromedian to JV2; potential to be used in biological control are warranted in distance gv3–gv3 19 (18–20). Length of ventrianal shield 105 Florida. Another interesting fact is that the host plant (L. aes- (104–108), width at level of setae ZV2 91 (88–94). Setae JV4, JV5, tuans) where we found this predator has a high density of ZV1, ZV3, and six pairs of poroids on integument surrounding glandular and stinging trichomes (de Oliveira et al. 2012). ventrianal shield. Setae JV5 smooth, much longer than other Many phytoseiid species unsuccessfully keep pest populations ventral setae, 79 (78–80) in length. under economic thresholds due to the presence of glandular trichomes on their host plants (Escudero and Ferragut 2005; Chelicera (Figure 3). Fixed digit 32 (30–33) long with 11 teeth, Kazak et al. 2015). Whether A. tamatavensis can be used to and a pilus dentilis; movable digit 32 (31–33) long with four teeth. control pests on host plants with glandular trichomes should also be investigated. Spermatheca (Figure 4).