Effects of agroforestry on Phytoseiidae communities (Acari: Mesostigmata) in vineyards. A synthesis of a 10-year period of observations

Several species of the predatory mite family Phytoseiidae are of major economic importance for biological pest control in crops, including grapevines. Plant diversification in agrosystems is reported to enhance useful biodiversity and provide ecosystem services. Thus, agroforestry, which consists in co-planting trees and crops, is assumed to be a possible way to ensure regulation of pest outbreaks by phytoseiid mites. This paper investigates the effect of trees ([i]Pinus pinea[/i] and [i]Sorbus domestica[/i]) within vineyards on Phytoseiidae communities. Five experimental plots were considered, two where vines were co-planted with [i]P. pinea[/i] and [i]S. domestica[/i], and three monoculture plots: vines, [i]P. pinea[/i] and [i]S. domestica[/i]. Sampling was carried out on vines and trees in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010 and 2012. A higher Phytoseiidae diversity was observed in agroforestry plots than in monoculture plots. [i]Kampimodromus aberrans[/i] (replacing [i]T. [T.] exhilaratus[/i]) seemed to colonize these plots 15 years after its plantation, especially when vines were co-planted with [i]P. pinea[/i]. Factors affecting these faunistical changes are discussed. Effects on Phytoseiidae densities differed depending on grape cultivartree species associations. Factors affecting these interactions are discussed; plant diversity does not simply lead to a higher density and diversity of natural enemies

Phytoseiid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) of Tunisian citrus orchards: Catalogue, biogeography and key for identification

This study presents the results of a survey aimed to determine the species composition of phytoseiid mites on citrus trees, inter-row grasses and conifers planted as break winds within and around citrus orchards. This survey was carried out in fourty six citrus orchards in the main citrus growing regions of Tunisia, from September 2009 to August 2011. Twenty six species belonging to ten genera were found, among which eleven are new for the Tunisian fauna. This paper provides a catalogue of all these species, with some information on their biogeography and biology when available. In addition, a key for the identification of all known Tunisian species (38 species belonging to 17 genera) is given

Contrôle des populations d'acariens dans les systèmes agroforestiers viticoles

Contrôle des populations d'acariens dans les systèmes agroforestiers viticole

Phytoseiid mites of the French Guiana (Acari: Mesostigmata)

International audienceOnly little information is available of the diversity of Phytoseiidae in French Guiana. So far, only one mite species of the family Phytoseiidae have been actually recorded, Amblydromalus limonicus. We report in this paper the results of a small survey conducted at the end of October / Mid November 2001 in French Guiana, during which 5 species have been newly recorded, one being re-described in this paper

Taxonomic databases and their use for the biodiversity assessment of Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata)

Phytoseiidae is the most diverse family within the order Mesostigmata, comprising 2,068 valid species recorded from all over the World since 1839. The World Catalogue edited by Moraes et al. in 2004 is the most recent and complete data compilation on this family. These data are of critical importance for taxonomists but also for incorporating mites into biodiversity research and conservation decisions. Here, we discuss the use of such a database, explaining methodologies and some significant results on Phytoseiidae diversity. Different aspects were developed: estimating global species diversity, orienting future collections, assessing description rates in relation to geographical factors and body size, studying evolutive historical relationships and assessing biodiversity in hotspot areas. Phytoseiidae have been described from 118 countries of the 192 recognised nowadays. The cumulative number of species descriptions has not yet reached an asymptote; so, no accurate estimation could be made of the number of species to be discovered in the future. The correlation between time and the mean body size of the mites described was significantly positive, emphasing the importance of mite size in their discovery pattern. Studies on Phytoseiidae distribution and endemism in biogeographic regions show large numbers of species and genera were observed in the old Gondwana continent and especially in the Neotropical area. High endemism rates at the species and genus levels were also observed in the Gondwana, especially in the Neotropical, Australasian and Ethiopian regions. Several biogeographical scenarios on the evolution of this group have been proposed from these data. Finally, studies on Phytoseiidae mite diversity in hotspot areas show that these zones are a great reservoir of Phytoseiidae diversity, just as they are for vertebrates and plants. Correlations between plant, vertebrate, mite diversity and endemism, as well as congruence rates between endemism levels of the three groups of organisms suggest that the biodiversity patterns of plants and vertebrates mirror those of the Phytoseiidae (both for endemicity and species richness). Perspectives for other macro‐ecological studies are presented

First assessment of biological features of Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) recki (Mesostigmata: Phytoseidae) feeding on Tetranychus urticae (Thrombidiforma: Tetranychidae)

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New records of phytoseiid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) from Madeira Island

International audienceMadeira is the largest of the four islands constituting Madeira Archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean. It is located at 400 km from the Northern Canary Islands, at 500 km from Morocco and between 900 and 1000 km from South Portugal and Spain. So far, nineteen species of the mite family Phytoseiidae had been reported from this island. We report in this paper the results of a survey conducted in May 2019 in Madeira Island, in which 15 species have been found, six being new for the Island fauna

Drivers for mutation in amino acid sequences of two mitochondrial proteins (Cytb and COI) in Phytoseiidae mites (Acari: Mesostigmata)

International audienceMutations in amino acid sequences can affect protein function. Such aspects have been poorly studied for arthropods. As recent studies have shown mutations in cytochrome b (Cytb) associated with geographic locations in several Phytoseiidae species, the present study aims at investigating (i) the mutation pattern in additional species for the Cytb fragment, (ii) the mutation pattern for another mitochondrial amino acid sequence, cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI), and (iii) factors affecting the mutations observed (taxonomy, plant support, climatic variables, wild vs. commercialised species). Mutations in amino acid sequences were assessed in seven Phytoseiidae species, with populations collected in contrasted environments. The DNA sequences were mainly obtained from published studies and some were newly obtained. Mutations were observed within and between the populations considered for both fragments, with higher mutation rates in Cytb than in COI sequences, confirming the robustness of this former fragment. Plant support and taxonomic position were not related to mutation patterns. A lower number of mutations was observed in commercialised populations than in wild ones. As preliminary tendencies, mutations in Cytb and COI sequences seem associated to temperature and moisture. Such a preliminary approach, attempting to relate mutation to functional adaptations, clearly opens new research tracks for better assessment of the drivers of mite adaptation, in a context of climate change

Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) on plants of the family Solanaceae: results of a survey in the south of France and a review of world biodiversity

Species of the family Phytoseiidae are predators of pest mites and small insects. Their biodiversity is not equally known according to regions and supporting plants. This paper focuses on Phytoseiidae species on plants of the family Solanaceae. The Solanaceae contain many cultivated plants, for example tomato on which leaf characteristics hinder Phy-toseiidae settlement and dispersal. This study presents (i) results of surveys carried out on Solanaceae in the south of France, and (ii) Phytoseiidae biodiversity on Solanaceae worldwide. Eleven species were retrieved on 20 solanaceous plants in the south of France with four main species: Euseius gallicus, Euseius stipulatus, Phytoseiulus persimilis and Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) recki. The global analysis suggests that much more species might be found enhancing sampling efforts, whatever the biogeographic region considered. Five Phytoseiidae genera concentrate the highest number of reports and species [Ambly-seius, Neoseiulus, Euseius, Phytoseius and Typhlodromus (Anthoseius)]. These genera are not evolutionarily related; adaptation on Solanaceae seems to be recent, except in the Neotropical region. The latter region represents the highest number of reports, species and Solanaceae plants sampled, probably as the centre of origin of this plant family. Occurrence probabilities in biogeographic regions and plant genera are provided as a baseline for searching for new predators adapted to Solanaceae

Markers of life history traits: variation in morphology, molecular and amino acid sequences within Typhlodromus ( Anthoseius ) recki Wainstein (Acari: Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae)

International audienceIn this study we investigated morphological and molecular variation within the predatory mite Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) recki, and their relationships to ecological features. In total, 42 morphological characters were measured on 87 specimens from seven populations in the south of France and Sicily living on plants of four families. DNA sequences (two mitochondrial markers) and the amino acid sequences of the CytB protein were assessed. A relationship between morphological variation and plant families was observed. The 12S rRNA gene showed differentiation that appeared to be related to feeding habit, in agreement with the findings for two other Phytoseiidae species. CytB mitochondrial DNA showed variation related to geographical location. Four amino acid mutations separated the Sicilian and the French populations. CytB amino acid sequences were analysed for three other Phytoseiidae species, and again diagnostic mutations associated with geographical location were observed, as already shown for Phytoseiulus macropilis. The population differentiation observed for each marker (morphological, DNA fragments) appeared to be related to ecological/biological features, revealing new perspectives for forecasting functional characteristics based on morphotypes and genotypes. However, additional studies are needed to confirm these observations and to explain such functional relationships