Acarologia (2016) 56, 175-181

S. Kreiter, V. Vicente, M.S. Tixier and O. Fontaine (2016)
An unexpected occurrence of Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot in La Reunion Island (Acari: Phytoseiidae)
Acarologia 56 (2), 175-181
Abstract: The identity of specimens of phytoseiid mites collected inside greenhouses infested by thrips in La Reunion Island was assessed. As the sampled species belongs to the genus Amblyseius, presently containing 415 species which are notoriously difficult to discriminate, morphological and molecular traits were evaluated. Both morphological and DNA comparisons showed that the collected specimens belong to the species Amblyseius swirskii, a successful biological control agent introduced in the market more than ten years ago in Europe and Northern America. This finding was unexpected, as this species was never reported in this part of the world; an accidental introduction is thus suspected.
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Database assignments for author(s): Serge Kreiter, Marie-Stéphane Tixier

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
surveys/distribution/isolation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Amblyseius swirskii (predator)			Reunion Island