Phytoseiidae (predators)
Phytoseiidae (predators)
The family contains more than 2000 species of predatory mites with almost 100 genera. They prey on a variety of mites, tiny insects, as well as nematodes. Pollen may also be consumed. A number of species are very important biological control agents and are commercially available.
The fully grown adult mite is typically less than ½ mm long with males being shlightly smaller than females. The gnathosoma bears sensory palps, chelicerae and a stylophore. These are used to recognize the prey, capture and digest it. The eggs hatch to a 6 legged larval stage, which subsequently develops into the protonymph and finally the deutonymph (both with 8 legs).
The following genera and individual species are currently entered under Phytoseiidae (predators):
