Mite-ecology

Guides

Phytoseiidae
predatory mites
Phytoseiidae is a large family of predatory mites in the order Mesostigmata, comprising over 2,700 described species across 90 genera and three subfamilies (Amblyseiinae, Phytoseiinae, and Typhlodrominae). These mites are primarily recognized for their role as biological control agents against agricultural pests, particularly spider mites (Tetranychidae), thrips, and other small arthropods. Their effectiveness in integrated pest management programs has driven substantial research interest, with species such as Phytoseiulus persimilis, Neoseiulus californicus, and Amblyseius swirskii among the most widely studied and commercially deployed predatory mites.
biological-control predatory-mites integrated-pest-management agricultural-acarology spider-mite-predators pollen-feeding intraguild-predation Wolbachia augmentative-biocontrol conservation-biological-control domatia glandular-trichomes pesticide-compatibility mass-rearing Tetranychidae Thysanoptera Mesostigmata crop-protection sustainable-agriculture mite-ecology