Short communication. Phytoseiid mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from apple trees in Río Negro, Argentina

Abstract

The presence of phytoseiid mites was determined in two unsprayed apple orchards at Cinco Saltos and Cipolletti, Río Negro Province, Argentina. Twenty apple trees were chosen in each orchard and a sample of 10 leaves per tree was taken at seven different sampling dates. Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor), Euseius fructicolus (Gonzalez &Schuster) and Paraseiulus talbii Athias-Henriot were found at Cinco Saltos, and Proprioseiopsis messor (Wainstein), N. californicus and Metaseiulus camelliae (Chant & Yoshida-Shaul) at Cipolletti. Of these species, only N. californicus has previously been reported from the Alto Valle del Río Negro region. Proprioseiopsis messor and Paraseiulus talbii are reported for the first time in South America and on the American Continent respectively.