Complementary description of neoseiulus tunus (De leon) (acari: Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) and observation on its reproductive strategy

Abstract

Neoseiulus tunus (De Leon) is one of the most frequent species of this genus in the Neotropical Region, reported on several plants and localities. In this study, the morphological characterization of various Brazilian populations of this species is presented. Females and males are illustrated. Neoseiulus neotunus (Denmark & Muma) is here considered a junior synonymn of N. tunus. Thelytokous parthenogenesis is reported for the first time for this species, based on two populations.