Phylogeny and biogeography of the genus Phytoseiulus Evans (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

The genus Phytoseiulus included in the sub‐family Amblyseiinae is quite particular among the Phytoseiidae because of morphological and biological characteristics. The biogeographic and phylogenetic relationships of the species of Phytoseiulus were studied in this paper. Phytoseiulus macropilis and P. persimilis are phylogenetically close to each others, sharing a large number of synapomorphies. These two species are then grouped with P. fragariae and then with P. longipes, which seems to have the most plesiomorphic character states. Except for the East Palaearctic region, the genus Phytoseiulus is found in all the other biogeographic regions. However, it is poorly reported from the Oriental, Nearctic and Australasian areas. As containing the highest diversity, the Neotropical region could be hypothetised as the area of origin of this taxon, suggesting at least a Gondwanan origin of the genus Phytoseiulu