Phytoseiidae
| Phytoseiidae | |
|---|---|
| Proprioseiopsis mexicanus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Mesostigmata |
| Suborder: | Monogynaspida |
| Infraorder: | Gamasina |
| Superfamily: | Phytoseioidea |
| Family: | Phytoseiidae Berlese, 1916 |
| Subfamilies | |
|
Amblyseiinae Muma, 1961 | |
| Diversity | |
| About 90 genera, over 2,000 species | |
The Phytoseiidae are a family of mites which feed on thrips and other mite species. They are often used as a biological control agent for managing mite pests. Because of their usefulness as biological control agents, interest in Phytoseiidae has steadily increased over the past century. Public awareness of the biological control potential of invertebrates has been growing, though mainly in the US and Europe. In 1950, there were 34 known species. Today, there are 2,731 documented species organized in 90 genera and three subfamilies.