Phytoseiulus persimilis

Phytoseiulus persimilis is a fast-moving and voracious predatory mite that feeds almost exclusively on spider mites.

Tetranychus urticae, the two-spotted spider mite © Harry Taylor, NHM

For several decades it has been reared commercially and used to control spider mites that damage crops, particularly Tetranychus urticae (the two-spotted spider mite).

Crops treated include

plants grown under glass (such as cucumbers, peppers, strawberries, roses, chrysanthemums and orchids)
outside ones (for example, strawberries, hops and citrus).

Phytoseiulus persimilis feeds until all the spider mites have been eradicated from a crop. Populations cannot become established after this because there evidently is no alternative food that will sustain them until their favoured spider mites reappear. Phytoseiulus persimilis has to be periodically reintroduced.

Species detail

The body is about 0.5 mm long and turns from translucent white to brown-orange as the mite ages. The front and back pair of legs are slender and longer than the body, the middle two slightly shorter.

Females becomes more widely rounded posteriorly as feeding and egg development progress

Distribution

The natural geographical range of Phytosieulus persimilis is the Mediterranean region, but its success at controlling spider mites has resulted in it being imported into many countries around the world

Taxonomy

Find out more about the body structure and taxonomy of Phytoseiulus persimilis
Distribution

Discover where Phytoseiulus persimilis is found throughout the world.
Biology

The life expectancy of Phytoseiulus persimilis differs according to a number of factors, including host plant identity, temperature and prey availability. Find out more about the life expectancy of this mite as well as size and weight information.
Biocontrol

Find out more about the use of Phytoseiulus persimilis as a highly successful biocontrol agent of plant-parasitic spider mites.
References