Amblyseius andersoni (Chant, 1957)

Tixier, Marie-Stephane, Allam, Latifa, Douin, Martial & Kreiter, Serge, 2016, Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) of Morocco: new records, descriptions of five new species, re-descriptions of two species, and key for identification, Zootaxa 4067 (5), pp. 501-551 : 507

Amblyseius andersoni (Chant, 1957)

Typhlodromus andersoni Chant, 1957: 296 .

Amblyseius andersoni .—Athias-Henriot, 1958b: 33.

Typhlodromus (Amblyseius) andersoni .—Chant, 1959: 92.

Amblyseius (Amblyseius) andersoni .—Muma, 1961: 287.

Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) andersoni .—Westerboer & Bernhard, 1963: 682. Amblyseius (Multiseius) andersoni .— Denmark & Muma, 1989: 84. Amblyseius andersoni .—Moraes et al., 2004: 14; Chant & McMurtry, 2007: 75.

This species is distributed world-wide but is mainly reported from Europe. It has been observed on many plants especially crops such as orchards (apple, peach, pear and citrus) and vineyards, particularly in humid areas (Chant & Hansell, 1971; Papadoulis & Emmanouel, 1991; Gambaro, 1994; Papaioannou-Souliotis et al., 1994; Nicotina, 1996; Duso & Pasini, 2003; Ragusa, 2006). Several studies focused on the biology of A. andersoni and on its ability to feed on plant pests. It is reported to feed on Panonychus ulmi (Koch) , Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) and Aculops lycopersici (Massee) (Koveos & Broufas, 2000; Fischer & Mourrut-Salesse, 2005; Houten et al., 2005; Lorenzon et al., 2012). This species was known from Morocco on citrus (Tixier et al., 2003). With 218 specimens collected, it was one of the most abundant species. It has been observed in various locations all situated on the Atlantic Ocean coast, probably because of the high relative humidity in this region.

Specimens examined: 2002, Damon Oum Er Bia river on Echium arenarium (Boraginaceae) (2 females), Lantana sp. ( Verbenaceae ) (9 females, 3 males), Malva sp. ( Malvaceae ) (4 females); 2003, near Larache on Quercus suber (Fagaceae) (15 females, 5 males), Erica arborea (Ericaceae) (20 females, 6 males), Chamaerops humilis (Arecaceae) (23 females, 6 males), Acacia dealbata (Fabaceae) (10 females, 3 males), Calycotome villosa (Fabaceae) (4 females), Asphodelus fistulosus (Xanthorrhoeaceae) (13 females), Daphne gnidium (Thymelaeaceae) (12 females), Knautia purpurea (Caprifoliaceae) (10 females), Cistus parviflorus (7 females), Cistus salveafolius (Cistaceae) (2 females), Lavandula stoechas (12 females), Mentha pulegium (Lamiaceae) (25 females, 7 males), Myrtus communis (Myrtaceae) (22 females, 5 males), Rumex bicephalophorus (Polygonaceae) (1 female), Mazari Cape on Centaurium erythraea (Gentianaceae) (2 females), Larache on Solanum sodomaceum (Solanaceae) , Road to Souk El Arba on Cistus libanotis (Cistaceae) (2 females), Larache Beach on Solanum sodomaceum (Solanaceae) (3 females), Polygonum maritimum (Polygonaceae) (1 female).

Previous records: Algeria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Italy, Jordan, Japan, Moldova, Morocco, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, The Netherlands, Turkey, Ukraine, USA.