Phytoscutus Muma, 2005

Lofego, Antonio Carlos, Barbosa, Marina Ferraz De Camargo, Demite, Peterson Rodrigo & Moraes, Gilberto José De, 2024, Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) of the subfamily Amblyseiinae from Brazil, Zootaxa 5439 (1), pp. 1-306 : 109-110

Phytoscutus Muma

Phytoscutus Muma, 1961: 275 .

Phytoscutus . — Moraes et al., 1986: 107, 2004b: 165; Yoshida-Shaul & Chant, 1997: 221; Chant & McMurtry, 2004b: 305, 2007: 98.

Type species. Phytoscutus sexpilis Muma, 1961: 275 .

Main distinguishing characteristics. Dorsal shield often smooth (at least anteriorly), reticulate (often posteriorly) or with rough transverse striation. Idiosomal setal patterns 9A:9B/JV-3:ZV-3 (j5 and Zv3 absent), 9A:8E/JV-3:ZV-3 (j5, J2 and Zv3 absent), 9A:6E/JV-3,4: ZV3 (j5, J2, S2, S4, Jv4 and Zv3 absent), 9A:6E/JV-3:ZV-3 (j5, J2, S2, S4 and Zv3 absent), 9A:7D/JV-3:ZV (j5, J2 and S2 absent); setae s4, Z4 and Z5 much longer than other setae. Ventrianal shield bowl- or shield-shaped, with 3–5 pairs of pre-anal setae. Posterior end of peritrematic plate rounded and large. Spermathecal calyx saccular, bell-, cone- or cup-shaped. Fixed cheliceral digit with 6–8 and movable digit with three teeth. Macrosetae present only on leg IV or also on legs I–III. Male with three pairs of pre-anal setae arranged in a triangular pattern; spermadactyl wand-shaped.

Remarks. Two of the fifteen species presently included in this genus have been reported from Brazil, the most common being P. sexpilis . Worldwide, species of this genus have been reported from plants.