Predatory mites from crops and pastures in South Africa: potential natural enemies of redlegged earth mite Halotydeus destructor (Acari: Penthaleidae) Author Halliday, R. B. text Zootaxa 2005 1079 11 64 journal article 50949 10.5281/zenodo.170355 ab581412-8bf4-4718-b555-e389591088a9 1175­5326 170355 9E06506A-35AC-482A-B8D6-B9FD02FB4A5C Cyta latirostris (Hermann) Scirus latirostris Hermann, 1804 : 62 . Cyta latirostris : Womersley, 1933c : 100 ; Atyeo & Tuxen, 1962 : 297 ; Atyeo, 1963b : 177 ; Wallace & Mahon, 1973 : 571 ; Den Heyer, 1981 : 32 ; Swift & Goff, 1987 : 47 . Cyta phaseoli Meyer & Ryke, 1959a : 377 (synonymy by Wallace & Mahon, 1973 ; Den Heyer, 1981 ). Specimens examined : Site 94­5 , 1 female ; Site 94­16 , 1 male , 1 N; Site 94­31 , 3 females , 2 males ; Site 99­17 , 1 female ; Site 2000­9 , 1 female , 1 male ; Site FT204­13, Malmsbury, 28 July 1965 , M. M. H. Wallace, pasture, 1 male ; Site FT204­19, Houw Hoek Pass, near Caledon, 29 July 1965 , M. M. H. Wallace, 2 N; FT204­30, Robertson, 30 July 1965 , M. M. H. Wallace, pasture, 2 males . Cyta latirostris is widespread in Europe ( Hermann, 1804 ; Atyeo & Tuxen, 1962 ), Africa ( Den Heyer, 1981 ) and Australia ( Womersley, 1933c ; Atyeo, 1963b ; Wallace & Mahon, 1973 ), and occurs in Hawaii ( Swift & Goff, 1987 ). It occurs in a wide range of habitats, including heath, moss, birds' nests, pasture, grass, soil, and in leaf litter under a wide range of plants, where it feeds on mites and Collembola ( Wallace & Mahon, 1973 ) . In Australia it forms part of the predator complex that contributes to the control of H. destructor (James et al. , 1995) .