Euseius scutalis

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 : 508

Euseius scutalis (Athias-Henriot, 1958a)

Typhlodromus scutalis Athias-Henriot, 1958a: 183 .

Amblyseius scutalis .—Athias-Henriot, 1960a: 297.

Amblyseius (Amblyseius) scutalis .—Muma, 1961: 288.

Amblyseius (Typhlodromus) scutalis .—Ueckermann & Loots, 1988: 109. Euseius scutalis .—Moraes et al., 2004: 82; Chant & McMurtry, 2007: 123.

This species is mainly reported from the South of the Western Palaearctic region. Ferragut & Escudero (1997) noted that it is essentially found in dry climates. It is recorded from many plants but seldom in crops, except sometimes in citrus orchards (Swirski & Amitai, 1997b; Kreiter et al., 2010; Sahraoui et al., 2012). Some studies report its ability to feed on Tetranychus urticae Koch and Panonychus citri (McGregor) (Kasap & Sekeroglu, 2004; Abbassy et al. 2012). Maoz et al. (2011) report the use of E. scutalis to control Oligonychus perseae Tuttle in avocado orchards in Israel, when providing a pollen supplement. Euseius scutalis is considered a promising biological control agent against phytophagous mites, scale insects and whiteflies (Nomikou et al., 2001; Al- Shammery, 2010). Momen & El-Sawi (2008) also observed its ability to feed on eggs of Noctuidae . This species was known from Morocco; it has been reported by McMurtry & Bounfour (1989) and Tixier et al. (2003).

Specimens examined: 2002, Agourai on Morus sp. ( Moraceae ) (5 females), Populus sp. ( Salicaceae ) (1 female), Bouazza on Eryngium maritimum (Apiaceae) (1 female), Aïoun Asserdoun spring on Punica granatum (Lythraceae) (9 females, 4 males), Rubus sp. ( Rosaceae ) (8 females, 3 males), Eriobotrya japonica (Rosaceae) (19 females, 7 males), Lonicera implexa (Caprifoliaceae) (15 females), Damon Oum Er Bia river on Urtica dioica (Urticaceae) (1 female), Dittrichia viscosa (Asteraceae) (1 female), Solanum nigrum (Solanaceae) (1 female), Lonicera periclimum (Caprifoliaceae) (20 females), Lantana sp. ( Verbenaceae ) (5 females, 2 males), Convolvulus altheoides (Convolvulaceae) (1 female), Meknes University on Bougainvillea glabra (Nyctaginaceae) (2 females), Abutilon sp. ( Malvaceae ) (9 females), Acer negundo (Sapindaceae) (1 female), Lonicera sp. ( Caprifoliaceae ) (8 females, 3 males), Hibiscus rosa -sinensis ( Malvaceae ) (1 female), Hôtel Kasba Aasma, Zagora on an unknown plant (6 females), Rabat on Citrus sp. ( Rutaceae ) (1 female); 2003, Mazari Cape on Ceratonia siliqua (Fabaceae) (1 female), Fès on Pistacia terebenthus (Anacardiaceae) (15 females), Gorge sof Zegzel on Ceratonia siliqua (Fabaceae) (2 females), Izemmouren on Ceratonia siliqua (7 females), Kasba-Tedla on Hibiscus rosa -sinensis ( Malvaceae ) (7 females, 4 males), Pistacia terebenthus (Anacardiaceae) (6 females, 3 males), Ficus nitida (Moraceae) (3 females), Marrakech on Ceratonia siliqua (Fabaceae) (2 females), Mechra Bel Ksiri on Acacia karoo (Fabaceae) (1 female), Meknes on Rosa canina (Rosaceae) (4 females), Ras El Ma on Persea americana (Lauraceae) (2 females), Eribothrya japonica (Rosaceae) (3 females), Taza on Lantana camara (Verbenaceae) (2 females), unknown plant (3 females), Telleht on Prunus persica (Rosaceae) (1 female).

Previous records: Algeria, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Cyprus, Egypt, Ghana, Greece, Iran, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Yemen.