Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
SYSTEMATIC AND APPLIED ACAROLOGY, cilt.31, sa.3, ss.351-368, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Phytoseiid mites are of great importance due to their potential use in the biological control of spider mites, thrips, and whiteflies. Prior to this study, 37 phytoseiid species belonging to 14 genera had been reported from Slovenia. Here, we conducted a survey to collect phytoseiid mites from various habitats, including wetland and forest ecosystems, in Slovenia. As a result, Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) slovenicus Döker sp. nov. is described based on adult female specimens, along with remarks on its affinities with related lineages within the subfamily Typhlodrominae. Comparative morphological observations additionally demonstrate substantial morphological similarities among taxa currently classified in different species groups, species complexes, and even distinct genera (e.g. the porathi species group, ndibu species complex, and certain species presently placed in the genus Neoseiulella). Thus suggesting that certain diagnostic characters used in current classification system may not fully reflect evolutionary relationships between some taxonomic groups. All these issues discussed in detail. In addition, Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) baccettii Lombardini, Kampimodromus langei Wainstein & Arutunjan, and Graminaseius neograminis Döker, Kazak & Karut are recorded for the first time from Slovenia. Furthermore, a complementary description is provided for T. (T.) baccettii. An identification key to the phytoseiid species known from Slovenia is also presented for the first time. These findings increase the number of known phytoseiid species in Slovenia to 41.