A REVIEW OF THE AUSTRALIAN PHYTOSEIINAE (ACARI, MESOSTIGMATA, PHYTOSEIIDAE)

We revise the Australian Phytoseiinae (Acari: Mesostigmata: Phytoseiid ae) based on a study of over 1000 slide-mounted specimens. Of the thre e currently recognised genera in the subfamily, only Phytoseius is kno wn from Australia, but endemic species occur in each of its three spec ies-groups. We describe 11 new species, including P. bunya, the first Australian representative of the purseglovei-group. The plumifer-group is represented by five species including P. danutae, sp. nov. and P. improcerus Corpuz, a Philippine mite newly reported from Australia; in addition, P. leaki Schicha is newly reported from New Zealand. In Aus tralia, the horridus-group contains two oceanic-island species, P. haw aiiensis Prasad and P. mayottae Schicha (newly reported), and two comp lexes of Australasian endemics. The fotheringhamiae-complex has seven species, including three new species from tropical rainforests in far north Queensland - P. paluma, P. camelot and P. devildevil; in additio n, P. fotheringhamiae is newly reported from New Zealand. The douglase nsis-complex also has seven species, including six new species from Qu eensland and the Northern Territory: P. oreillyi, P. acaciae, P. briga low, P. mantoni, P. darwin and P. litchfieldensis. All 22 species of P hytoseius known from Australia are keyed and diagnosed, and their dist ributions are detailed.