A study of the family Phytoseiidae (Acarina: Mesostigmata) using the methods of numerical taxonomy

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The taxonomic history of the family Phytoseiidae is briefly reviewed. The taxonomic structure of the family is analysed using the methods of numerical taxonomy, with 221 morphological characters in 93 species covering the major taxonomic groups that have been proposed within the family. Both weighted and unweighted character analyses are used. It is shown that definite gaps separate groups of species within this family. At the level of major hierarchical separations both the unweighted and weighted character analyses are similar. A classification based on these major hierarchical separations is proposed. It is demonstrated that neither the classical system, based mainly on dorsal chaetotaxy, nor the numerical system alone provides a completely acceptable classification of the family, but that numerical taxonomic analyses are useful as a tool in helping to determine the hierarchical organization of the group.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: