Phytoseiidae mites associated with native and cultivated solanaceous in Central-West Brazil

Predatory mites represent important biological control agents and those belonging to the Phytoseiidae family are the most promising for the control of phytophagous mites and small insects. The control of key pests o f tomato and other solanaceous crops, highlighting phytophagous mites, has been a challenge and the biological control constitutes a promising strategy. Prospecting predatory mites in wild host plants, natural environmen ts as well as in agroecosystems is relevant because these non-crop and crop areas can serve as reservoirs fo r promising species for biological control programs. This study aimed to know the Phytoseiidae fauna associated with wild and cultivated solanaceous plants in a poorly prospected area in Brazil, the Central-West Region. A detailed taxonomic identification of phytoseiid mites was conducted, and the most important morphological traits are presented for each species. In addition, associated phytophagous mites mainly belonging to the Tetranychidae, Tenuipalpidae and Eriophyoidea were identified. Surveys were carried out in 23 species o f solanaceous collected in the Distrito Federal (12 areas) and Goias State (1 area), from February 2017 to Januar y 2018. Nineteen species of predators belonging to ten genera were recorded: Amblyseius (2 species), Euseius (3) , Typhlodromalus (2, one probably new to science) and Typhlodromips (1). Solanum lycocarpum was th e solanaceous that harbored the highest richness (11 species), as well as the one with the highest abundance o f phytoseiids (250 specimens). Typhlodromalus aripo was the most common species, being the most abundant (423 specimens; 32%) and registered on the largest number of hosts (14). Many of phytoseiid species foun d present morphological traits that facilitate their occurrence in leaves with trichomes, as in the case of tomato an d other cultivated solanaceous. These traits and the association between predators and phytophagous mites m ay indicate that these species are promising for biological control programms. Thus, extensive studies to assess the