Euseius gallicus Kreiter and Tixier (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is present in four more countries in Europe: Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Turkey

Euseius gallicus is reported from four additional European countries: Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Turkey. It is recorded from 4 plant species belonging to 4 families (Convolvulaceae, Malvaceae, Rosaceae and Solanaceae). Measurements based on collected adult females are provided. Finally, comparisons and further observations of type specimens have shown some mistakes on leg chaetotaxy to the original description. The corrected chaetotactic formula is therefore provided.


INTRODUCTION
The genus Euseius was defined by Wainstein in 1962 with the type species Seiulus finlandicus Oudemans, 1915 (Wainstein 1962). This genus is one of the largest genera in the sub-family Amblyseiinae (Acari: Mesostigmata) with more than 188 valid species (Moraes et al. 2004;Chant and McMurtry 2007;Tixier et al. 2009).

MATERIALS AND METHODS
The specimens were collected on 4 plant species belonging to 4 families. Phytoseiid mites were stored in 95% ethanol and were then cleared in lactophenol solution for 5 hours. The permanent slides were made using Hoyer's medium and kept in a hot plate (50 º C) during two weeks.
The taxonomic system for the identification is based on Chant and McMurtry (2005;2007). Setae nomenclature follows that proposed by Lindquist and Evans (1965) as adapted by Rowell et al. (1978) for the family Phytoseiidae. Measurements were performed using a Leica DM 2500 microscope with 400X magnification. All measurements are given in micrometers (µm). Because authors do not have permanent slides of German specimens, no measurements were done. World distribution France (Okassa et al. 2009;Tixier et al. 2009), Tunisia (Kreiter et al. 2010), Belgium, Germany, The Netherlands and Turkey (this study).
Morphological characters and measurements of Belgian, Dutch and Turkish specimens of E. gallicus fit those of the original description (Table 1). Low variations in setal length were observed between the specimens herein reported. This comparison allows to ensure a right diagnosis especially for specimens collected far away from the location of type material. Comparing the present specimens with the type specimens we observed, there are some differences in the original description regarding leg chaetotaxy. We thus checked the type specimens (in the Montpellier SupAgro collection) and we observed two mistakes in the original description: the chaetotactic formula of Genu II and III should be changed as 1-2/0, 2/0-2 and 1-2/1, 2/0-1, respectively (7 setae on each genua and not 6 as indicated in the original description). In addition, the number of setae of genu and tibia IV should be 7 and 6, respectively (and not 6 and 5 as illustrated in the drawings of original description). However these corrections do not invalidate the species status of E. gallicus.
In addition to the species morphologically close to E. gallicus reported in the original description (Euseius longiverticalis (Liang and Ke, 1983), Euseius amissibilis (Meshkov, 1991) and Euseius kirghisicus (Kolodochka, 1979), it should be noted that it is also close to Euseius ucrainicus (Kolodochka, 1979) especially in idiosomal setae but differs from this latter in the peritreme length and spermatheca shape. Furthermore, when E. gallicus was described the descriptors sent specimens to Dr. Kolodochka for him checking the new status of this new species in relation to those he already described, i.e. E. kirghisicus and E. ucrainicus (M.-S. Tixier, pers. Comm. 2014).
This study clearly shows that E. gallicus is widespread in Europe (including some northwestern and southern countries) on a wide range of plants. In general, these plants were colonized by Tetranychus urticae, Frankliniella occidentalis and Trialeurodes vaporariorum. Future studies should be conducted on biology and effectiveness of this predatory mite to control spider mites, thrips and whiteflies.