Résumé
This study reports variation between populations of the phytoseiid mite Kampimodromus aberrans (Oudemans). The influence of different host plants and localities on morphologic variation was investigated to determine the reliability of the parameters usually used to distinguish species in the genus Kampimodromus. Numerous specimens have been examined consisted of 6 French populations and 5 Austrian populations, collected both in cultivated and uncultivated areas on Celtis australis L., Quercus pubescens Willdenow, Corylus avellana L., Vitis vinifera cv. Carignan, Vitis vinifera cv. Cabernet-Sauvignon, Prunus sp. and Malus sp. [br/] [br/] Differences were observed between females collected in Austria and France and in uncultivated and cultivated areas. Two clear distinct groups of specimens were distinguished on one Q. pubescens. To determine if more than one species of Kampimodromus were present on this plant, measurements of other closely related species were also included in the analysis. All the females studied belong to K. aberrans. However, the great setal variations observed raised the following questions: 1. What is the validity of other closely related species whose setal lengths differ only slightly from those of K. aberrans? 2. Are setal lengths useful characters to distinguish between closely related species in the genus Kampimodromus? Furthermore, we observe close setal patterns between populations collected in a same country and a same cultivated area, suggesting exchanges and/or the impact of similar selection pressure on morphologic parameters. Implication of these relationships for biocontrol is discussed.