Prediction of the potential distribution of the predatory mite Neoseiulus californicus McGregor in China using MaxEnt

Neoseiulus californicus McGregor is a specialized predator of Tetranychidae mites. Recently, commercially produced N. californicus have been shown to be effective in the integrated management of pest mites in scientific trials, and this has attracted the attention of both entomologists and the agricultural industry. In this study, we collected geographic location information on N. californicus, used MaxEnt to simulate its potential suitable distribution in China, and discussed the dominant environmental variables restricting its geographical distribution. The highly suitable areas were mainly located in Hunan, Sichuan, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangxi, Jiangsu, Anhui, Guangdong, Guizhou, Chongqing, Yunnan and Jiangxi, and the total area was 106.82 × 104 km2. Moderately and lowly suitable areas were 91.44 × 104 km2 and 19.04 × 104 km2, respectively. The key climatic variables affecting the distribution of N. californicus were the maximum temperature in November (11.31–25.7 °C), maximum temperature in the warmest month (25.02–33.91 °C), precipitation in the coldest quarter (125.17–586.87 mm), precipitation in April (48.67–472.71 mm), precipitation in October (60.8–378.18 mm) and temperature seasonality (97.79–836.85).