The diversity of phytoseiid mite communities was experimentally investigated on uncultivated and cultivated lands. Ninety four plants were sampled three times a year over five years (1999-2003) and traps were filtered once a week over the same five year period, from April to September. Thirty seven phytoseiid mite species were found, five for the first time ever in France. Seventy six of the 94 plants sampled bore phytoseiid mites. The most abundant species were, by order of density: Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) phialatus, Kampimodromus aberrans and Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) recki. The plants mostly highly colonised by phytoseiid mites were: Celtis australis, Quercus ilex, Rubus sp., Q. coccifera, and Ulmus sp. The diversity of phytoseiid mites in uncultivated areas seems to be linked to plant diversity.