The identity of Phytoseius plumifer one of the first phytoseiid species to be described, is a matter of longstanding controversy among taxonomists. On the other hand, the examination of specimens collected in the type locality has not been performed and references on this argument have been neglected in specific literature. During surveys carried out in the type locality, we found as common a Phytoseiulus species having features concsistent with some of those originally reported for P. plumifer. In this work, the literature on the identity of P. plumifer is critically analyzed and a neotype of this species is designated and described.