Rosita Monfreda

‘Salivary secretions’ of eriophyoids (Acari: Eriophyoidea): first results of an experimental model

This paper concerns an approach to direct collection of eriophyoid ‘salivary secretions’, and reports preliminary results on biological assays providing evidence for the presence of plant growth promoting substances in these secretions. Eleven species belonging to the Phytoptidae, Eriophyidae and Diptilomiopidae, characterized by different host–plant interactions, were studied by immersing mites into the following oils: condensate of cedar oil, oil for immersion lenses, two kinds of olive oil, α-terpineol, hystolemon, vaseline oil, and soybean oil. Some species secreted small droplets of lipophobic substances at the tip of their mouthparts when they were immersed in objective lens oil. Mite mortality and percentage of secreting specimens depended on the species and the medium used. Aceria caulobia (Nalepa) was selected as the candidate for subsequent study, because this species displayed a higher percentage of secreting mites than the other species and numerous specimens were easily collected by means of an airflow and filtering device. The induced secretions were studied from January to June of 2000, 2001 and 2002. Rapid salivary bioassays were performed during the period of maximum induced secretion in 2001. They were evaluated using a wheat-coleoptile and an excised-radish-cotyledon growth test, respectively, for indole-3-acetic acid-like and cytokinin-like activity. The bioassays suggested the presence of chemicals with plant growth regulatory effects. A brief account of eriophyoid mortality in the oils was also given.

Collection and detection of eriophyoid mites

Methods for collecting and detecting eriophyoid mites are crucial components in research, taxonomical and biological studies, and control programs for these organisms. Their small size, their specific host-plant interactions and their hidden life-style make them difficult to find in routine inspections. This review examines successful and unsuccessful approaches for collecting eriophyoid mites, and makes recommendations for their detection, supporting studies in taxonomy, ecology, biology, molecular systematics and population genetics.

Three new Aceria species (Acari: Eriophyoidea) from Turkey

Abstract Turkish populations of eriophyid mites infesting Malvaceae, Asteraceae and Caryophyllaceae were examined. Analyses of morphometric data, induced symptoms, and comparisons to the morphology and descriptions of known species indicated presence of three new species which are described and illustrated. These are: Aceria egmirae n. sp. from Althaea rosae (L.) Cavan, A. tinctoriae n. sp. from Anthemis tinctoria L. and A. ankarensis n. sp. from Dianthus chinensis L. No injuries were detected on the host plants.

Eriophyoid mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Eriophyoidea) from the Maltese Islands (Central Mediterranean): new reports and a preliminary check-list.

In the 20th Century, about 20 species of eriophyoids were listed for the Maltese Islands but these reports were entirely based on plant gall surveys. In these last four years, plant collections were made in order to investigate the species of eriophyoids present in Malta and Gozo. Most of the earlier reports have been confirmed and eight species were found to be new for the Maltese islands: Aceria caulobia (Nalepa) gall- making on Suaeda vera Gmelin; Aceria onychia (Nalepa) on Phlomis fruticosa L.; Aceria sheldoni (Ewing) on lemon; Aculus tetanothrix (Nalepa) gall-making on Salix sp.; Cecidophyopsis hendersoni (Keifer) on yucca; and three species associated with olive, Ditrymacus athiasella Keifer, Oxycenus maxwelli (Keifer) and Tegolophus hassani (Keifer). Additional remarks were included for Acalitus phloeocoptes (Nalepa), collected on cherry plum, whose earlier Maltese record was doubtful. A complete morphometric description of Aceria carlinae (Nalepa) is here provided. Key words: faunistic survey, eriophyoids, new records, Malta. ACARI ERIOFIOIDEI (ACARI: PROSTIGMATA: ERIOPHYOIDEA) DELLE ISOLE MALTESI (MEDITERRANEO CENTRALE): NUOVE SEGNALAZIONI E CHECK-LIST PRELIMINARE Circa 20 specie di eriofioidei sono state segnalate per le Isole Maltesi nel XX secolo a seguito di indagini svolte esclusivamente su piante che manifestavano sintomi evidenti. Negli ultimi quattro anni, sono state effettuate raccolte di campioni di piante al fine di disporre di una piu ampia conoscenza degli eriofioidei presenti in Malta e Gozo. Molte delle prime segnalazioni sono state confermate e altre otto specie sono rinvenute per la prima volta: Aceria caulobia (Nalepa) galligeno su Suaeda vera Gmelin; Aceria onychia (Nalepa) su Phlomis fruticosa L.; Aceria sheldoni (Ewing) su limone; Aculus tetanothrix (Nalepa) galligeno su Salix sp.; Cecidophyopsis hendersoni (Keifer) su yucca; e tre specie associate all’olivo, Ditrymacus athiasella Keifer, Oxycenus maxwelli (Keifer) e Tegolophus hassani (Keifer). Vengono fornite osservazioni aggiuntive per Acalitus phloeocoptes (Nalepa), raccolto su ciliegio selvatico, la cui segnalazione precedente era apparsa dubbio, e una descrizione morfometrica completa per Aceria carlinae (Nalepa). Parole chiave: faunistica, acari galligeni, nuove segnalazioni, Malta.

Studies on the eriophyoid mites (Acari: Eriophyoidea) of Turkey: Three new species associated with Fabaceae

Abstract Three new eriophyid mite species infesting Fabaceae in Turkey are described and illustrated: Anthocoptes trigonellae n. sp. on Trigonella sp., Aceria novellae n. sp. on Hedysarum sp., and Tetra glycyrrhizae n. sp. on Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (licorice). These mites did not cause any apparent symptoms to their hosts.

Eriophyoid mite fauna (Acari: Trombidiformes: Eriophyoidea) of Turkey: new species, new distribution reports and an updated catalogue

More than one hundred species of Eriophyoidea have been recorded hitherto from Turkey. Within the last decade, a large plant survey was carried out in order to investigate the eriophyoid fauna present in Turkey, with particular emphasis on species affecting weeds and ornamental plants. In addition, the Turkish literature has been examined for previous records of eriophyoid mites. New species, Paraphytoptus intybi n. sp. on common cichory, Cichorium intybus (Compositae) and Phytoptus albae n. sp. on white poplar, Populus alba (Salicaceae), are described and illustrated herein. In addition, a further 31 species were found to be new records for the eriophyoid fauna of Turkey with Aceria calaceris, Phyllocoptes didelphis and Vasates immigrans being new reports for the Palaearctic region. All known eriophyoid species records from Turkey appearing in papers published up until March 2013 are listed in this catalogue along with remarks and information on their current distribution in Turkey and taxonomic status.

Eriophyoid mites on Centaurea solstitialis in the Mediterranean area.

Yellow star thistle (YST), Centaurea solstitialis L. (Asteraceae), is a weedy annual plant, native to the Mediterranean area that infests rangelands, pastures and grasslands in the northern United States. In the search for biological control agents, an eriophyoid mite capable of significant impact on weed density and reproduction was studied. This research was focussed on: (a) geographical distribution of Aceria solstitialis de Lillo et al. (Acari: Eriophyidae) in the YST native area; (b) dynamic study of the eriophyoid population on YST in Apulia (Italy). In the first case, symptomatic plants were collected in Bulgaria, Greece, Italy and Turkey. In the second case, four sites were selected in Apulia, and periodical samplings were undertaken on 20 plants from February to August 2004 to 2006. Four different phenological categories of samples were collected separately from each plant: new rosette leaves, mature rosette leaves, stems and flower heads. This study ascertained the presence of A. solstitialis in the sampled localities of Mediterranean area, together with other mite species. In Apulia, ten species were detected on YST, and some of them could be related to neighbouring plants. A. solstitialis was detected only from May to August, and its density was highest at stem level, but it seems to be always low and insufficient to provide a significant reduction of weed seed production in the studied area.