Eriophyoids are an ancient group of highly miniaturized, morphologically simplified and diverse phytoparasitic mites. Their possible numerous host-switch events have been accompanied by considerable homoplastic evolution. Although several morphological cladistic and molecular phylogenetic studies attempted to reconstruct phylogeny of Eriophyoidea, the major lineages of eriophyoids, as well as the evolutionary relationships between them, are still poorly understood. New phylogenetically informative data have been provided by the recent discovery of the early derivative pentasetacine genus Loboquintus, and observations on the eriophyoid reproductive anatomy. Herein, we use COI and D1-2 rRNA data of 73 eriophyoid species (including early derivative pentasetacines) from Europe, the Americas and South Africa to reconstruct part of the phylogeny of the superfamily, and infer on the basal divergence of eriophyoid taxa. In addition, a comparative CLSM study of the female internal genitalia was undertaken in order to find putative apomorphies, which can be used to improve the taxonomy of Eriophyoidea. The following molecular clades, marked by differences in genital anatomy and prodorsal shield setation, were found in our analyses: Loboquintus(Pentasetacus((Eriophyidae + Diptilomiopidae)(Phytoptidae-1, Phytoptidae-2))). The results of this study suggest that the superfamily Eriophyoidea comprises basal paraphyletic pentasetacines (Loboquintus and Pentasetacus), and two large monophyletic groups: Eriophyidae s.l. [containing paraphyletic Eriophyidae sensu Amrine et al. 2003 (=Eriophyidae s.str.) and Diptilomiopidae sensu Amrine et al. 2003] and Phytoptidae s.l. [containing monophyletic Phytoptidae sensu Boczek et al. 1989 (=Phytoptidae s.str.) and Nalepellidae sensu Boczek et al. 1989]. Putative morphological apomorphies (including genital and gnathosomal characters) supporting the clades revealed in molecular analyses are briefly discussed.

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Hazelnut big bud mite, Phytoptus avellanae Nalepa, is one of the most harmful pests of Corylus spp. (Corylaceae) worldwide. Herein, we show that this species represents a complex of two cryptic species: one that lives and reproduces in buds causing their enlargement ('big buds') and drying, whereas the other is a vagrant living on leaves, under bud scales and in catkins, based on phylogenetic analyzes of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) DNA and the nuclear D2 region of 28S rDNA sequences. A molecular assessment based on mtCOI DNA and nuclear D2 28S rDNA revealed consistent differences of 16.8 and 3.5% between the two species, respectively. Molecular analysis also revealed that atypical flattened nymphs (Tegonotus-like nymphs sensu Keifer in Mites Injurious to Economic Plants, University of California Press, Berkeley, pp 327-562, 1975) with differently annulated opisthosoma, which appear in the life cycle of P. avellanae s.l., belong to the 'vagrant' lineage, i.e. vagrant cryptic species. Light microscopy images of Tegonotus-like nymphs molting into males and females are presented for the first time. Our results suggest that the name P. avellanae comprise two species. Big bud mite should keep the name P. avellanae, and the vagrant cryptic species should be re-named after a proper morphological description is made.

From about 250 Cirsium spp., only two Aceria spp. (Acari: Eriophyoidea) have been described, Aceria anthocoptes (Nal.) and Aceria cirsii Pet. B. & Shi. Host specificity, which generally characterizes eriophyoid mites, potentially leads to speciation, so we may expect more than two Aceria spp. and/or other infraspecific taxa. Furthermore, studies on host-related variability in the morphology of Aceria mites are generally lacking. The purpose of this study was to investigate quantitative morphological traits of five Aceria populations inhabiting five Cirsium spp. in Serbia. MANOVA analysis revealed significant differences in 23 commonly used morphological traits as well as four additional traits related to the prodorsal shield design. In addition, the most important qualitative traits using scanning electron microphotographs were studied in order to clarify phenotypic differences among five Aceria spp. Discriminant analysis identified eight traits that significantly differentiate five populations. UPGMA cluster analysis of the squared Mahalanobis distances indicates that A. cirsii was morphologically the most divergent, while A. anthocoptes populations from Cirsium arvense and Aceria sp. from Cirsium heterophyllum were isolated from the branch clustering Aceria spp. populations from Cirsium eriophorum and Cirsium creticum. Analysis of qualitative traits using SEM confirmed results obtained from the analysis of morphometric features.

A new pentasetacine mite Loboquintus subsquamatus n. gen. & n. sp. was found living under scale-like leaves of 2-3 years old twigs of Cupressus sempervirens in Montenegro. This mite species possesses a number of morphological features (uncommon teardrop-shaped body, traits of prosoma, atypical primitive anatomy of the genital apparatus and morphological traits of immatures) which clearly distinguish it from all other known eriophyoids. Adults of L. subsquamatus have seta vi situated on the anterior margin of a uniquely elongate lingua-like thin frontal lobe, three pits on the posterior prodorsal shield margin, a remarkable tube-like structure in the basal part of gnathosoma, a complicated three-layered epigynium, spermathecae directed antero-laterad, short spermathecal tubes and setae eu suppressed in males and possibly expressed in females. External genitalia of males and females of L. subsquamatus are fundamentally similar. Hypothesized remnants of coxisterna III or IV (forming a postgenital plate) are remarkably distinct in males. Two new morphometrical variables are proposed to supplement the CLSM protocol for description of internal genitalia of eriophyoids proposed by Chetverikov et al. (Zootaxa 3560:41-60, 2012b): (a) the length of ventral projection of the transvers genital apodeme and (b) the length of the posterior (=postspermathecal) part of the longitudinal bridge which in L. subsquamatus is remarkably long, whereas in many other eriophyoids it is reduced.