An insight into some relevant aspects concerning eriophyoid mites inhabiting forests, ornamental trees and shrubs

Abstract

Worldwide a great variety of eriophyoid mites inhabit forest canopy trees and ornamental plants that are used in city parks, squares and boulevards. An analysis of the relevant bibliography portrays only a fragmentary knowledge and the majority of our information concerns the temperate zone. Three case studies are presented as examples of different approaches to solve problems connected with eriophyoid mites of forest and ornamental trees. The first example deals with eriophyoids of a temperate zone forest in a natural environment, focusing on conifers which represent the largest component. The second case study documents a possible approach to obtain greater knowledge and control of the bud mite species, Trisetacus juniperinus (Nalepa) on Cupressaceae. This is a harmless species in the natural environment which becomes a serious pest in nurseries and young stands of Cupressus sempervirens in the Mediterranean region. The final case study reports on long-term studies carried out in Poland on injurious eriophyoid species that are found in nurseries, city greenery and parks. This paper also discusses future perspectives for research on eriophyoid mites living on forest and ornamental plants.

The control of eriophyoid mites: state of the art and future challenges

“…At the same time, current research has improved our understanding of eriophyoids as crop pests. Recent developments in the field of the monitoring, collection and identification (Monfreda et al 2009;Navajas and Navia 2009) of these often hidden species, their potential biological control and several case studies in certain crops (Duso et al 2009;Castagnoli et al 2009;Gamliel et al 2009;Hardman et al 2003) will most definitely have an impact on the strategies devised for their sustainable control. Taking into account the diversity of the species and crops, a good control strategy should be developed specifically for each cropping system.…”

“…The importance of Eriophyoids as pests in forests and ornamental trees is extensively reviewed by Castagnoli et al (2009).…”

Genetic and morphological diversity of Trisetacus species (Eriophyoidea: Phytoptidae) associated with coniferous trees in Poland: phylogeny, barcoding, host and habitat specialization

“…Mites belonging to the genus Trisetacus (Acari: Eriophyoidea: Phytoptidae) are associated with coniferous plants of the families Cupressaceae, Pinaceae and Taxodiaceae, and are widely distributed in Asia, Europe and North America (Xue et al 2007; Castagnoli et al 2010; Wang et al 2012). Coniferous host plants inhabited by these mites are significant in forestry and as ornamental trees, thus many Trisetacus species are considered to be serious and economically important pests.…”

“…Many of them use various shelters like buds, seeds, needle sheaths, and bud scales, while others can induce gall formations. Some species have been recorded as vagrants, spending their lives wandering about on needles or twigs (Smith 1984; Castagnoli et al 2010). However, it has been hypothesized that wanderers in fact may be shelter-associated mites collected during migrations between shelters (Castagnoli 1996).…”

“…Some species have been reported as inhabiting more than one type of microhabitat. For example, Trisetacus juniperinus (Nalepa) has been found inside buds (causing needle agglomeration, enlargement and necrosis), galls (Jeppson et al 1975; Łabanowski and Soika 2000; Castagnoli et al 2010), or inhabiting berries (M. Lewandowski, personal observations). Such habitat differentiation in T. juniperinus may suggest that populations occurring in buds and those making galls are distinct, cryptic species (Bouneb et al 2014; J. Amrine, personal communication).…”