Eriophyoid Mites Found on Healthy and Rose Rosette Diseased Roses in the United States1

Abstract

Phyllocoptes fructiphilus (Keifer), known as the rose bud mite, is an eriophyoid mite that has been shown to be the vector of Rose rosette virus (RRV), an Emaravirus, and the causal agent of rose rosette disease (RRD). Studies were conducted of mites found on roses, using various microscopy techniques including wide field, phase contrast and differential interference contrast light microscopy, and table top and low temperature scanning electron microscopy. Surveys of roses from several states within the US indicate the presence of three species of eriophyid mites: Phyllocoptes fructiphilus, Eriophyes eremus (Druciarek & Lewandowski), and Callyntrotus schlechtendali (Nalepa). Phyllocoptes fructiphilus was found primarily under the petioles (stipules), inside the flower sepals appressed to the ovary/seeds, and on the surface of the leaves. It was collected on plants with or without symptoms of RRD and often hides amongst the dense simple and bulbous, glandular hairs or under the stipules/petioles. Eriophyes eremus was found under the stipules of roses and is now recorded for the first time in the Americas. Callyntrotus schlechtendali was found on the open surface of the older leaves. The latter two species were not observed to be associated with obvious plant injury. In addition, predatory mites were found associated with these mites which may be useful as biological control agents of the eriophyid mites. Index words: insect vectors, disease spread, predatory mites, viruses Species used: Rose bud mite [Phyllocoptes fructiphilus (Keifer)]; Roses (Rosa spp.)

Facing Rose rosette virus: A risk to European rose cultivation

“…Otero‐Colina et al . (2018) have shown that no damage has been observed in association with this mite.…”

“…Light and electron microscopy techniques are used to identify P. fructiphilus and differentiate it from other mite species. It is commonly found in the flowers, under stipules or vegetative bud scales (Otero‐Colina et al ., 2018). Whilst P. adalius is similar to P. fructiphilus , and a significant pest in its own right, causing serious damage due to feeding, it has been shown to not be an RRD vector (Amrine, 2002).…”

“…This eriophyid mite is also found in roses, and was first described in Israel (Druciarek and Lewandowski, 2016). E. eremus was found in several states of the USA in 2018, colonizing native, naturalized, and ornamental rose cultivars (Otero‐Colina et al ., 2018), and like P. fructiphilus , it is also a microenvironment shelter seeking mite. Interest in E. eremus arose after being found in large numbers and as the only mite species feeding on a symptomatic, quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT‐qPCR)‐positive plant (Solo, 2018).…”

“…Low‐temperature scanning electron microscopy images of female adults of (a, b) Phyllocoptes fructiphilus , (a) dorsum, (b) venter; (c, d) Eriophyes eremus , (c) dorsum, (d) venter. Image reproduced with the permission of USDA‐ARS, Electron and Confocal Microscopy Unit, Beltsville, MD (Otero‐Colina et al ., 2018)…”

“…Acaricides may be useful to treat rose plants surrounding areas where RRV‐infected plants have been removed (Hong et al ., 2012). However, it is difficult to completely eliminate mites, because eriophyids hide in inaccessible areas of the plant (Otero‐Colina et al ., 2018).…”