New eriophyoid mites from Italy. IV. Mites associated with weed plants

Abstract

Geographical surveys of plant feeders on weeds are essential for finding species which can be studied as classical biological control agents of alien plants. Four eriophyoid species have been collected on well-known weeds surveyed on the Italian territory. A new species, Aceria verbenacae sp. nov., was found on leaf and stem deformations of Salvia verbenaca L. (Lamiaceae) and is described and illustrated. Two Phyllocoptinae species were found for the first time in Italy: Aculus mosoniensis (Ripka & Érsek) comb. nov. and Metaculus rapistri Carmona. Aculus mosoniensis was collected on leaf deformations of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle (Simaroubaceae), whereas M. rapistri was collected on leaf and stem deformations of Isatis tinctoria L. (Brassicaceae). Finally, Aceria drabae (Nalepa) was found on deformed leaves and stems of Lepidium draba L. (Brassicaceae) in central Italy. Its previous record in Friuli Venezia Giulia was based only on symptoms observed on the host plants. Three last species are described and illustrated in details to allow morphological comparisons along with previous reports.

Field Assessment of the Host Range of Aculus mosoniensis (Acari: Eriophyidae), a Biological Control Agent of the Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)

“…Therefore, it is unlikely that A. mosoniensis posed a risk to any of the nontarget species tested. In contrast, the extensive symptoms already recorded on tree of heaven at about one month after the inoculation confirmed what had already been observed by de Lillo et al [ 36 ] (i.e., leaflets strongly deformed or lost prematurely, and drying and necrosis of the apical parts of stems and of young plants).…”

“…Parallel studies focused on eriophyid mites (Acari: Eriophyoidea), well known for their high degree of host-specificity [ 34 ] and for their impact on their associated host, despite their extremely small size [ 35 ]. There are four eriophyid species associated with tree of heaven: Aculops ailanthi Lin, Jin and Kuang, Aculus altissimae Xue and Hong, Aculops taihangensis Hong and Xue, and Aculus mosoniensis (Ripka) [ 4 , 36 ]. All species, except A. mosoniensis , have been recorded for the first time in China.…”

“…ailanthi are the only species found outside of the native range of the plant, i.e., in the USA (first record in 2007 [ 37 ]) and Europe (first record in 2014 [ 38 ]), respectively. However, based on morphological observations [ 36 ] and molecular comparison [ 39 ], it has been realized that A. mosoniensis and Ac. taihangensis are synonymous [ 40 ].…”

“…On heavily infested plants, leaflets can assume a light pale/yellowish aspect or be lost prematurely. Moreover, drying and necrosis of the apical parts of stems and of young plants have also been observed [ 36 ]. The considerable impact that this mite can have on its host has led a team of scientists from several international institutions to focus their attention on the assessment of A. mosoniensis as a potential biological control agent against tree of heaven.…”

Eriophyid Mites in Classical Biological Control of Weeds: Progress and Challenges

“…Swingle, Simaroubaceae), i.e., Aculops taihangensis Hong & Xue and Aculus mosoniensis (Ripka). Based on morphological observations, de Lillo et al [66] suggested that A. taihangensis and Ac. mosoniensis were likely synonymous, and the subsequent molecular comparison showed no significant variation in nuclear region ITS1 (p-distance = 0.02 ± 0.02 bp) confirming the synonymy of the two species [67].…”