Eriophyoidea: Eriophyidae

Superorder Acariformes

  Order Trombidiformes

Suborder Prostigmata

Supercohort Eupodides

Cohort Eupodina

   Superfamily Eriophyoidea

        Family Eriophyidae (including Ashieldophyidae)

 

Common names:  gall mites, rust mites, erinose mites, eriophyids

 

Probability of Encounter: very high

 

Quarantine importance: Very high.  The ~300 genera and 3000+ species of Eriophyidae include many important pests of crops, including species that transmit plant diseases, especially viruses.  Some eriophyids are leaf vagrants, but many form erinea, witches' brooms, leaf edge rolls, big buds, pocket galls, blisters, and other forms of galling.  Several genera are highly speciose and contain many important plant pests, e.g. Aceria (820+ spp.), Aculops (143+ spp.), Aculus (219+ spp.), and Eriophyes (244+ spp.).  Members of the Aceria tulipae complex transmit wheat streak and wheat spot mosaic viruses; ryegrass mosaic virus is transmitted by Abacarus hystrix (Nalepa).  Other viral diseases associated with eriophyid mites include fig mosaic virus (Aceria ficus Cotte), peach mosaic virus (Eriophyes insidiosus Keifer and Wilson), cherry mottle leaf virus (Eriophyes inaequalis Wilson and Oldfield) (cherry mottle leaf), rose rosette (Phyllocoptes fructiphilus Keifer), and probably pigeon pea sterility mosaic (Aceria cajani ChannaBasavanna).  The disease of black currants known as currant reversion is transmitted by Cecidophyopsis ribis (Westwood).

 

Diagnosis:

• Prodorsal shield without setae or with 2 sc setae

• Gnathosoma usually small compared to body and stylets +/- straight

• Subdorsal seta c1 absent

• Tibia I without solenidion

• Spermathecal tubes short.

 

Similar taxa.  Immature Tarsonemidae have 3 pairs of legs and a gnathosomal capsule.  Diptilomiopids have a gnathosoma that is large compared to body and stylets abruptly curving ventrally near their bases.  Phytoptids always have 1-2 prodorsal shield setae vi and have long spermathecal tubes.

 

References

Amrine Jr, JA.  1996.  Keys to the World Genera of the Eriophyoidea.  Indira Publishing House, West Bloomfield, MI.

Amrine Jr, JW. 1996. Phyllocoptes fructiphilus and biological control of multiflora rose, in Eriophyid mites. Their Biology, Natural Enemies and Control, pp. 741–749, eds EE Lindquist, MW Sabelis & J Bruin. Elsevier: Amsterdam.

Amrine Jr, JW. & TA Stasny. 1994. Catalog of the Eriophyoidea (Acarina: Prostigmata) of the world. Indira Publishing House: West Boomfield, Michigan.

Kethley JB.  1982.  Acariformes.  In: Parker, S.P. (ed.)  Synopsis and Classification of Living Organisms.  McGraw-Hill, New York, pp. 120-123.

Krantz GW.  1978.  A Manual of Acarology.  OSU Bookstores: Corvallis.

Lindquist EE, MW Sabelis & J Bruin. 1996.  Eriophyid Mites. Their Biology, Natural Enemies and Control.  Amsterdam, Elsevier.