Eight new records for the Eriophyid (Trombidiformes Eriophyoidea Eriophyidae) mite fauna of Iran

Trees from Juglandaceae, Ulmaceae, Salicaceae, Leguminosae and Betulaceae were sampled during two growing seasons, 2010 and 2011, in the southwest region of East Azerbaijan province, Iran, in order to survey their eriophyid mite fauna. Among identified taxa, eight species appeared to be new for the Iranian eriophyid fauna: Coptophylla lamimani (Keifer, 1939b), Stenacis palomaris Keifer, 1970, Shevtchenkella juglandis (Keifer, 1951), Anthocoptes striatus Ponomareva, 1978, Aculus mogeri (Farkas, 1960), Aculops unguiculatus (Nalepa, 1897), Aculops allotrichus (Nalepa, 1894) and Tegolophus califraxini (Keifer, 1938). Supplementary descriptions were given for Sh. ulmi (Farkas, 1960), A. striatus, A. mogeri, A. unguiculatus and A. allotrichus. In this study, Alhagi maurorum Medik (Leguminosae) and Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl. subsp. angustifolia (Oleaceae) were reported as new host plants for A. allotrichus and T. califraxini, respectively. Remarks on the eriophyid distribution in East Azerbaijan were also given

A new Aculodes species (Prostigmata: Eriophyoidea: Eriophyidae) associated with medusahead, Taeniatherum caput-medusae (L.) Nevski (Poaceae)

A new species of plant mite (Acari: Eriophyidae) was discovered on medusahead (Taeniatherum caputmedusae), an annual grass that is native to central Asia and the Mediterranean Basin. It is invasive in western North America. Aculodes altamurgiensis sp. nov., is described here and differentiated from other Aculodes spp., on the basis of morphology. Its DNA fingerprinting was reported and compared with Aculodes mckenziei collected from Elymus repens and Bromus inermis. Pairwise comparison of MT-001 sequences between A. altamurgiensis sp. nov., and A. mckenziei revealed 20.2-21.5% genetic divergence between these congeneric species. First collected in Parco Nazionale dell'Alta Murgia in Apulia, Italy in 2014,A. altamurgiensis sp. nov., has been subsequently collected from medusahead in Serbia, Bulgaria, Iran and Turkey. Based on these data and on preliminary observations on the effects of the mite on plant growth, A. altamurgiensis sp. nov., is currently being investigated as a candidate biological control agent of medusahead

First record of the family Pomerantziidae (Acari: Trombidiformes) from Middle East, with recording of two species for the first time from Asia

Lotfollahi, Parisa (2017): First record of the family Pomerantziidae (Acari: Trombidiformes) from Middle East, with recording of two species for the first time from Asia. Persian Journal of Acarology 6 (4): 259-267, DOI: 10.22073/pja.v6i4.31376, URL: https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/1986e111-650b-319c-a12e-942aec7e3f27

Eriophyoid mites from ferns: Description of a new Leipothrix Keifer species (Eriophyidae: Phyllocoptinae) from the Arasbaran forests (Iran) and a key to the world species

A survey of eriophyoid mites on ferns was carried out in the Arasbaran forests, East Azerbaijan province, Iran. A new species of the genus Leipothrix Keifer (Eriophyidae: Phyllocoptinae: Phyllocoptini) was collected on Poly-podium vulgare L. (Polypodiaceae), named as L. pterisfolii, is described and illustrated. It is the first record of a mite of the tribe Phyllocoptini on a Polypodiaceae plant. This mite species was found also on a plant of the family Cystopteridaceae, namely Gymnocarpium dryopteris (L.) Newman, and this is the first record of an eriophyoid mite associated with a plant of this family, too. In addition, it is the first report of a fern-inhabiting eriophyoid mite in Iran. A key to the eriophyoid mite species collected on ferns worldwide and a table summarizing information on their type host, type locality and habitus are provided

Tetra hajiqanbari Lotfollahi & Jafari (Acari: Eriophyidae), a new species from Iran

Lotfollahi, Parisa, Jafari, Shahriar, Bahirai, Fereshteh (2023): Tetra hajiqanbari Lotfollahi & Jafari (Acari: Eriophyidae), a new species from Iran. Persian Journal of Acarology 12 (3): 385-392, DOI: 10.22073/pja.v12i3.80919, URL: https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/67b57283-ee9d-3895-93cd-e8e3d97491c7

Figure 1 in A contribution to the knowledge of the eriophyoid mites (Trombidiformes: Eriophyidae) associated to Lythraceae with description of a new species from Iran

Figure 1. Schematic drawings of Aceria salicariae Lotfollahi & Tajaddod sp. nov. – AD. Prodorsal shield; AL. Lateral view of anterior body region; CG. Female coxigenital region; em. Empodium; GM. Male genital region; IG. Internal female genitalia; LO. Lateral view of annuli; L1. Leg I; PM. Lateral view of posterior opisthosoma. Scale bar: 10 µm for AD, AL, CG, GM, IG, PM; 5 µm for LO, L1; 2.5 µm for em.Published as part of Tajaddod, Sadegh, Lotfollahi, Parisa, de, Enrico & Lillo, 2020, A contribution to the knowledge of the eriophyoid mites (Trombidiformes: Eriophyidae) associated to Lythraceae with description of a new species from Iran, pp. 327-339 in Persian Journal of Acarology 9 (4) on page 330, DOI: 10.22073/pja.v9i4.63764, http://zenodo.org/record/523658

Association of Aceria cernuus (MASSE, 1927) (Acari: Eriophyidae) with Dolicolepta micrura (BAGNALL, 1914) (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripdae) on two species of Zizipus

Majidi, Maryam, Doryanizadeh, Nazanin, Minaei, Kambiz, Lotfollahi, Parisa (2017): Association of Aceria cernuus (MASSE, 1927) (Acari: Eriophyidae) with Dolicolepta micrura (BAGNALL, 1914) (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripdae) on two species of Zizipus. Linzer biologische Beiträge 49 (2): 1335-1342, DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.541057

Aceria ajabshiriensis Tajaddod & Lotfollahi & Lillo 2020, n. sp.

<i>Aceria ajabshiriensis</i> n. sp. <p>Zoobank: 714B12BB-BC8E-43DA-BA85-BB6E61A48939</p> <p> <b>Description</b> — FEMALE (Figure 1; measured specimens n = 10).</p> <p>Body vermiform, 190 (173–205, excluding gnathosoma), 53* (52–54) thick, 55 (50–58) wide.</p> <p> Gnathosoma projecting obliquely downwards, chelicerae 26 (26–30), palp 28 (26–35), palp coxal setae <i>ep</i> 3.5* (3–3.5), dorsal palp genual setae <i>d</i> 8 (7–10), unbranched.</p> <p> Prodorsal shield 35 (24–35) including frontal lobe, 43* (40–45) wide, sub-circular; with a short flexible distally acuminate frontal lobe, 7 (5–7), over gnathosomal base, completely smooth. Tubercles of scapular setae <i>sc</i> on rear shield margin, 29 (27–29) apart, setae <i>sc</i> 30 (26–35), directed backward divergently.</p> <p> Legs with all usual segments and setae. Leg I 31 (26–33), trochanter 6 (6–7), femur 8 (8–10), genu 6 (5–6), tibia 8 (6–9), tarsus 9 (7–9), tarsal solenidion <i>ω</i> 6 (6–8) distally enlarged and tapered, empodium simple, 7.5 (6.5–9), 6-rayed; femoral setae <i>bv</i> 14* (12–16), genual setae <i>l”</i> 29 (25–33), paraxial tibial setae <i>l’</i> 8 (6–10), located in basal third of tibia, paraxial fastigial tarsal setae <i>ft</i> ’ 15 (10–19), antaxial fastigial tarsal setae <i>ft”</i> 26 (23–30), paraxial unguinal tarsal setae <i>u’</i> 4 (3–4.5). Leg II 31 (26–33), trochanter 5 (5–7), femur 10 (9–10), genu 5 (4–5), tibia 7 (5–8), tarsus 7 (7–8), tarsal solenidion <i>ω</i> 8 (7–8.5) distally tapered, empodium simple, 6 (5.5–8), 6-rayed; femoral setae <i>bv</i> 12 (12–15), genual setae <i>l”</i> 11 (9–15), paraxial fastigial tarsal setae <i>ft’</i> 6 (6–9), antaxial fastigial tarsal setae <i>ft”</i> 24 (21–27), paraxial unguinal tarsal setae <i>u’</i> 4.5 (3.5–5.5).</p> <p> Coxisternal region. Prosternal apodeme 5 (5–6.5), anterior setae on coxisternum I <i>1b</i> 12* (10–19), 11 (9–11) apart; proximal setae on coxisternum I <i>1a</i> 34 (27–41), 10 (7–10) apart; proximal setae on coxisternum II <i>2a</i> 48 (44–54), 23 (18–23) apart; 7 (6–8) microtuberculate semiannuli between coxae and genital coverflap plus 3 (2–3) transversal rows of lined granules at the base of the coverflap. Coxae ornamented with numerous dots and dashes.</p> <p> External genitalia 11 (10–15), 21 (21–22) wide, coverflap with 9 (9–10) longitudinal striae; setae <i>3a</i> 22 (20–27), 14 (11–14) apart.</p> <p>Internal genitalia: spermathecae ovoid, oriented posterolaterad; spermathecal tubes relatively short; transverse genital apodeme trapezoidal, distally folded.</p> <p>Opisthosoma dorsally arched, with 48 (39–53) dorsal semiannuli, 64 (46–64) ventral semiannuli.</p> <p>Microtubercles: subelliptical, on posterior margin of dorsal semiannuli, bigger on last 17– 20th dorsal semiannuli and minute spiny on last 3 (no variation) dorsal semiannuli; circular, on posterior margin of ventral semiannuli, elongated and linear on last 5 (5–7) ventral semiannuli.</p> <p> Setae <i>c2</i> 55 (37–57) on ventral semiannulus 11 (9–11), setae <i>d</i> 69 (69–86) on ventral semiannulus 23 (18–23); setae <i>e</i> 53 (47–72) on ventral semiannulus 40 (27–40); setae <i>f</i> 33 (28–36) on ventral semiannulus 59 (42–59); 5 (4–5) annuli posterior to setae <i>f</i>. Setae <i>h2</i> 110 (87–115) apically very fine, <i>h1</i> 3 (3–5).</p> <p> MALE (measured specimens n = 3). Similar in shape and prodorsal shield arrangement to female. Body smaller than female, 125–150, 47–52 wide, 42 thick; palp genual setae <i>d</i> 7–8; prodorsal shield 24–32, 40–42 wide; setae <i>sc</i> 25–26, 20–25 apart. Opisthosoma with 35–41 dorsal semiannuli and 53–50 ventral semiannuli; 8 semiannuli between coxae and genitalia, with microtubercles similar to those of female. Setae: <i>1b</i> 8.5–9, <i>1a</i> 20–27, <i>2a</i> 32–43, <i>c2</i> 37–47, <i>d</i> 42–44, <i>e</i> 33–41, <i>f</i> 22–29, <i>h1</i> 3, <i>h2</i> 55–67). Male genitalia 15–20 wide, setae <i>3a</i> 15–21, 12 apart.</p> <p> <b>Type host plant</b> — <i>Lycium ruthenicum</i> Murray (Solanaceae), Russian Box Thorn.</p> <p> <b>Type locality</b> — Rahmanloo village, Ajabshir region, East Azerbaijan province, Iran (37°18’39.8’‘N, 45°28’50.3”E), 1,290 m above sea level, coll. S. Tajaddod, late July 2016.</p> <p> <b>Type material</b> — Holotype: single female on a microscope slide (LR-IEA-RO16T-1). Paratypes: 5 females and 3 males mounted singly on separate microscope slides (LR-IEA-RO16T-2–8).</p> <p> <b>Other material</b> — Mites preserved in a vial (LR-IEA-RO16 T) of Oudemans’ fluid (Walter and Krantz, 2009) as extracted from the same sample as the type specimens.</p> <p> <b>Relation to the host plant</b> — Vagrant; no apparent symptom was observed.</p> <p> <b>Etymology</b> — This species is named after Ajabshir, the region where it was collected.</p> <p> <b>Differential diagnosis</b> — The new species was compared with 18 <i>Aceria</i> species associated with the plants of family Solanaceae known to date. The new species closely resembles <i>Aceria eucricotes</i> (Nalepa) collected on <i>Lycium europaeum</i> L. from Algeria and, previously, also on <i>L. ruthenicum</i> from Iran (Lotfollahi <i>et al.</i> 2017). Both species have completely smooth prodorsal shields, similar number of empodial rays and body setal length. But these two species differ in number of dorsal semiannuli (39–53 in the new species <i>versus</i> 51–73 in <i>A. eucricotes</i>), number of semiannuli between coxae and genital coverflap (6–8 in the new species <i>versus</i> 3–5 in <i>A. eucricotes</i>). In addition, <i>A. ajabshiriensis</i> <b>n. sp.</b> has a short flexible distally acuminate frontal lobe, while <i>A. eucricotes</i> doesn’t have a frontal lobe. Finally, the female genital coverflap of the new species is ornamented with 9–10 longitudinal striae, whereas <i>A. eucricotes</i> has a smooth coverflap.</p> <p> <b>Remarks</b> — This is the third eriophyoid species collected on <i>L. ruthenicum</i> and all three species were collected from this host plant in Iran (Lotfollahi <i>et al</i>. 2014, 2017).</p>Published as part of <i>Tajaddod, Sadegh, Lotfollahi, Parisa & Lillo, Enrico de, 2020, Aceria species associated with Solanaceae worldwide with description of a new species, pp. 243-253 in Acarologia 60 (2)</i> on pages 245-248, DOI: 10.24349/acarologia/20204365, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/4503328">http://zenodo.org/record/4503328</a&gt

A contribution to the knowledge of the eriophyoid mites (Trombidiformes: Eriophyidae) associated to Lythraceae with description of a new species from Iran

Tajaddod, Sadegh, Lotfollahi, Parisa, de, Enrico, Lillo (2020): A contribution to the knowledge of the eriophyoid mites (Trombidiformes: Eriophyidae) associated to Lythraceae with description of a new species from Iran. Persian Journal of Acarology 9 (4): 327-339, DOI: 10.22073/pja.v9i4.6376

Two new species of the genus Aculus Keifer, 1959 (Acari: Eriophyidae: Phyllocoptinae) from Iran

During the survey of eriophyoid mite fauna in Ajabshir region of Iran in summer 2016, two new eriophyid species, Aculus asparagi Lotfollahi & Tajaddod sp. nov. on Asparagus verticillatus L. (Asparagaceae) and Aculus thyrsoidi Lotfollahi & Tajaddod sp. nov. on Eryngium thyrsoideum Boiss. (Apiaceae), were found, described and illustrated. Aculus asparagi sp. nov. is the first eriophyoid mite found on an Asparagus and the first Aculus from Asparagaceae. Aculus thyrsoidi sp. nov. is the first Aculus collected on an Eryngium. Both new species appeared to be vagrants on their host plants and no apparent damage was associated to them. A key of the worldwide Aculus species associated with Apiaceae was provided