Aceria wallichianae ( Keifer, 1975 )

Soika, Grażyna, Gol, Ali, Honarmand, Arash, Wozińska, Anna & Sadeghi, Hussein, 2017, New records of eriophyoid mites from Iran (Acari: Trombidiformes: Eriophyoidea) and a description of a new Brevulacus Manson species, Zootaxa 4216 (4), pp. 321-338 : 327-328

Aceria wallichianae ( Keifer, 1975)

( Figs 3–4 )

Eriophyes wallichianae Keifer, 1975

Type data. Ulmus wallichiana Planch. (Ulmaceae) , Asia (Himalayas of India)

Relation to the host. Gall-making. Mites create beadlike pustules on the underside of leaves ( Figure 5 ).

Geographic distribution: India ( Keifer 1975) and in Iran (recorded here).

Distribution and host plants in Iran: 22 females from Aliabad-e Katul (36°54'N - 54°53'E), Golestan Province, 140 m above sea level collected by A. Gol, 18 June 2014 from Ulmus minor Mill. mounted on 22 separate microscope slides, which have been retained in the collections of the DVOPP, INHORT, Skierniewice and 7 females mounted on 7 separate slides have been deposited in the DPPFA, FUM, Iran.

Remarks. Both Aceria wallichianae ( Keifer, 1975) and A. filiformis ( Nalepa, 1891) belong to the filiformis complex ( Keifer 1975). Eriophyoid mites representing this group have a characteristic 3-rayed empodium, with the inner fork of the terminal ray pair longer than the outer fork. Both A. wallichianae and A. filiformis induce small, ball-like pustules on the lower side of leaves, A. wallichianae on Ulmus wallichiana Planch. and A. filiformis on U. campestris L. Morphological differences between these closely related species of the genus Aceria are subtle ( Table 2 ). According to Keifer (1975) these two species can be distinguished only by small differences in the pattern on the prodorsal shield and the shape of their opisthosomal microtubercles. The admedian lines on the prodorsal shield of A. wallichianae are further apart on the rear half of the shield and the lateral shield granules are smaller than in A. filiformis , while the opisthosomal microtubercles are more elliptical than in A. filiformis . Additionally, A. wallichianae and A. filiformis can be differentiated by the pattern on the genital coverflap. In Keifer's description of A. wallichianae , broken lines are visible on the genital coverflap, while in Nalepa's and Farka's descriptions these lines are unbroken. Based on this comparison, the Iranian specimens were determined to be most similar to A. wallichianae (Keifer) . Furthermore, morphometric studies were carried out on specimens collected in Iran and a comparison was made between those specimens and the description of A. wallichianae and both the original description of A. filiformis and a later description of A. filiformis by Farkas (1966). The differences between the Iranian specimens and Keifer's description of A. wallichianae were: width of prodorsal shield (19–21 in Iranian specimens, 26 in A. wallichianae ), length of genital coverflap (11–13 in Iranian specimens, 15 in A. wallichianae ) width of genital coverflap (14–16 in Iranian specimens, 19 in A. wallichianae ), length of setae c2 (13–17 in Iranian specimens, 18 in A. wallichianae ), and length of ventral setae d (28–41 in Iranian specimens, 50–55 in A. wallichianae ) ( Table 2 ). The differences in these results is probably explained either by inter-individual variability among specimens and by the difference in resolution provided by the different microscopes used.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Aceria wallichianae (Keifer, 1975): AD — Prodorsal shield; IG — Female internal genitalia (enlarged); CG — Female coxigenital region; AL — Lateral view of anterior body region; PL — Lateral view of posterior opisthosoma; L 1 — Leg I, em — empodium (enlarged). Scale bar: 50 µm for AD, CG, AL & PL; 10 µm for L 1.

FIGURE 4. Digital micrographs of Aceria wallichianae (Keifer, 1975): A — Dorsal view; B — Ventral view; C — Legs. Scale bar: 50 µm for A & B; 10 µm for C.

FIGURE 5. Feeding symptoms of Aceria wallichianae (Keifer, 1975) on the leaves of Ulmus minor.

Tables

TABLE 2. Comparison of morphological traits of Iranian and Himalayan populations of Aceria wallichianae Keifer, 1975 and Aceria filiformis (Nalepa).

Characteristics	Aceria wallichianae		Aceria filiformis (Nalepa, 1861
	Iran	Keifer (1975)	according to Farkas 1966)
	n= 10 females	n= unkn.	n=unkn
Length of body	180–252	230–275	170
Width of body	32–40	—	—
Thickness of body	30	33	—
Length of prodorsal shield	22–27	23	28
Width of prodorsal shield	19–21	26	—
Length of setae sc	29–38	29	45
Sc tubercle apart	13–15	13	7
Length of gnathosoma	18–19	20	20
Length of setae ep	4–5	5	—
Length of setae d	4	—	—
Length of chelicerae	14–16	—	—
Length of leg I	23–26	27	30
Length of empodia I	3–4	6	—
Length of solenidion I (ω)	5–6	6	5
Length of tibia I	5–6	5	6
Length of setae l ′	5–6	7	—
Length of tarsus I	5–7	6	6
Length of leg II	22–24	25	28
Length of empodia II	3	—	6
Length of solenidion II (ω)	5–6	7	—
Length of tibia II	4	4	4
Length of tarsus II	5–6	6	5
Rays in empodia	3	3	3
Length of setae 1b	5–6	—	—
1b setae tubercle apart	8–10	—	—
Length of setae 1a	18–20	—	—
1a setae tubercle apart	6	—	—

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