Aceria dogijaniensis, Jahandideh-Dogijan & Lotfollahi, 2024

Jahandideh-Dogijan, Javad & Lotfollahi, Parisa, 2024, One new Aceria species (Acari: Eriophyoidea) from Dogijan village in Iran, Persian Journal of Acarology 13, pp. 757-770 : 759-764

Aceria dogijaniensis sp. nov.

http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7C3951C2-DC09-41F8-AD7F-81D663E217DF

Description

Female ( Fig. 1 ; measured specimens = 7) – Body vermiform, 303 (256–349, excluding gnathosoma), 75* (74–76) thick, 74 (72–80) wide. Gnathosoma projecting obliquely downwards, cheliceral stylets 23 (23–27), palp 25 (25–30), palp coxal setae ep 3 (2–3), dorsal palp genual setae d 9 (9–11), unbranched; subapical pedipalp tarsal setae v 2 (no variation). Suboral plate rounded anteriorly, with few faint dashes. Prodorsal shield 45 (40–48) including frontal lobe, 46 (46–55) wide, sub-semicircular; with a short apically pointed frontal lobe, 8 (7–9), over gnathosomal base. Shield pattern distinct, consisting of complete median line, faint on anterior third, complete admedian lines, incomplete inner and outer submedian lines, some dashes between median and admedian lines at shield posterior half, many dashes posterior to submedian lines and shield lateral sides; all lines made by continuous dashes that are more distinct at their base. Tubercles of scapular setae sc on rear shield margin, 26 (24–29) apart, setae sc 68 (57–68), directed posterior. Legs with all usual segments and setae. Leg I 42 (41–44), trochanter 8 (7–8), femur 12 (12–13), genu 7 (7–8), tibia 10 (9–10), tarsus 12 (10–12), tarsal solenidion ω 11 (10–12), curved down, distally tapered, empodium simple, 8 (8–9), 6-rayed; basiventral femoral setae bv 15 (15–18), antaxial genual setae l" 40 (35–41), paraxial tibial setae l' 14 (12–16), located at basal ¼ of tibia, paraxial fastigial tarsal setae ft ' 24 (23–28), antaxial fastigial tarsal setae ft" 37 (35–38), paraxial unguinal tarsal setae u' 7 (6–8). Leg II 37 (35– 38), trochanter 7 (6–7), femur 13 (11–13), genu 6 (6–7), tibia 8 (7–8), tarsus 10 (10–11), tarsal solenidion ω 13 (12–13), curved down, distally tapered, empodium simple, 8 (8–9), 6-rayed; femoral setae bv 18 (15–20), genual setae l" 20 (20–24), paraxial fastigial tarsal setae ft' 9 (8–10), antaxial fastigial tarsal setae ft " 35 (32–37), paraxial unguinal tarsal setae u' 6 (6–9). Coxisternal region – Prosternal apodeme 8 (7–10), bifurcate at posterior third, anterior setae on coxisternum I 1b 14 (14– 16), 15 (15–18) apart; proximal setae on coxisternum I 1a 27 (27–31), 10 (10–13) apart; proximal setae on coxisternum II 2a 60 (58–65), 28 (27–30) apart; 8 (8–11) microtuberculate semiannuli between coxae and genital coverflap plus 4 (3–4) transversal rows of lined granules at the base of the coverflap. Coxae with distinct dense lines and dashes. External genitalia 20 (16–20), 29 (28–30) wide, coverflap with one rank of 16 (16–20) longitudinal striae; setae 3a 25 (23–26), 23 (20–23) apart. Internal genitalia – spermathecae ovoid, oriented posterolaterad; spermathecal tubes rela-

tively short; transverse genital apodeme trapezoidal, distally folded. Opisthosoma dorsally evenly rounded, with 90 (82–99) dorsal semiannuli, 95 (87–105) ventral semiannuli. Microtubercles: elliptical, on posterior margin of dorsal semiannuli, circular, on posterior margin of ventral semiannuli; spiny on the rear margin of the last 5 (5–6) dorsal semiannuli and elongated and linear on last 6 (5–6) ventral semiannuli. Setae c2 41 (38–41) on ventral semiannulus 12 (12–13), setae d 83 (79–90) on ventral semiannulus 34 (34–36); setae e 25 (23–31) on ventral semiannulus 57 (56– 60); setae f 28 (25–32) on ventral semiannulus 87 (86–97); 8 (7–8) annuli posterior to setae f. Setae h1 7 (6–8), h2 110 (108–125) apically very fine.

Male ( Fig. 1 GM; measured specimens = 2) – Similar in shape and prodorsal shield arrangement to female. Body smaller than female, 198–214, 63 wide, 62 thick; palp genual setae d 8–9; prodorsal shield 40–41, 40 wide; setae sc 52–54, 24 apart. Opisthosoma with 70–72 dorsal semiannuli and 77–78 ventral semiannuli; 7–8 semiannuli between coxae and genitalia, with microtubercles similar to that of female. Setae: 1b 13–15, 13 apart; 1a 20–24, 8–9 apart; 2a 50–52, 23 apart; c2 37– 40, on ventral semiannulus 12–13; d 65–67, on ventral semiannulus 27–28; e 20–22, on ventral semiannulus 44–46; f 22–25, on ventral semiannulus 70–72; h1 6, h2 80–87. Male genitalia 22–24 wide, setae 3a 18–22, 17 apart. Legs I and II empodia 6-rayed.

Larva (measured specimens = 1) – Body vermiform, 66 (excluding gnathosoma), 48 thick; palp genual setae d 5. Prodorsal shield 32, without frontal lobe, 4, over gnathosomal base. Tubercles of sc setae 3 ahead of rear shield margin, setae sc 40, directed anteror. Opisthosoma with 50 dorsal semiannuli with elliptical microtubercles set on rear margin of semiannuli, 42 ventral semiannuli with oval microtubercles, elongated on the posterior semiannuli. Setae: c2 14, on ventral semiannulus 9; d 25, on ventral semiannulus 18; e 8, on ventral semiannulus 26; f 10, on ventral semiannulus 39; h1 6, h2 40. Setae 3a 6 on semiannulus 11 after coxae. Legs I and II empodia 4-rayed.

Nymph ( Fig. 2 ; measured specimens = 3) – Body vermiform, 184–200 (excluding gnathosoma), 56–57 wide, 55 thick; palp genual setae d 5–6. Prodorsal shield 34–38 including frontal lobe, 35–39 wide, sub-semicircular; with a short apically rounded frontal lobe, 3–4, over gnathosomal base. Shield pattern distinct, consisting of incomplete median line extended on posterior ¾ of shield, complete admedian lines, incomplete inner submedian lines, some dases between median and admedian lines at shield base, some dashes posterior to submedian lines and many dashes at shield lateral sides; all lines made by continuous dashes that are more distinct at their base. Tubercles of sc setae on rear shield margin, 19–22 apart, setae sc 50–52, directed posterior. Opisthosoma with 75–77 dorsal semiannuli with elliptical microtubercles set on rear margin of semiannuli, 65–67 ventral semiannuli with oval microtubercles, elongated on the posterior semiannuli. Setae: 1b 9–10, 12–13 apart; 1a 18, 6–7 apart; 2a 30–35, 21–22 apart; c2 25–27, on ventral semiannulus 10–11; d 45–56, on ventral semiannulus 25–27; e 14–16, on ventral semiannulus 38–41; f 18–20, on ventral semiannulus 60–62; h1 5, h2 65–68. Setae 3a 11–14, 9–10 apart on semiannulus 16–18 after coxae. Legs I and II empodia 5-rayed.

Type host plant Chardinia orientalis (L.) Kuntze ( Asteraceae ), Oriental Chardinia .

Relation to the host plant The mites cause tight leaf edge rolls of different length with pale blotches ( Fig. 3 ).

Type locality

Dogijan village , Marand county, East Azerbaijan province, Iran (38°31'10.9''N, 46°03'14.23''E), 2,112 m above sea level, coll. J. Jahandideh-Dogijan, late spring 2023 .

Type material

Holotype – single female on a microscope slide (CO-IEA-MD-DN-23-JJ-1). Paratypes: 6 females, 2 males, 5 nymphs and 1 larva mounted singly on separate microscope slides (CO-IEA-MD-

DN-23-JJ-1–15).

Etymology The specific epithet, dogijaniensis is derived from the type locality village name, Dogijan. Other host plant

Ten females and 8 males mounted singly on separate microscope slides (Csp-IEA-MD-DN-23- JJ-1–18), collected on Centaurea sp. ( Asteraceae ) with leaf galls made by Subanguina sp. (Nematoda:

Secernentea: Tylenchida: Anguinidae ) ( Fig. 4 ) in the same locality of the type specimens on the same sampling time of the type specimens, coll. J. Jahandideh-Dogijan.

Other material

Mites preserved in two vials (CO-IEA-MD-DN-23-JJ and Csp-IEA-MD-DN-23-JJ) of Oudemans' fluid as extracted from type host and other host plant.

Distribution

Aceria dogijaniensis sp. nov. is at present recorded only from Dogijan village. However, its host plants are widely distributed in mountainous localities of northwest of Iran, so future surveys could reveal a wider distribution for this new mite species.

Differential diagnosis

The new species was compared with Aceria mites associated to Asteraceae plants especially the Aceria species fauna of Iran and Türkiye, the country neighboring the locality where the new species was found. It was found similar to five species:

Aceria centaureae ( Nalepa, 1891) – According to the redescription of this species done by Castagnoli and Sobhian (1991), A. centaureae has a smaller number of semiannuli between coxae and genital coverflap, less number of empodial rays, shorter setae c2, d and 3a, and longer setae e respective to the new species ( Table 2). The direction of inner submedian line is different in two species. Other morphometric characters are similar in both species ( Table 2). Aceria centaureae makes blister galls on leaves and young stems of Centaurea jacea L., while the new species makes leaf edge rolling on different host plant.

Aceria solcentaureae de Lillo, Cristofaro & Kashefi, 2003 – This species has fewer dorsal and ventral semiannuli, a smaller number of semiannuli between coxae and genital coverflap and number of empodial rays, and shorter setae sc, c2 and d respective to the new species ( Table 2). The prodorsal shield pattern and ornamentation of coxae of the two species are similar; the only difference is the shape of the frontal lobe. Other morphometric characters are similar in both species ( Table 2). Aceria solcentaureae makes stunting of Centaurea solstitialis L. with heavy broom-like appearance. The infested plants are bushy, with the apical part of the stems and flower heads green, less spiny, and producing smaller seed heads. While the new species makes leaf edge rolling on different host plant. Aceria cousiniae Kamali & Amrine, 2005 – This species has shorter setae sc, c2 and d, longer setae e, and a smaller number of longitudinal striae on female genitalia coverflap respective to the new species ( Table 2). The inner submedian line of is shorter and the outer submedians are not present in A. cousiniae . Other morphometric characters are similar in both species ( Table 2). A. cousiniae makes erinea on undersurface of Cousinia eryngioides Boiss. leaves, while the new species makes leaf edge rolling on different host plant.

Aceria xeranthemis Lotfollahi, Haddad, Khanjani, Moghadam & de Lillo, 2013 – This species has shorter setae sc, c2, d, e and 3a, and a smaller number of longitudinal striae on female genitalia coverflap respective to the new species ( Table 2). The direction of inner submedian line is different in two species. Other morphometric characters are similar in both species ( Table 2). Aceria xeranthemis is vagrant on Xeranthemum squarrosum Boiss. , while the new species causes leaf edge rolling on different host plant.

Aceria ayvatliorum Lotfollahi & Hemmatzadeh, 2022 – This species has a smaller number of dorsal and ventral semiannuli and semiannuli between coxae and genital coverflap, shorter setae sc, c2 and d, and longer setae e respective to the new species ( Table 2). The shape of frontal lobes of two species are different and A. ayvatliorum has doesn’t have dashes between median and admedian lines. Other morphometric characters are similar in both species ( Table 2). Aceria ayvatliorum is vagrant on Rhaponticum repens (L.) Hidalgo, while the new species makes leaf edge rolling on different host plant.

Remarks Comparison was done among A. dogijaniensis sp. nov. female specimens collected on C. orientalis and Centaurea sp. Females found on C. orientalis have longer cheliceral stylets, longer palpal seta d, wider prodorsal shield, longer setae sc, 2a, 3a, c2, d and h2, more annuli anterior to the anal lobe, longer leg I with longer genu, tibia and tarsus and longer setae bv, l", l', ft' and ft", and longer leg II with longer genu and tarsus, longer setae bv, l", ft', ft" and u' ( Table 3). Furthermore, males found on C. orientalis have longer prodorsal shield and longer setae sc, c2 and d, but shorter body and shorter seta h1 ( Table 4). Due to finding the immature stages of the mite on C. orientalis , this plant species was chosen as the type host plant. It should be commented that adults of this mite species can be subjected to wind dispersal and can land on non-elective host plant. In order to give more punctual and effective information, a biomolecular and a population dynamic study should be done.

Figures

Figure 1. Schematic drawings of Aceria dogijaniensis 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; 7 µm for LO, L1; 2.5 µm for em.

Figure 2. Schematic drawing of Aceria dogijaniensis sp. nov. nymph's prodorsal shield. Scale bar: 10 µm.

Figure 3. Symptoms caused by Aceria dogijaniensis sp. nov. on Chardinia orientalis (L.) Kuntze (Asteraceae) – A. Host plants inhabited by mites; B. Leaf edge rolls.

Figure 4. Leaf galls of Centaurea sp. made by Subanguina sp. (Nematoda: Anguinidae).