Exotic mite families

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Taxonomy

updated 2025

Common names

gall mites, rust mites, erinose mites, eriophyids

Probability of encounter

very high

Quarantine importance

Very high. The ~300 genera and 3,000+ 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. Diptilomiopidae have a gnathosoma that is large compared to body and stylets abruptly curving ventrally near their bases. Phytoptidae always have 1–2 prodorsal shield setae vi and have long spermathecal tubes.

References

• Amrine 1996aAmrine 1996a:
  Amrine JW, Jr. 1996a. Keys to the world genera of the Eriophyoidea. Indira Publishing House, West Bloomfield, Michigan.
• Amrine 1996bAmrine 1996b:
  Amrine JW, Jr. 1996b. Phyllocoptes fructiphilus and biological control of multiflora rose. pp. 741–749. In: Lindquist EE, Sabelis MW, and Bruin J, eds. Eriophyid mites: Their biology, natural enemies and control. World Crop Pests, Vol. 6. Elsevier, Amsterdam.
• Amrine and Stasny 1994Amrine and Stasny 1994:
  Amrine JW, Jr., Stasny TA. 1994. Catalog of the Eriophyoidea (Acarina: Prostigmata) of the world. Indira Publishing House, West Boomfield, Michigan.
• Kethley 1982aKethley 1982a:
  Kethley JB. 1982a. Acariformes. pp. 120–123. In: Parker SP, ed. Synopsis and classification of living organisms, Vol. 2. McGraw-Hill, New York.
• Krantz 1978Krantz 1978:
  Krantz GW. 1978. A manual of acarology [2nd ed.]. Oregon State University Book Stores, Corvallis.
• Lindquist et al. 1996Lindquist et al. 1996:
  Lindquist EE, Sabelis MW, Bruin J, eds. 1996. Eriophyid Mites: Their biology, natural enemies and control. World Crop Pests, Vol. 6. Elsevier, Amsterdam.