A New <i>Aculodes</i> Species (Prostigmata: Eriophyidae) Described from an Invasive Weed by Morphological, Morphometric and DNA Barcode Analyses
Biljana Vidović,
Nikola Anđelković,
Vida Jojić,
Tatjana Cvrković,
Radmila Petanović,
Francesca Marini,
Massimo Cristofaro,
Brian G. Rector
Affiliations
Biljana Vidović
Department of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Nemanjina 6, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
Nikola Anđelković
Department of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Nemanjina 6, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
Vida Jojić
Department of Genetic Research, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”—National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia
Tatjana Cvrković
Institute for Plant Protection and Environment, Banatska 33, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
Radmila Petanović
Department of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Nemanjina 6, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
Francesca Marini
Biotechnology and Biological Control Agency (BBCA), Via Angelo Signorelli 105, 00123 Rome, Italy
Massimo Cristofaro
Biotechnology and Biological Control Agency (BBCA), Via Angelo Signorelli 105, 00123 Rome, Italy
Brian G. Rector
USDA-ARS, Great Basin Rangelands Research Unit, 920 Valley Road, Reno, NV 89512, USA
A new species of eriophyoid mite, Aculodes marcelli sp. nov., was discovered on cheatgrass, Anisantha tectorum (L.) Nevski (syn. Bromus tectorum L.), an annual grass that is native to Eurasia and Northern Africa. This grass was introduced to North America near the end of the 19th century and now is widespread and associated with the observed increases in the size, frequency, and intensity of wildfires in western N. America. In this paper, A. marcelli sp. nov., is morphologically described and illustrated. Compared with other Aculodes spp., it differs based on morphology and the sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase gene, subunit I (MT-CO1). Results of morphometric analysis showed clear differentiation between A. marcelli sp. nov., and the most similar congener, A. altamurgiensis from Taeniatherum caput-medusae. Analysis of MT-CO1 sequence divergence revealed significant levels of genetic variation (17.7%) and supported the results from the morphometric analysis; therefore, it is determined that they are two different species. Aculodes marcelli sp. nov., is a new candidate agent for classical biological control of A. tectorum.
