ARS | Publication request: Three new species of eriophyoid mites from grass hosts in Croatia

Submitted to: Annals of the Entomological Society of America
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: June 24, 2008
Publication Date: December 1, 2008
Citation: Skoracka, A., Labrzycka, A., Rector, B.G. 2008. Three new species of eriophyoid mites from grass hosts in Croatia. Annals of the Entomological Society of America.

Interpretive Summary: The family Eriophyidae is a group of exclusively herbivorous mites, species of which are often highly host-specific. Eriophyid mites can often be quite promising as weed biological control agents. This paper describes the discovery of three new species of eriophyid mites that were found on grass hosts in Croatia.

Technical Abstract: Three new species of grass-feeding eriophyid mites are described from Croatia: Acaralox croatiae n. sp., inhabiting purple moorgrass, Molinia coerulea (L.) Moench; Aculodes festucae n. sp., inhabiting tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea Schreb.; and Aculodes sylvatici n. sp., inhabiting false brome, Brachypodium sylvaticum (Huds.) Roem. et Schult. The three new species are first records of eriophyoid mites infesting Poaceae in Croatia. The current documented number of eriophyoid species in Croatia increased from 28 to 31.