Supplementary description of Novophytoptus stipae Keifer 1962 (Acariformes, Eriophyoidea) with LT-SEM observation on mites from putativley conspecific populations: cryptic speciation or polyphagy of novophytoptines

Authors: CHETVERIKOV, P. - Russian Academy Of Sciences; AMRINE, JAMES - West Virginia University; Bauchan, Gary; Ochoa, Ronald - Ron; SUJHAREVA, S. - Non ARS Employee; VISHNYAKOV, A. - Non ARS Employee

Submitted to: Systematic and Applied Acarology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/8/2017
Publication Date: 1/24/2017
Citation: Chetverikov, P.E., Amrine, J., Bauchan, G.R., Ochoa, R., Sujhareva, S.I., Vishnyakov, A.E. 2017. Supplementary description of Novophytoptus stipae Keifer 1962 (Acariformes, Eriophyoidea) with LT-SEM observation on mites from putatively conspecific populations: cryptic speciation or polyphagy. Systematic and Applied Acarology. 22(2):253-270.

Interpretive Summary: An interesting long nose eriophyid mite associated with sedges in the USA. Eriophyoid mites are microscopic worm-like mites that have only two pairs of legs rather than the typical four. They are an extremely diverse group of mites known to affect a wide range of plants with several of them major pests of economic crops or used as biocontrol organisms of weed species. Eriophyoid mites associated with sedges have not been well studied. We used differential interference contrast (DIC) and low-temperature scanning electron microscopy (LT-SEM) to observe specimens in the Smithsonian National Mite Collection located at the USDA in Beltsville, MD as well as newly collected material from rush and sedges plants. Several new key morphological characters were observed to describe this species for taxonomic identification. This paper will be important to researchers, biocontrol and quarantine programs, integrated pest management specialists, phytopathologist, ecologists, and persons involved in mite studies.

Technical Abstract: Supplementary descriptions of an infrequently encountered species Novophytoptus stipae Keifer 1962 (Eriophyoidea, Phytoptidae) from Achnatherum speciosum (Poaceae) based on topotypes recovered from dry plant material from California is given. Comparison of topotypes of N. stipae with fresh Novophytoptus mites from Juncus tenuis and J. balticus (Juncaceae) collected in West Virginia and Ohio failed to reveal distinct morphological differences sufficient enough to establish new taxa. All studied mites are considered belonging to one species, N. stipae. This is putatively an example of polyphagous eriophyoid species inhabiting phylogenetically remote hosts. Remarks on polyphagy and dispersal modes in eriophyoids are addressed. Uncommon features of the gnathosoma and the anal region of novophytoptines were discovered under LT-SEM. These findings emphasize peculiarities of novophytoptines in relation to their endoparasitic life style and underline numerous gaps in our knowledge on anatomy and functioning of the organism of eriophyoid mites.