| Distribution of Aceria salviae (Acari: Eriophyidae) in Iran |
| Paper ID : 1057-IPCA5 (R1) |
| Authors |
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Kimia Kuhestani1, Nastaran Moradi2, Parisa Lotfollahi *3, arash Honarmand4 1Department of Plant Protection of Saravan University, Saravan, Iran 2Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran 3Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University 4Post-doctoral researcher at Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran |
| Abstract |
| Eriophyoid mites, belonging to the highly diverse superfamily Eriophyoidea within Acariformes, comprise over 5,000 taxonomically accepted species. Their distribution is uneven worldwide, with the majority of described species found in temperate regions. Among terrestrial arthropods, they are some of the smallest, averaging only 200 μm in length, and are distinguished by having just two pairs of legs, earning them the nickname “four-legged mites”. These strictly phytophagous mites form intricate relationships with host plants, inducing galls and blisters—hence their nickname “gall mites” or living as vagrants on leaf surfaces, with some species recognized as agricultural and forestry pests capable of causing significant economic losses (Zhang et al. 2024). Aceria salviae (Nalepa, 1891) was originally described on Salvia pratensis L. (Lamiaceae), in Austria where it induces erineum, typically on the underside of leaves, accompanied by a bulge on the upper surface. It may also affect the petioles, stems, and flowers of the host plant. According to data from the literature, Aceria salviae forms galls on approximately 10 Salvia species. This species was reported from the Karadag Nature Reserve, Crimea, as a vagrant mite on the flowers and under the flower bracteoles of Salvia tesquicola Klokov & Pobed. (Lamiaceae) (Chetverikove et al. 2021). This mite species reported only in Razavi Khorasan province until now (Kamali 2011). To study the distribution of A. salviae in Iran, samplings were done in different area of Iran. Eriophyid mites were directly examined and recovered from plant material, then preserved in vials containing ethanol following the method of Walter and Krantz (2009). Specimens collected were slide-mounted using the protocol outlined by Lotfollahi and Masoudi-Rad (2024). In result, A. salviae was found as gall making species in more four different localities of Iran. In general, the distribution of this species based on the studies conducted so far is as follows: (1) Razavi Khorasan province, Mashhad county, on Salvia nemorosa L., during 2011; (2) Sistan and Baluchestan province, Zabol county, on Salvia rhytidea Benth., during autumn 2023; (3) East Azerbaijan province, Osku County, on Salvia pratensis L., during autumn 2024; (4) East Azerbaijan province, Jolfa county, on S. pratensis, during spring 2024; (5) East Azerbaijan province, Bostanabad county, on Salvia officinalis L. and Phlomis cancellata Bunge, during summer 2023. In this study, A. salviae reported as the first eriophyoid mite species from Sistan and Baluchestan province. |
| Keywords |
| Eriophyoidea, erineum, Lamiaceae, Salvia, Sistan and Baluchestan. |
| Status: Abstract Accepted |
