Occurrence of Aculusmosoniensis (Ripka, 2014) (Acari; Prostigmata; Eriophyoidea) on tree of heaven (Ailanthusaltissima Mill.) is expanding across Europe. First record in France confirmed by Barcoding

• Published in: Phytoparasitica Vol. 50; no. 2; pp. 391 - 398
• Main Authors: Kashefi, Javid, Vidović, B., Guermache, F., Cristofaro, M., Bon, M. C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.04.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acari; Agriculture; Ailanthus altissima; Arthropods; Biological control; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cytochrome; Cytochrome-c oxidase; Cytochromes; Dispersal; DNA barcoding; Ecology; Eriophyoidea; Ethanol; Herbicides; Life Sciences; Mites; Mitochondrial DNA; Morphology; New records; Plant Pathology; Plant Sciences; Prostigmata; Seeds; Short Communication; Species; Wineries & vineyards; France; Europe; Eriophyid mites; Invasive species; Mitochondrial DNA; Biological control; Europe
• ISSN: 0334-2123; 1876-7184
• DOI: 10.1007/s12600-021-00953-5

Summary In May 2020, populations of Eriophyid mites were detected on tree of heaven , Ailanthus altissima Mill., in a recreative park in the city of Colombes, near Paris, and later in August and September in four locations, in Southern France. Morphological examination supplemented with sequencing data for the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I ( COI ) assigned all collected mites to a single species, Aculus mosoniensis (Ripka) (Acari; Prostigmata; Eriophyoidea). This is the first record of this species in France and the first insights into its intraspecific variability based on a barcode dataset. In Europe, this species is considered one of the most promising biological control agents of tree of heaven. This new record provides encouraging evidence that the geographic occurrence of this species is expanding in Europe which may be indicative of its dispersal and establishment abilities, two key factors for a future biological control program.