Revised description of the blueberry bud mite, Acalitus vaccinii (Acari: Trombidiformes: Eriophyidae), and a key to all Eriophyoidea on Vaccinium

Authors

  • Nompumelelo Ngubane-Ndhlovu 1Plant Health Diagnostic Services, Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), Stellenbosch, South Africa. 2Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8947-7486
  • Isabel Dhanani 1Plant Health Diagnostic Services, Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), Stellenbosch, South Africa.
  • Francois Roets 2Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3849-9057
  • Davina Saccaggi 1Plant Health Diagnostic Services, Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), Stellenbosch, South Africa. 3Citrus Research International, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5706-2697

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17159/2254-8854/2024/a17229

Keywords:

Blueberry pest, DNA barcode, Eriophyoidea, inorganic fertiliser, identification

Abstract

In 2014 the blueberry bud mite, Acalitus vaccinii (Acari: Trombidformes: Eriophyidae), was detected in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa for the first time causing significant damage to cultivated blueberries. This was the first detection of this pest outside of North America, to which it is native. However, its taxonomic description at that time lacked critical detail and omitted characters and life stages important for easy and accurate identification. Using an integrative taxonomic approach, we combined phase contrast light microscopy with low-temperature SEM and DNA barcoding data to revise the description of A. vaccinii using South African specimens. Additional characters not included in previous descriptions but reported here are the h1 (accessory) setae, leg I & II u’ (mesal) setae, and leg II bv (femoral) setae. Detailed descriptions and measurements of all life stages are included, along with a discussion of morphological variation and biology. Two DNA sequences of common barcode regions (nuclear and mitochondrial) are provided to further aid in identification. In addition, a key to all known species of eriophyoid mites present on Vaccinium is provided.

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2024-03-18

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1.
Revised description of the blueberry bud mite, Acalitus vaccinii (Acari: Trombidiformes: Eriophyidae), and a key to all Eriophyoidea on Vaccinium . Afr. Entomol. [Internet]. 2024 Mar. 18 [cited 2024 Dec. 30];32. Available from: https://www.africanentomology.com/article/view/17229