@article{
author = "Vidović, Biljana and Anđelković, Nikola and Jojić, Vida and Cvrković, Tatjana and Petanović, Radmila and Marini, Francesca and Cristofaro, Massimo and Rector, Brian G.",
year = "2022",
abstract = "Simple Summary: Natural enemies of cheatgrass, an invasive plant in the western USA that is
associated with recent increases in destructive wildfires, were sought as part of a classical biological
control program targeting that plant. A population of mites was discovered infesting cheatgrass
plants in central Bulgaria and determined to be a new species using morphological, morphometric
analysis (i.e., measurement of specific body parts) and DNA barcoding (i.e., comparison of DNA
sequences in genes shared by all mite species). Without these modern analytical tools, this mite
would probably have been considered as the same species as another mite that infests other plants.
This new mite species will now be tested to determine if it is suitable for importation and release in
the USA as a biological control agent of cheatgrass.
Abstract: A new species of eriophyoid mite, Aculodes marcelli sp. nov., was discovered on cheatgrass,
Anisantha tectorum (L.) Nevski (syn. Bromus tectorum L.), an annual grass that is native to Eurasia and
Northern Africa. This grass was introduced to North America near the end of the 19th century and
now is widespread and associated with the observed increases in the size, frequency, and intensity of
wildfires in western N. America. In this paper, A. marcelli sp. nov., is morphologically described and
illustrated. Compared with other Aculodes spp., it differs based on morphology and the sequence
of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase gene, subunit I (MT-CO1). Results of morphometric
analysis showed clear differentiation between A. marcelli sp. nov., and the most similar congener, A.
altamurgiensis from Taeniatherum caput-medusae. Analysis of MT-CO1 sequence divergence revealed
significant levels of genetic variation (17.7%) and supported the results from the morphometric
analysis; therefore, it is determined that they are two different species. Aculodes marcelli sp. nov., is a
new candidate agent for classical biological control of A. tectorum.",
publisher = "Basel: MDPI",
journal = "Insects",
title = "A New Aculodes Species (Prostigmata: Eriophyidae) Described from an Invasive Weed by Morphological, Morphometric and DNA Barcode Analyses",
number = "10",
volume = "13",
doi = "10.3390/insects13100877",
pages = "877"
}
