Atypically Shaped Setae in Gall Mites (Acariformes, Eriophyoidea) and Mitogenomics of the Genus Leipothrix Keifer (Eriophyidae)

Abstract

The setae in Eriophyoidea are filiform, slightly bent and thickened near the base. Confocal microscopy indicates that their proximal and distal parts differ in light reflection and autofluorescence. Approximately 50 genera have atypically shaped setae: bifurcated, angled or swollen. These modifications are known in the basal part of prosomal setae u′, ft′, ft″, d, v, bv, ve, sc and caudal setae h2. We assessed the distribution of atypically shaped setae in Eriophyoidea and showed that they are scattered in different phylogenetic lineages. We hypothesized that the ancestral setae of eriophyoid mites were bifurcated before later simplifying into filiform setae. We also proposed that hypo-furcating setae are a synapomorphy that unites Eriophyoidea with Nematalycidae. We analyzed four new mitochondrial genomes of Leipothrix, the largest genus with bifurcated d, and showed that it is monophyletic and has a unique mitochondrial gene order with translocated trnK. We exclude Cereusacarus juniperensis n. comb. Xue and Yin, 2020 from Leipothrix and transfer five Epitrimerus spp. to Leipothrix: L. aegopodii (Liro 1941) n. comb., L. femoralis (Liro 1941) n. comb., L. geranii (Liro 1941) n. comb., L. ranunculi (Liro 1941) n. comb., and L. triquetra (Meyer 1990) n. comb.

Molecular Phylogenetics and Light Microscopy Reveal “True” and “False” Calacarines and Novel Genital Structures in Gall Mites (Acariformes, Eriophyoidea)

“…In our recent paper on the phylogeny of Leipothrix [67], we came to similar conclusions and applied epithets "true" and "false" to the clades containing correct and erroneous sequences of Leipothrix. Here, we found a stable group of sequences of Calacarus, Jaranasia, Latitudo, and Viginticus, which we call "true calacarines" (tC).…”

“…Body fusiform, slightly yellowish, 273 (225-277), 101 (92-108) wide at level of setae c2. Prodorsal shield subrhomboidal, 68 (63)(64)(65)(66)(67)(68)(69)(70), 90 (76-90) wide, extending over cheliceral bases, forming a broad, rounded frontal lobe. Scapular setae sc absent, sc tubercles present, relatively small, rounded, ahead of rear shield margin.…”