Aculus taihangensis (Acari: Prostigmata: Eriophyidae), a potential biological control agent identified from the highly invasive pest plant, tree of heaven, in Türkiye

Year 2023, , 99 - 104, 31.07.2023

Sebahat K. Ozman-sullıvan Gregory T. Sullıvan Philipp E. Chetverıkov Esma Kaplan

https://doi.org/10.47121/acarolstud.1290818

Abstract

Invasions by alien plant species are rapidly increasing in both their extent and intensity, leading to the widespread degradation of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems across the world. One of the most widely dispersed, invasive, alien plant species in Europe, North America and many other countries, including Türkiye, is the tree of heaven, Ailanthus altissima. Numerous potential biological control agents, including eriophyoid mites, have been reported from this plant within its native range. A widespread collection of leaf specimens from the tree of heaven in Türkiye yielded only the eriophyoid, Aculus taihangensis (=A. mosoniensis), a new record for Türkiye. No obvious damage was observed on any of the leaf specimens. It appears highly unlikely that A. taihangensis is currently playing a meaningful role in the biological control of the tree of heaven in Türkiye.

Keywords

Ailanthus altissima, Aculus mosoniensis, eriophyid mite, new record, invasive species

Supporting Institution

This research was funded by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TUBITAK) and the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR).

Project Number

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) under the research project #220N174 and the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR) under the research project #21-54-46003

Thanks

We thank TUBITAK and RFBR for their financial supports.

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