New State Record of Aculops ailanthi (Acariformes; Trombidiformes; Prostigmata; Eriophyidae), in Virginia, USA; a Pest or Biological Control Agent of Ailanthus altissima?

Authors: BIELSKI, JASON - Virginia Polytechnic Institution & State University; PFEIFFER, DOUGLAS - Virginia Polytechnic Institution & State University; Ochoa, Ronald; Ulsamer, Andrew

Submitted to: Acarology International Congress Proceedings
Publication Type: Research Notes
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/30/2024
Publication Date: 8/23/2024
Citation: Bielski, J., Pfeiffer, D., Ochoa, R., Ulsamer, A.W. 2024. New State Record of Aculops ailanthi (Acariformes; Trombidiformes; Prostigmata; Eriophyidae), in Virginia, USA; a Pest or Biological Control Agent of Ailanthus altissima?. Acarology International Congress Proceedings. 126(1):1-7. https://doi.org/10.4289/0013-8797.126.1.1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4289/0013-8797.126.1.1

Interpretive Summary: Our research highlights the first detection of a rust mite species affecting the tree of heaven in Virginia. Over the past decade, this mite has been redescribed, and molecular studies in 2022 confirmed it as a single species coming from China. Our previous work using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) supports this finding. As the mite has been spreading along with the tree of heaven across the Eastern of the United States, its distribution is expected to match that of the tree of heaven. This mite has the potential to be used as a biological control agent for the invasive tree of heaven. This information will be useful for research scientists, agriculture state officers, growers, and regulatory agencies in evaluating and potentially utilizing this mite as a biocontrol agent in the country.

Technical Abstract: We report the first detections of Aculops ailanthi Lin, Jin, & Kuang (1997) (Acariformes: Trombidiformes: Prostigmata: Eriophyidae) from southwest Virginia, USA; the fourth state to report this non-gall forming rust mite on Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle 1916. We initially became aware of the pest due to severe symptomology on greenhouse-cultivated Ai. altissima. We tentatively identified the pest as an eriophyid mite of unknown species. We sent samples to USDA-ARS for identification and, using scanning electron microscopy, confirmed the species as A. ailanthi based on the morphological features. Moreover, we describe the impacts that high populations of A. ailanthi can have on Ai. altissima in greenhouse settings and potential use as a biological control agent.