| Aculops fuchsiae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Fuchsia shoot displaying gall mite infestation | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Family: | Eriophyidae |
| Genus: | Aculops |
| Species: | A. fuchsiae |
| Binomial name | |
| Aculops fuchsiae | |
Aculops fuchsiae, commonly known as fuchsia gall mite, is a species of mite in the family Eriophyidae. It feeds on Fuchsia plants, causing distortion of growing shoots and flowers. It is regarded as a horticultural pest. [2]
Aculops fuchsiae is too small to be seen with the naked eye; [2] female adult mites are between 200 and 250 micrometres (0.20 and 0.25 mm) long and 55 and 60 micrometres (0.055 and 0.060 mm) wide, with males slightly smaller. [3] It is white or pale yellow in colour and has a wormlike or spindle-like body shape, with two anterior (front) pairs of legs. [4]
Aculops fuchsiae is host specific and the only eriophyid mite known to attack Fuchsia. [5] It feeds on the shoot tips, where it sucks sap. [2] It produces chemicals that interfere with the plant's normal growth, which instead becomes a distorted mass of reddish-pink or yellowish green tissue. There are several generations between late spring and autumn; the life cycle takes about 21 days at 18°C. [2] There are four life stages: egg, larva, nymph and adult. Eggs take between 4 and 7 days to hatch at 18°C, and females lay up to 50 eggs at one time. [5] The mite's cold tolerance is not known; it may remain active over winter if temperatures are high enough, though in cooler areas overwintering occurs beneath bud scales. [2] The Northwest Fuchsia Society states that mites in the Pacific Northwest of the USA may have been killed by −6 °C (21 °F) occurring over 3 to 4 nights, though outdoor mite populations in southern England appear to have survived winters with prolonged periods below 0 °C (32 °F). [5] Colonization of new Fuchsia plants occurs either by the mites being blown by wind or via hitching rides on insects and other animals travelling between plants. [2]
This mite was discovered in 1971 on Fuchsia species in São Paulo, Brazil, and was first described the following year. [5] It was introduced into California in 1981 and quickly colonised the south of the state from its introduction site near San Francisco. According to the United Kingdom's Food and Environment Research Agency, it is likely the mite was introduced into Europe in 2001/2002 on Fuchsia cuttings illegally brought from South America by a Jersey-based Fuchsia enthusiast. [4] In 2002 it was seen at the Festival de Trévarez in Brittany, on a plant brought in by a private collector of Fuchsia, and in December 2003 it was identified at eight sites in Brittany. In 2006 the mite was identified as present on the Channel Islands, and in 2007 it was found in two private gardens in southern England, where it has since been discovered in several locations. [4]
Fuchsia species and cultivars vary in their susceptibility to gall mite infestation; although all Fuchsia can host the mite, some appear to show less damage as a result. [5] Trials and prevalence of the mite so far suggest that species and cultivars in the Schufia and Encliandra taxonomic Fuchsia groups, native to Central America, appear to be resistant, whereas those in the Quelusia and Procumbentes groups appear to be susceptible. [5] The most susceptible species include Fuchsia magellanica , F. coccinea and F. procumbens. [2] [5] Slightly less susceptible are F. denticulata, F. gehrigeri, F. macrophylla and F. triphylla. [3] Resistant species include F. microphylla (and F. microphylla subsp. hidalgensis), F. thymifolia, F. venusta, F. boliviana, F. minutiflora, F. radicans and F. tincta. [2] [5] [3] Sources disagree about the status of F. arborescens; it is considered either very susceptible, [2] fairly susceptible [3] or resistant. [5]
Fuchsia tissue becomes so distorted as a result of gall mite infestation that affected plants fail to produce normal growth and flowers, which seriously impacts their horticultural amenity value. [2] The mites are resistant to chemical treatments, [2] because once symptoms are visible, the mites have already entered leaf and flower buds, which afford them protection. [5] Products that contain abamectin or spirodiclofen provide some control, [4] though repeated applications at four-day intervals may be necessary to break the mite life cycle. [5] Insecticidal soap and horticultural oils can also be used, and acephate may provide control on susceptible Fuchsia cultivars. [6] Some mites can be removed from plants by cutting off distorted tissue, though regrowth is likely to be recolonised. [2] Trials in California showed that the best control was achieved by combining the removal of tissue with pesticide application. [5] The options for biological control are also limited, though the predatory mite Amblyseius californicus might depress fuchsia gall mite populations. [5]
Fuchsia cultivars that have been listed as being resistant or less susceptible to gall mite damage include 'Baby Chang', 'Chance Encounter', 'Cinnabarina', 'Englander', 'Golden West', 'Isis', 'Mendocino'/'Mendocino Mini', 'Miniature Jewels', 'Ocean Mist', 'Space Shuttle' and 'Voodoo'. [2] [3] [4] [5] Resistant species are listed in the ecology section above.
A pest is any animal or plant harmful to humans or human concerns. The term is particularly used for creatures that damage crops, livestock, and forestry or cause a nuisance to people, especially in their homes. Humans have modified the environment for their own purposes and are intolerant of other creatures occupying the same space when their activities impact adversely on human objectives. Thus, an elephant is unobjectionable in its natural habitat but a pest when it tramples crops.
Galls or cecidia are a kind of swelling growth on the external tissues of plants, fungi, or animals. Plant galls are abnormal outgrowths of plant tissues, similar to benign tumors or warts in animals. They can be caused by various parasites, from viruses, fungi and bacteria, to other plants, insects and mites. Plant galls are often highly organized structures so that the cause of the gall can often be determined without the actual agent being identified. This applies particularly to some insect and mite plant galls. The study of plant galls is known as cecidology.
Fuchsia is a genus of flowering plants that consists mostly of shrubs or small trees. The first to be scientifically described, Fuchsia triphylla, was discovered on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola about 1696–1697 by the French Minim monk and botanist, Charles Plumier, during his third expedition to the Greater Antilles. He named the new genus after German botanist Leonhart Fuchs (1501–1566).
Northern root-knot nematode is a species of vegetable pathogens which produces tiny galls on around 550 crop and weed species. They invade root tissue after birth. Females are able to lay up to 1,000 eggs at a time in a large egg mass. By surviving harsh winters, they can survive in cold climates.
Eriophyidae is a family of more than 200 genera of mites, which live as plant parasites, commonly causing galls or other damage to the plant tissues and hence known as gall mites. About 3,600 species have been described, but this is probably less than 10% of the actual number existing in this poorly researched family. They are microscopic mites and are yellow to pinkish white to purplish in color. The mites are worm like, and have only two pairs of legs. Their primary method of population spread is by wind. They affect a wide range of plants, and several are major pest species causing substantial economic damage to crops. Some species, however, are used as biological agents to control weeds and invasive plant species.
Fuchsia magellanica, commonly known as the hummingbird fuchsia or hardy fuchsia, is a species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family Onagraceae, native to the lower Southern Cone of southern South America.
Cecidophyopsis ribis is an eriophyid mite which is best known for being a plant parasite, a pest of Ribes species, the genus that includes gooseberries and blackcurrants. It is commonly known as the blackcurrant gall mite or big bud mite. It feeds on the plants' buds, forming galls, and transmits a virus which causes blackcurrant reversion disease. The mite is a serious pest of blackcurrant crops in Europe, but rarely on other continents.
Aphelenchoides ritzemabosi is a plant pathogenic nematode. It was first scientifically described in 1890 in England. This nematode has a wide host range. Among the most important species affected are Chrysanthemums and strawberries. A. ritzemabosi is a migratory foliar feeding nematode. It can feed both ectoparasitically and endoparasitically, with the later causing the most significant damage. When adequate moisture is present, this nematode enters the leaves and feeds from inside the tissue. Typical damage is characterized by necrotic zones between the veins of the leaves. Its lifecycle is short; only ten days from egg to mature adult. A single female can lay as many as 3,500 eggs. This pest can be difficult to control. Host plant resistance, hot water treatments, and predatory mites are recommended.
Meloidogyne javanica is a species of plant-pathogenic nematodes. It is one of the tropical root-knot nematodes and a major agricultural pest in many countries. It has many hosts. Meloidogyne javanica reproduces by obligatory mitotic parthenogenesis (apomixis).
Abacarus hystrix, the cereal rust mite or grain rust mite, belongs to the family Eriophyidae. They are extremely small with adults measuring up to 1 millimetre in length and only have four legs at the front of the body. Viewing by the human eye requires a 10 – 20X lens. The adult mites are usually yellow but also have been seen to be white or orange. The cereal rust mite was first found on Elymus repens, a very common perennial grass species. It has now been found on more than 60 grass species including oats, barley, wheat and ryegrass, found in Europe, North America, South Africa and Australia. Mites migrate primarily through wind movement and are usually found on the highest basal sections of the top two leaf blades. Abacarus hystrix produces up to twenty overlapping generations per year in South Australian perennial pastures, indicating that the species breeds quite rapidly. It has been noted that the cereal rust mite can cause losses in yield of up to 30-70%.
Aceria chondrillae is a gall forming deuterogynous, eriophyid (mite) often used as a biological control of the noxious weed, Chondrilla juncea, a highly competitive herbaceous perennial composite found in Europe, Asia, Australia and North America.
Aceria guerreronis, the coconut mite, is an eriophyid mite which infests coconut plantations. It is economically devastating, and can destroy up to 60% of coconut production. The immature nuts are infested and injured by mites feeding in the portion covered by the perianth of the immature nut.
The Pineapple gall adelgid is a type of conifer-feeding insect that forms pineapple-shaped plant galls on its host species, commonly Norway and Sitka spruce. The adelgids are pear-shaped, soft-bodied green insects with long antennae, closely related to the aphid. "Adelges" lays up to one hundred eggs at a time, one on each needle. Adelges abietis is one of the most common species; synonyms are A. gallarum-abietis, Chermes abietis and Sacciphantes abietis.
Dryocosmus kuriphilus is a species of gall wasp known by the common names chestnut gall wasp, Oriental chestnut gall wasp, and Asian chestnut gall wasp. It is native to China and it is known in many other parts of the world, particularly the Northern Hemisphere, as an introduced species and an invasive horticultural pest. It attacks many species of chestnut, including most cultivated varieties. It is considered the world's worst pest of chestnuts.
Contarinia quinquenotata is a small midge which infests the flower buds of Hemerocallis, causing the buds to swell, remain closed and rot. It is a pest in several parts of the world. It is known by the common names of daylily gall midge and hemerocallis gall midge.
Thrips simplex is a species of insect in the genus Thrips in the order Thysanoptera. It is commonly known as the gladiolus thrips and infests gladiolus plants as well as various other monocotyledonous plants such as lilies, irises and freesias.
Aculops is a genus of mites that belongs to the family Eriophyidae that live as plant parasites. Some species, such as Aculops lycopersici, are severe crop or ornamental pests, while Aculops ailanthii is being considered as biocontrol for the extremely invasive tree-of-heaven in North America. Very little is known about this genus, with new species constantly being discovered even in well covered regions such as New Zealand.
Fuchsia microphylla, also known as small leaf fuchsia and small-leaved fuchsia, is a flowering shrub in the family Onagraceae. The specific epithet (microphylla) was named for the plant's small (micro) leaves (phylla).
Odoiporus longicollis, commonly known as banana stem weevil or banana pseudostem borer, is a species of weevil found in South Asia and South East Asia.
Media related to Aculops fuchsiae at Wikimedia Commons