مشخصات پژوهش

Eriophyoid mites (Acari: Eriophyoidea) are the smallest microscopic herbivorous arthropods, measuring approximately 100 to 300 μm in length. They have a global distribution and feed on all aerial parts of plants (annual, biennial, and perennial). High host specificity (80% of species are associated with a single host plant), along with the ability to inhibit plant growth, induce gall formation, and transmit plant viruses, are among the key characteristics of this group of mites. Additionally, they play a significant ecological role in shaping the quantitative and qualitative structure of plant communities, exhibit potential as biological control agents of certain weeds, and cause direct damage to crops as pests. To enhance our knowledge of the eriophyoid mite fauna in Razavi Khorasan Province, a survey was carried out in northeastern Iran during the 2023 growing season. Mite specimens were preserved in vials containing ethanol, and mounted on microscope slide. During this study, five species were recorded for the first time in Razavi Khorasan province, including Aceria longisolenidia Lotfollahi, Haddad Irani-Nejad & de Lillo, 2015 from Verbascum speciosum (Scrophulariaceae) in Qolleh Zu-kalat road, Aceria bendeguzi Ripka, 2015 from Malva neglecta (Malvaceae) in Bezd, Torbate-Jam, Aculops shalchii Lotfollahi et al., 2020 on Melilotus officinalis (Fabaceae) from Dehbar village, Mashhad, Aculus haddadi Lotfollahi & Tajaddod, 2018 from Glycyrrhiza triphylla (Fabaceae) in Amroodak village, Aculops coluteae Lotfollahi, de Lillo, Karim Haddad Irani-Nejad, 2015 from Colutea buhsei (Fabaceae) in Dorbadam village.