Brevipalpus lewisi McGregor, 1949

Ueckermann, Edward A., Palevsky, Eric, Gerson, Uri, Recht, Eitan & Theron, Pieter D., 2018, The Tenuipalpidae (Acari: Trombidiformes) of Israel, Acarologia 58 (2), pp. 483-525 : 489-491

Brevipalpus lewisi McGregor, 1949 ( Figure 5 )

Diagnosis (Female) — Prodorsum weakly to strongly wrinkled or folded medially, can also appear like areolae, laterally with elongated cells forming a reticulation, opisthosoma smooth or wrinkled between setae c1-c1 and e1-e1 with weak to strong V-shaped folds posterior to e1- e1, 3 pairs of dorsocentral setae different in shape to dorsolateral setae f (2 present) ( Fig 5A ); spermatheca terminating into a small rounded vesicle with a series of short projections and clear internal “bubble” ( Fig 5C ); genital and ventral shields with reticulations forming transverse bands ( Fig 5B ); palp femur seta slender, tapered and barbed; tarsus II with one solenidion ( Beard et al., 2015b; Hao et al., 2016).

Deutonymph — Prodorsum with setae sc1-2 broadly lanceolate. Opisthosoma with setae

c3 and the 4 pairs of caudolateral setae f (2, f3, h2, h1) broadly lanceolate and about as long as intervals between them, rest minute and smooth or slightly serrate ( Fig 5D ) ( Beard et al., 2015b).

Hosts and localities — In Israel it was collected from “Blue Serbian vines”, at Nachshonim ( Bytinski-Salez, 1966), but could not be found again till recently in Mizpe Ramon on petit vardo leaves. Other overseas hosts are: lemon, walnut, Boston ivy, grape, pistachio, pomegranate, Metasequoia (Dawn Redwood) and many ornamental plants ( Jeppson et al., 1975). It was also reported from Algeria, Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Egypt, Greece, India, Iran, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico, Taiwan, Turkey, USA and former Yugoslavia ( Attiah, 1956; Baker, 1949; Baker & Tuttle,1964, 1987; Ehara, 1956; Hatzinikolis, 1982, 1986, 1987; Khosrowshahi & Arbabi,1997; Ma & Yuan,1977; McGregor,1949; Smith Meyer,1979; Mitrofanov & Strunkova,1979; Pritchard & Baker,1952, 1958; Sadana,1997; Smiley & Gerson,1995; Tseng,1974;

Hao et al., 2013).

Symptoms — This mite is an important pest of oranges, tangerines and lemons in California

( USA) and Japan. Serious injury has not been recorded on grape fruit. The mites lay their red,

oval eggs singly in depressions and crevices of fruit, twigs and leaves, apparently preferring any stage of fruit to twigs or leaves. They seem to prefer the stem end of citrus fruit near or under the fruit button and fruit depressions and cause a silvering of the fruit. In central California,

they overwinter in the adult stage. Peak populations are reached during the warmest months.

Feeding on fruit produces scab-like scars, starting from fruit depressions or from depressions produced by leafhoppers or other insects, or by any injury that ruptures the oil sacs in the citrus peels. As the mites continue to feed, the scabbed area may increase to cover most of the fruit.

Damage results in reducing the grade of fruit ( Reuther, 1989; Jeppson et al., 1975; Elmer &

Jeppson, 1957). In Greece, it is a pest of citrus, grapes, and pomegranates ( Hatzinikolis, 1986).

Bytinski-Salez (1966) reported it from “Blue Serbiam” vines in 1952 in Israel, causing severe leaf chlorosis. It was recently collected again from under side of petit vardo leaves infested with Tetranychus turkestani in Mizpe Ramon. It is not known as a vector of viruses ( Elmer & Jeppson, 1957).

Biology and Ecology — Overwinters in adult stage on deciduous host plants such as grapes in California and is active throughout the year on citrus. Peak populations occur during warmest months ( Rice & Weinberger, 1981). Number of annual generations is related to the type of host, for example 4 on vines in Bulgaria and California. It reproduces by thelytoky, as no males were found ( Buchanan et al., 1980).

Figures

Figure 5 Brevipalpus lewisiMcGregor – Female: A – dorsal view; B – opisthogaster; C – sermatheca; Deutonymph: D – dorsal view.