TY  - CONF
AU  - Marini, Francesca
AU  - Weyl, Philip
AU  - Stutz, Sonja
AU  - Hinz, Hariet
AU  - Williams, Hester
AU  - Moffat, Chandra
AU  - de Lillo, Enrico
AU  - Petanović, Radmila
AU  - Vidović, Biljana
AU  - Rančić, Dragana
AU  - Cvrković, Tatjana
AU  - Sforza, Rene
AU  - Bon, Marie-Claude
AU  - Kashefi, Javid
AU  - Cristofaro, Massimo
PY  - 2022
UR  - https://plantarum.izbis.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/1304
AB  - Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) (TH), a fast-growing deciduous tree native to China, is considered a
serious invasive species worldwide for which chemical and mechanical control methods have limited efficacy.
Aculus taihangensis (Hong & Xue) [with its junior synonym Aculus mosoniensis (Ripka)] is an eriophyid
species occurring on TOH, recorded in 13 European countries. Eriophyid mites are obligate plant feeders with
high host specificity, efficacy and long-lasting effects on their hosts, fast gaining relevance as biological control
agents of weeds. Therefore, A. taihangensis could offer a sustainable option for the control of TOH. Deutogyne
form has been recently recorded and its spatial distribution along the stem studied. Investigations on life history
traits of the protogyne form are underway in order to quantify developmental time, fecundity and longevity at
different constant temperatures. Histological observations and impact tests have shown that the feeding activity
of A. taihangensis damages TOH leaves, reducing the fitness of new sprouts and severely damaging seedlings.
Based on these observations, investigations on the use of A. taihangensis in an integrated management plan,
such as felling of large trees followed by the inoculation of the mites on re-sprouting plants, should be
undertaken. Preliminary host range tests, with 13 nontarget species either phylogenetically and ecologically
related to TOH or economically important in a European context, showed that A. taihangensis has a narrow
host range. The screening of North American test plant species is currently being conducted. Preliminary data is
encouraging and A. taihangensis may be a promising candidate for the biological control of TOH in Europe and
potentially in other regions with similar climate.
PB  - European Association of Acarologists
C3  - IX Symposium of the European Association of Acarologists - Acarology 1.0 to 2.0: Progress in Changing Times, 12–15 July 2022, Bari, Italy
T1  - Integrative taxonomy and synonymization of Aculus mosoniensis (Acari: Eriophyidae), a potential biological control agent for tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
SP  - 16
ER  - 

@conference{
author = "Marini, Francesca and Weyl, Philip and Stutz, Sonja and Hinz, Hariet and Williams, Hester and Moffat, Chandra and de Lillo, Enrico and Petanović, Radmila and Vidović, Biljana and Rančić, Dragana and Cvrković, Tatjana and Sforza, Rene and Bon, Marie-Claude and Kashefi, Javid and Cristofaro, Massimo",
year = "2022",
abstract = "Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) (TH), a fast-growing deciduous tree native to China, is considered a
serious invasive species worldwide for which chemical and mechanical control methods have limited efficacy.
Aculus taihangensis (Hong & Xue) [with its junior synonym Aculus mosoniensis (Ripka)] is an eriophyid
species occurring on TOH, recorded in 13 European countries. Eriophyid mites are obligate plant feeders with
high host specificity, efficacy and long-lasting effects on their hosts, fast gaining relevance as biological control
agents of weeds. Therefore, A. taihangensis could offer a sustainable option for the control of TOH. Deutogyne
form has been recently recorded and its spatial distribution along the stem studied. Investigations on life history
traits of the protogyne form are underway in order to quantify developmental time, fecundity and longevity at
different constant temperatures. Histological observations and impact tests have shown that the feeding activity
of A. taihangensis damages TOH leaves, reducing the fitness of new sprouts and severely damaging seedlings.
Based on these observations, investigations on the use of A. taihangensis in an integrated management plan,
such as felling of large trees followed by the inoculation of the mites on re-sprouting plants, should be
undertaken. Preliminary host range tests, with 13 nontarget species either phylogenetically and ecologically
related to TOH or economically important in a European context, showed that A. taihangensis has a narrow
host range. The screening of North American test plant species is currently being conducted. Preliminary data is
encouraging and A. taihangensis may be a promising candidate for the biological control of TOH in Europe and
potentially in other regions with similar climate.",
publisher = "European Association of Acarologists",
journal = "IX Symposium of the European Association of Acarologists - Acarology 1.0 to 2.0: Progress in Changing Times, 12–15 July 2022, Bari, Italy",
title = "Integrative taxonomy and synonymization of Aculus mosoniensis (Acari: Eriophyidae), a potential biological control agent for tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima)",
pages = "16"
}

Marini, F., Weyl, P., Stutz, S., Hinz, H., Williams, H., Moffat, C., de Lillo, E., Petanović, R., Vidović, B., Rančić, D., Cvrković, T., Sforza, R., Bon, M., Kashefi, J.,& Cristofaro, M.. (2022). Integrative taxonomy and synonymization of Aculus mosoniensis (Acari: Eriophyidae), a potential biological control agent for tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima). in IX Symposium of the European Association of Acarologists - Acarology 1.0 to 2.0: Progress in Changing Times, 12–15 July 2022, Bari, Italy
European Association of Acarologists., 16.

Marini F, Weyl P, Stutz S, Hinz H, Williams H, Moffat C, de Lillo E, Petanović R, Vidović B, Rančić D, Cvrković T, Sforza R, Bon M, Kashefi J, Cristofaro M. Integrative taxonomy and synonymization of Aculus mosoniensis (Acari: Eriophyidae), a potential biological control agent for tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima). in IX Symposium of the European Association of Acarologists - Acarology 1.0 to 2.0: Progress in Changing Times, 12–15 July 2022, Bari, Italy. 2022;:16..

Marini, Francesca, Weyl, Philip, Stutz, Sonja, Hinz, Hariet, Williams, Hester, Moffat, Chandra, de Lillo, Enrico, Petanović, Radmila, Vidović, Biljana, Rančić, Dragana, Cvrković, Tatjana, Sforza, Rene, Bon, Marie-Claude, Kashefi, Javid, Cristofaro, Massimo, "Integrative taxonomy and synonymization of Aculus mosoniensis (Acari: Eriophyidae), a potential biological control agent for tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima)" in IX Symposium of the European Association of Acarologists - Acarology 1.0 to 2.0: Progress in Changing Times, 12–15 July 2022, Bari, Italy (2022):16.

TY  - JOUR
AU  - de Lillo, Enrico
AU  - Marini, Francesca
AU  - Cristofaro, Massimo
AU  - Valenzano, Domenico
AU  - Petanović, Radmila
AU  - Vidović, Biljana
AU  - Cvrković, Tatjana
AU  - Bon, Marie-Claude
PY  - 2022
UR  - https://plantarum.izbis.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/721
AB  - The taxonomy of Aculus mosoniensis appears to be an unresolved question and its clarification is required, owing to the potential relevance of this mite species as a biological control agent of the tree of heaven. This paper is aimed at giving accurate details on a previously and shortly announced synonymization with Aculops taihangensis, using a morphological and molecular approach. A fusiform morph of A. mosoniensis was distinguished from a vermiform morph and this latter was recognized as deutogyne, which was herein documented. Phylogenetic relationships between Chinese Ac. taihangensis and all A. mosoniensis mites collected in twenty localities in Europe were examined through the analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome c subunit I (CO1) protein and the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 region (ITS1). CO1 sequences of Ac. taihangensis from the Shandong province in China and those from mites collected in Austria and Slovenia were 100% identical; the ITS1 sequence of an Ac. taihangensis paratype matched for 99.8% with those obtained from protogynes and deutogynes of A. mosoniensis collected in Italy. All these data supported the announced synonymization of A. mosoniensis with Ac. taihangensis. Aculus mosoniensis was found genetically variable, with five CO1 haplotypes in Europe (becoming eight along with those of Ac. taihangensis) clustering in two highly supported maternal lineages and eight ITS1 haplotypes (becoming nine along with those of Ac. taihangensis) distributed in four supported clades. No overlap between intra- and interspecies distances was observed for both markers and all studied A. mosoniensis populations clustered in one monophyletic mitochondrial clade, suggesting that only one single species might occur in Europe. However, more mite clades may be related to more tree of heaven biotypes with potential ecological differences, which might have potential effects on the biological control and should be investigated.
PB  - MDPI Basel
T2  - Insects
T1  - Integrative Taxonomy and Synonymization of Aculus mosoniensis (Acari: Eriophyidae), a Potential Biological Control Agent for Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
IS  - 5
VL  - 13
DO  - 10.3390/insects13050489
ER  - 

@article{
author = "de Lillo, Enrico and Marini, Francesca and Cristofaro, Massimo and Valenzano, Domenico and Petanović, Radmila and Vidović, Biljana and Cvrković, Tatjana and Bon, Marie-Claude",
year = "2022",
abstract = "The taxonomy of Aculus mosoniensis appears to be an unresolved question and its clarification is required, owing to the potential relevance of this mite species as a biological control agent of the tree of heaven. This paper is aimed at giving accurate details on a previously and shortly announced synonymization with Aculops taihangensis, using a morphological and molecular approach. A fusiform morph of A. mosoniensis was distinguished from a vermiform morph and this latter was recognized as deutogyne, which was herein documented. Phylogenetic relationships between Chinese Ac. taihangensis and all A. mosoniensis mites collected in twenty localities in Europe were examined through the analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome c subunit I (CO1) protein and the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 region (ITS1). CO1 sequences of Ac. taihangensis from the Shandong province in China and those from mites collected in Austria and Slovenia were 100% identical; the ITS1 sequence of an Ac. taihangensis paratype matched for 99.8% with those obtained from protogynes and deutogynes of A. mosoniensis collected in Italy. All these data supported the announced synonymization of A. mosoniensis with Ac. taihangensis. Aculus mosoniensis was found genetically variable, with five CO1 haplotypes in Europe (becoming eight along with those of Ac. taihangensis) clustering in two highly supported maternal lineages and eight ITS1 haplotypes (becoming nine along with those of Ac. taihangensis) distributed in four supported clades. No overlap between intra- and interspecies distances was observed for both markers and all studied A. mosoniensis populations clustered in one monophyletic mitochondrial clade, suggesting that only one single species might occur in Europe. However, more mite clades may be related to more tree of heaven biotypes with potential ecological differences, which might have potential effects on the biological control and should be investigated.",
publisher = "MDPI Basel",
journal = "Insects",
title = "Integrative Taxonomy and Synonymization of Aculus mosoniensis (Acari: Eriophyidae), a Potential Biological Control Agent for Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)",
number = "5",
volume = "13",
doi = "10.3390/insects13050489"
}

de Lillo, E., Marini, F., Cristofaro, M., Valenzano, D., Petanović, R., Vidović, B., Cvrković, T.,& Bon, M.. (2022). Integrative Taxonomy and Synonymization of Aculus mosoniensis (Acari: Eriophyidae), a Potential Biological Control Agent for Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima). in Insects
MDPI Basel., 13(5).
https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13050489

de Lillo E, Marini F, Cristofaro M, Valenzano D, Petanović R, Vidović B, Cvrković T, Bon M. Integrative Taxonomy and Synonymization of Aculus mosoniensis (Acari: Eriophyidae), a Potential Biological Control Agent for Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima). in Insects. 2022;13(5).
doi:10.3390/insects13050489 .

de Lillo, Enrico, Marini, Francesca, Cristofaro, Massimo, Valenzano, Domenico, Petanović, Radmila, Vidović, Biljana, Cvrković, Tatjana, Bon, Marie-Claude, "Integrative Taxonomy and Synonymization of Aculus mosoniensis (Acari: Eriophyidae), a Potential Biological Control Agent for Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)" in Insects, 13, no. 5 (2022),
https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13050489 . .