An evaluation of errors in the mitochondrial COI sequences of Hydrachnidia (Acari, Parasitengona) in public databases

Incursion Preparedness, Citizen Science and Early Detection of Invasive Insects: The Case of Aleurocanthus spiniferus (Hemiptera, Aleyrodidae) in France

We describe the process by which the quarantine whitefly, Aleurocanthus spiniferus (Hemiptera, Aleyrodidae), was detected in France. The initial observation was made by a volunteer who reported a picture of an adult in the Inventaire National du Patrimoine Naturel (INPN Espèces), a citizen science resource developed by l'Office Français de la Biodiversité and the French Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle. The specimen was suspected to be A. spiniferus from this picture by one of the expert entomologists in charge of the Hemiptera group validation. Once the species was identified, it was mounted on a slide and the information was officially passed on to the ministry in charge of agriculture via a communication channel set up in advance for this type of situation. The ministry then triggered the regulatory actions planned in the event of the suspected detection of quarantine organisms. Sampling was quickly carried out and the specimens collected on this occasion were formally identified as belonging to the species A. spiniferus. This led to the formalization of an outbreak in France. This sequence of decisions took just two months from the first observation to the implementation of a management plan. This case presents how incursion preparedness contributes to a rapid response. Furthermore, this case exemplifies how citizen science can contribute to the early detection of invasive species and highlights the importance of informing both the general public and professionals about major environmental issues.

First rhyncaphytoptine mite (Eriophyoidea, Diptilomiopidae) parasitizing American hazelnut (Corylus americana): molecular identification, confocal microscopy, and phylogenetic position

The plant genus Corylus is an economically important crop, valued especially for its nuts. Numerous pathogens and harmful phytophagous arthropods are known to damage hazelnuts. We report on a new eriophyoid mite, Rhyncaphytoptus corylivagrans n. sp., and the first record of Coptophylla lamimani both collected from leaves of American hazelnut (Corylus americana) in North Carolina, USA. Including our new data, the complex of eriophyoids from Corylus comprises 15 species from three families: Phytoptidae (2 spp.), Eriophyidae (11 spp.), and Diptilomiopidae (2 spp.). We obtained sequences of three genes (Cox1, D1-D5 28S, and ITS1-5.8S-ITS2), applied BLAST and tree-based approaches for identification of R. corylivagrans n. sp., and performed the first molecular phylogenetic analysis focused on Rhyncaphytoptinae. Among the three genes, Cox1 showed better power when used for BLAST searches. Combined molecular phylogenetic analyses inferred R. corylivagrans n. sp. as sister to R. betulae, determined several moderately supported host-specific lineages of rhyncaphytoptines, and indicated a close relationship of the new species with members of the genus Rhinotergum. In two Rhinotergum spp. from Rosaceae, confocal microscopy revealed a new structure, the needle-like anterior process of the prodorsal shield, which is absent in R. corylivagrans n. sp. Additionally, the elements of the anal secretory apparatus presumably associated with silk-production and hypothesized as a synapomorphy of Eriophyoidea, were detected in the new species, providing the first documented report of this structure in Diptilomiopidae. Our study contributes to knowledge on the biodiversity of phytoparasites associated with hazelnuts and calls for future comparative phylogenetics of Diptilomiopidae.