TY - JOUR

T1 - Convergent Evolution of Silk Webbing in Eriophyoid Mites (Eriophyoidea) and Aceria–Cisaberoptus Sympatry on Mango

AU - Четвериков, Филипп Евгеньевич

AU - Craemer, Ch.

AU - Десницкий, Алексей Григорьевич

AU - Копылов , Н.С.

AU - Кудрявцев , А.Т.

AU - Nguen , V.D.

AU - Романович, Анна Эдуардовна

AU - Trinh, H.X.

AU - Вишняков, Андрей Экскустадианович

AU - Amrine, J.

PY - 2026/2/28

Y1 - 2026/2/28

N2 - Several lineages within the Eriophyoidea, an ancient group of phytoparasitic acariform mites, produce large protective silk webs on plant surfaces. This study examined the diversity and phylogeny of web-spinning eriophyoids associated with the leaves of Mangifera indica (mango) in Asia, Africa, and North America and Lepisanthes rubiginosa (mertajam) in Vietnam. We report, for the first time, silk-producing structures in Aceria aegyptindicae and Aculops knorri, as well as the presence of tibial seta l' I and a lobular unpaired prosomal gland in Cisaberoptus kenyae. Molecular and morphological data indicate female dimorphism in A. knorri and reveal cryptic diversity within Cisaberoptus and mango-associated Aceria. The web-spinning species C. kenyae and Ac. aegyptindicae form a strongly supported clade and frequently coexist in syntopy on mango leaves, likely co-producing silk web. Phylogenetic analyses of COI and 28S genes place this clade as sister to Cecidophyinae, while grouping Aberoptus and A. knorri with Anthocoptini and Aceriini. These results demonstrate convergence, cryptic speciation, and unexpected mutualism in web-spinning eriophyoids, providing a framework for future research on the evolution of silk producing organs in this economically important mite group.

AB - Several lineages within the Eriophyoidea, an ancient group of phytoparasitic acariform mites, produce large protective silk webs on plant surfaces. This study examined the diversity and phylogeny of web-spinning eriophyoids associated with the leaves of Mangifera indica (mango) in Asia, Africa, and North America and Lepisanthes rubiginosa (mertajam) in Vietnam. We report, for the first time, silk-producing structures in Aceria aegyptindicae and Aculops knorri, as well as the presence of tibial seta l' I and a lobular unpaired prosomal gland in Cisaberoptus kenyae. Molecular and morphological data indicate female dimorphism in A. knorri and reveal cryptic diversity within Cisaberoptus and mango-associated Aceria. The web-spinning species C. kenyae and Ac. aegyptindicae form a strongly supported clade and frequently coexist in syntopy on mango leaves, likely co-producing silk web. Phylogenetic analyses of COI and 28S genes place this clade as sister to Cecidophyinae, while grouping Aberoptus and A. knorri with Anthocoptini and Aceriini. These results demonstrate convergence, cryptic speciation, and unexpected mutualism in web-spinning eriophyoids, providing a framework for future research on the evolution of silk producing organs in this economically important mite group.

KW - Lepisanthes

KW - Mangifera indica

KW - arthropod structure

KW - phylogeny

KW - silk producing organs

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/6ab0ec40-9bb6-3ea1-b8b9-61f281303efc/

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105034290227

U2 - 10.3390/insects17030259

DO - 10.3390/insects17030259

M3 - Article

C2 - 41898921

VL - 17

JO - Insects

JF - Insects

SN - 2075-4450

IS - 3

M1 - 259

ER -