Eriophyidae

Navia, Denise, Duarte, Mercia Elias & Flechtmann, Carlos H. W., 2021, Eriophyoid mites (Acari: Prostigmata) from Brazil: an annotated checklist, Zootaxa 4997 (1), pp. 1-152 : 53-54

Eriophyidae , Phyllocoptinae , Anthocoptini

142 * Mesalox abathus Keifer, 1969b: 11 .

Type host. Anacardium occidentale L. ( Anacardiaceae ).

Type locality. Campinas , São Paulo, Brazil .

Relationship to host plant. Leaf vagrants or rust mites ( Keifer 1969b). Specimens were collected from lower leaf surface that exhibited slight rust ( Flechtmann 2001b).

Additional localities in Brazil. Piracicaba ( Flechtmann 2001b), São Paulo ; Mossoró ( Flechtmann 2001b), Rio Grande do Norte; locality not informed ( Arruda & Arruda 1978), Pernambuco.

Type host plant status. Native fruit tree, not endemic, occurring in most biomes and regions ( Flora do Brasil 2020). Widely cultivated mainly in North and Northeast regions ( Lorenzi et al. 2006).

143 * Mesalox paucinotus Flechtmann, 1995 b: 83 .

Type host. Miconia candolleana Triana (Melastomataceae) , presently referred as Miconia cinnamomifolia (DC.) Naudin (Melastomataceae) .

Type locality. Parque Nacional do Itatiaia , Itatiaia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil .

Relationship to host plant. Mites induce erineum galls, deformed leaves (Flechtmann 1995b).

Remark. Only known from the type host/locality.

Type host plant status. Native shrub or tree, endemic, occurring in Mata Atlântica biome ( Flora do Brasil 2020) .

144 * Mesalox pitangae ( Boczek & Davis, 1984) : 203. (J.W. Amrine Jr., personal communication).

Previous genus assignment.

Aculus .

Type host. Eugenia uniflora L. ( Myrtaceae ).

Type locality. Piracicaba , São Paulo, Brazil .

Additional localities in Brazil. Recife (08°01’07”S, 34°56’41”W), Pernambuco ( Reis et al. 2010) .

Relationship to host plant. Vagrants on undersurface of the leaves ( Boczek & Davis 1984). Although in the original description the author stated that this mite did not cause damage to the host plant, Flechtmann & Moraes (2003) observed distortion of leaves and changes in its shininess. Leaves with high numbers of mites had shallow depressions scattered over its surface; no similar irregularity was observed on leaves without mites.

Remarks. A supplementary description is provided in Reis et al. (2010).

Type host plant status. Native shrub, not endemic, occurring in Caatinga, Cerrado, Mata Atlântica and Pampa biomes ( Flora do Brasil 2020), widely cultivated mainly in domestic orchards throughout the country ( Lorenzi et al. 2006).

145 * Mesalox trapezoidalis Flechtmann, 2001 b: 207 .

Type host. Malpighia glabra L. ( Malpighiaceae ).

Type locality. Piracicaba , São Paulo, Brazil .

Relationship to host plant. Vagrants on both leaf surfaces, causing leaf rugosity; highly infested leaves curl down longitudinally ( Flechtmann 2001b).

Remark. Only known from the type host/ locality.

Type host plant status. Exotic fruit tree, widely cultivated in domestic and commercial orchards throughout the country ( Flora do Brasil 2020); fruits for their high C vitamin content and are widely used to prepare juices ( Araújo et al. 2004).