Μορφολογία και συστηματική των Eriophyoidea (Acari: Prostigmata) της ελληνικής χλωρίδας
Authors: Μαλανδράκη Ελένη 
Published: August 2021

Superfamily Eriophyidea consinsts of the families Phytoptidae, Eriophyidae and Diptilomiopidae. To date they are the smallest known mites. They are distinguished by their vermiform shape and two pairs of legs at all stages, a feature unique amongst all known families of mites.The Eriophyoidea are exclusively herbivorous species found in both cultivated and non cultivated plants. The majority of them are specific to their host, feeding on particular plant species or on a small number of closely related species, often causing impressive symptoms. Many of them are important pests of cultivated plants. For this reason, despite their small size and the difficulties it entails, Eriophyoidea was the subject of a large number of studies both in past and in recent years.The aim of this study is to contribute to the study of the Greek flora mite fauna in general and to the study of Eriophyoidea in particular.Plant samples were taken from most geographic regions of Greece. The collection of mites was achieved directly, using a stereoscope. Permanent microscope mounts were prepared and the mite speciments were observed and illustrated using a research microscope supplied by a drawing tube.In the first part of the present study it is examined in detail the morphology of Greek Eriophyoidea species found. Gnathosoma with pedipalps, chelicerata, prodorsum, legs, coxisternal and genital region, dorsal and ventral side of opisthosoma and all individual characters which are essential for the systematic classification of Eriophoidea, were studied. The study of the morphology concerns, mainly the adults, female protogyne and male, while information is given about the morphology of immature stages and deutogyne female.In the second part is studied the systematics of the Greek species of Eriophoidea. The mites that were found are classified into families, subfamilies, tribes, genera and species and related keys are given.In the descriptions of Greek species a detailed description of protogyne female and a brief description of the male (where this was found), original illustrations, their worldwide distribution and their distribution in Greece, the hosts and symptoms (if there) are provided.The systematic study of Eriophoidea found in Greek flora, showed the presence of 103 species in 33 genera belonging to all 3 families. Specifically, from the family Phytoptidae 5 species were found belonging to the genera Novophytoptus, Trisetacus, Phytoptus and Mackiella. From the family Eriophyidae 80 species were found belonging to the genera Bariella, Cecidophyopsis, Cecidophyes, Achaetocoptes, Colomerus, Stenacis, Eriophyes, Aceria, Acaricalus, Caliphytoptus, Calepitrimerus, Epitrimerus, Platyphytoptus, Cupacarus, Phyllocoptes, Anthocoptes, Aculus, Aculodes, Aculops, Neooxycenus, Tetraspinus, Tetra θαη Ditrymacus. From the family Diptilomiopidae 18 species were found belonging to the genera Asetadiptacus, Diptacus, Asetacus, Rhinotergum, Rhinophytoptus and Rhyncaphytoptus. From these, 33 species are new to science and another 42 are reported for the first time in Greece. For several other species, Greece in the second country from which are reported.