title: Cryptic speciation within Phytoptus avellanae s.l. (Eriophyoidea: Phytoptidae) revealed by molecular data and observations on molting Tegonotus-like nymphs.
abstract: Hazelnut big bud mite, Phytoptus avellanae Nalepa, is one of the most harmful pests of Corylus spp. (Corylaceae) worldwide. Herein, we show that this species represents a complex of two cryptic species: one that lives and reproduces in buds causing their enlargement ('big buds') and drying, whereas the other is a vagrant living on leaves, under bud scales and in catkins, based on phylogenetic analyzes of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) DNA and the nuclear D2 region of 28S rDNA sequences. A molecular assessment based on mtCOI DNA and nuclear D2 28S rDNA revealed consistent differences of 16.8 and 3.5% between the two species, respectively. Molecular analysis also revealed that atypical flattened nymphs (Tegonotus-like nymphs sensu Keifer in Mites Injurious to Economic Plants, University of California Press, Berkeley, pp 327-562, 1975) with differently annulated opisthosoma, which appear in the life cycle of P. avellanae s.l., belong to the 'vagrant' lineage, i.e. vagrant cryptic species. Light microscopy images of Tegonotus-like nymphs molting into males and females are presented for the first time. Our results suggest that the name P. avellanae comprise two species. Big bud mite should keep the name P. avellanae, and the vagrant cryptic species should be re-named after a proper morphological description is made.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Plant Protection and Environment Belgrade, Banatska 33, Zemun, Serbia. tanjacvrkovic@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cvrković
authors.affiliation: Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Saint-Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya nab., 7/9, St. Petersburg, Russia, 199034. philipp-chetverikov@yandex.ru.|Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya nab., 1, St. Petersburg, Russia, 199034. philipp-chetverikov@yandex.ru.
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chetverikov
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Faculty of Agriculture Belgrade, University of Belgrade, Nemanjina 6, Zemun, 11080, Serbia. magud@agrif.bg.ac.rs.
authors.forename: Biljana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vidović
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Faculty of Agriculture Belgrade, University of Belgrade, Nemanjina 6, Zemun, 11080, Serbia. rpetanov@agrif.bg.ac.rs.
authors.forename: Radmila
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Petanović
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D060829:Arthropod Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics; D005060:Europe; D049810:Genetic Speciation; D008925:Mites / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018978:Molting; D009758:Nymph / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D010802:Phylogeny; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV
keywords: 28S rDNA; COI mtDNA; Cryptic species; Phytoptus avellanae; Tegonotus-like nymphs