Eriophyes pouteriae sp. nov., a New Mite Species Infesting Pouteria sapota

Pouteria sapota, or "mamey sapote", is a tropical fruit tree native to Central America and Southern Mexico, producing sweet, nutrient and vitamin-rich fruit. Several insect pests are known to infest P. sapota, but none have been associated with plant growth alterations. Eriophyoid mites are well known to cause plant malformations, but mites that cause this type of damage to mamey sapote have not been reported. Trees with abnormal leaf growth, including stunted leaves, outward curling, leaf yellowing, and diminishing overall tree vigor, were found in multiple locations in Southern Florida and one location in Brazil. Numerous plant samples were examined for the presence of minute eriophyoid-like mites, and a new species was found. It was morphologically described, and DNA fragments of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), the nuclear subunit D2 region in 28S rDNA, and the ITS nuclear regions were PCR-amplified and sequenced. Morphological and molecular descriptions of the new species, named E. pouteriae sp. nov., are provided to aid the identification and future detection of this mite. Even though several species within the genus Eriophyes have been reported on other Sapotaceae species, this is the first eriophyoid mite known to be associated with mamey sapote.