The Dispersal of Aceria tulipae1 and Three Other Grass-Infesting Eriophyid Mites in Ohio2

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Abstract
The host range, populations, and dispersal of 4 grassinfesting eriophyid species (Acarina: Eriophyidae) of Ohio were studied. High populations of wheat curl mite,Aceria tulipae (Keifer), were found on wheat in the spring and early summer and on corn in the late summer and early fall in Ohio. Quackgrass was the most important host for the grain rust mite, Abacarns hystrix Nalepa), and Aculodes mckenziei (Keifer) and timothy was the sole host for Aculodes dubius (Nalepa) (often referred to as Phytocoptes dubius). A. tulipae colonized secluded areas under leaf ligules and sheaths, under the glumes on wheat heads, and under husks on the corn ear, while the other 3 species readily colonized exposed leaf blades of their hosts. Eriophyids trapped on silicone grease-coated slides, were separated by structural characters after the mites were prepared for study by special procedures. Results of trapping showed that A. hystrix, A. mckensiei, andA. dubius dispersed continuously in spring and early summer while their hosts were growing vigorously. Few of these mites were trapped after July when there was a scarcity of green host tissue and low mite populations. Large numbers of A. tulipae were trapped in July when the wheat crop was nearly mature and again in the fall when corn ears were dry. Of the nearly 10,000 mites of several species trapped during 1968, all appeared tobe adults, suggesting that eriophyid dispersal is actively initiated by adult behavior. Wind, temperature, and light all affect eriophyid dispersal. In the field, an interaction between temperatures 18°C and wind >15 mph accounted for more than 80% of the variability in numbers of A. dubius trapped on greased slides. Both temperature and light affected the dispersal of A. tulipae under controlled environmental conditions. An increase in temperature from 12 to 24°C resulted in an 8-fold increase in the number of mites trapped. More mites were trapped during periods of light than darkness. However, the photopositive effect decreased in magnitude with an increase in temperature. The relation of eriophyid behavior to dispersal is discussed.

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