Charnie Craemer

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1. Introduction The superfamily Eriophyoidea (gall mites or four-legged mites) is a lineage of highly host-specific, permanent parasites of higher vascular plants. They have an unusual morphology for acariform mites, based on an elongate, vermiform body and only two pairs of legs. Eriophyoidea have moved to a completely different position within the system of Acariformes in recent years. For a long time, they were considered members of the cohort Eupodina, within the order Trombidiformes [1,2,3].

Abstract : Simple Summary Plant-feeding gall mites of the superfamily Eriophyoidea are serious pests in agriculture because they are capable of transmitting viruses and causing growth abnormalities in plants. Evolutionary archaic gall mites are associated with ancient conifer hosts, while more derived forms inhabit flowering plants. In this study, we investigate the morphology and phylogeny of a new species of the subfamily Nothopodinae, Nothopoda todeica n.