Aceria lantanae (Cook)

A. lantanae crinckle galls were uni- or multi-chambered and contained several mites, caused by several leaf foldings, and consisted of hyperplasic epidermis and parenchyma.

Aceria lantanae induced crinkle-leaf light green galls with an irregular and hairy surface, more prominent to the adaxial side of the leaf. They occurred along the secondary veins and were 4.5 ± 0.4 mm in length. These were covering galls that could eventually form a pocket, when the adaxial portion invaginated, provoking an intumescence. As a result, an adaxial folding, centrally opened, was formed (Fig. 8).

On the adaxial epidermal layer of the gall, glandular and non-glandular trichomes were similar to those found on healthy leaves. However, around gall ostiole trichomes presented a higher degree of alteration (Fig. 9) and emergences were formed at trichome basis (Fig. 10). The nymphal chamber sheltered numerous A. lantanae individuals (Fig. 11).

The nymphal chamber was bound by 1–3 layers of quadrangular cells differentiated from the hyperplasia of the adaxial epidermis, forming an atypical nutritive tissue and several emergences alternating with mite-feeding sites (Fig. 12). Some suberised spots were observed (Fig. 13).

Gall cortex consisted of hyperplasic small parenchyma cells with conspicuous nuclei. These cells were irregular in shape, with few chloroplasts. Intercellular spaces were not conspicuous (Fig. 13). The vascular system of the galls was composed of sparse small bundles with well developed vascular parenchyma (Fig. 14)

Aceria lantanae
Eriophyes lantanae

Host: Lantana camara

Relations: The mites cause large galls consisting of very small green leaves and distorted flower buds and flowers. The mite is used as a biological control agent, where lantana is a pest.

Distr: FL, LA USA

Lantana camera L .................. Yellow sage .................. Deformed flowers, mass of small leaflike outgrowths. .................. Eriophyes lantanae (Cook).

[A footnote at the end of the listing reads "From Jeppson[, L. T., Keifer, H. H., and Baker, E. W. 1975. MITES INJURIOUS TO ECONOMIC PLANTS, xü + 614 pp., 63 pis. Univ. Calif. Press]. These species are not discussed or illustrated in the text."]