Abstract

During field surveys of eriophyid mites associated with autochthonous plants species in semi-arid and arid environments in East Iran (Birjand, South Khorasan, Iran, summer 2016 and 2017), seven new eriophyid mite species (Acari: Eriophyidae) were discovered. They are Aceria astratorae sp. nov. on Astragalus pinetorum Boiss. (Leguminosae), Aceria astracanthae sp. nov. on Astracantha echidna (Bunge) Podlech (Leguminosae), Aceria furgae sp. nov. on Ephedra major Host (Ephedraceae), Aceria runicae sp. nov. on Rubia caramanica Bornm. (Rubiaceae), Aculus birsutum sp. nov. on Epilobium hirsutum L. (Onagraceae), Phyllocoptes birreae sp. nov. on Centaurea virgata Lam. (Compositae), and Neophytoptus semenovis sp. nov. on Semenovia suffruticosa (Freyn & Bornm.) Manden (Apiaceae), which are illustrated and described herein. All seven new species appear to be vagrants on green parts of their host plants with no particular symptom.