Field and Laboratory Observations on the Biology of Aceria angustifoliae with Emphasis on Emergence of Overwintering Mites

Abstract

Data on the life strategy of A. angustifoliae (population fluctuation in buds and on leaves, emergence and migration to the overwintering sites), as well as its temperature-dependent emergence from overwintering sites at constant temperatures, were determined. The eriophyid mite overwintered into buds and the density of active mites inside them from winter 2017 to spring 2018 was higher than that in winter 2018–spring 2019. In the second half of March 2018 and in winter 2018–spring 2019, the mite density inside the buds decreased gradually with a peak of emergence occurring at the beginning of plant blossoming. Population density on leaves increased in summer, reaching a higher and later peak in 2018, and gradually decreased in autumn with mites migrating to overwintering sites. A lower developmental threshold of 4.5 °C was calculated. About half of the mite population was estimated to emerge from the overwintering sites at an accumulation of degree days ranging, on average, between 85.5 (at 20 °C) and 104.4 (at 10 °C) degree days above the assessed threshold.