Convergent Evolution of Silk Webbing in Eriophyoid Mites (Eriophyoidea) and Aceria–Cisaberoptus Sympatry on Mango

TL;DR

This study explores how different mite species independently evolved silk webbing on mango plants and how some mites may work together to build these webs.

Contribution

The study reveals convergent evolution of silk webbing in distantly related mite lineages and identifies potential mutualism between co-occurring species.

Findings

Silk web production evolved independently in phylogenetically distant eriophyoid mite lineages.

Cisaberoptus kenyae and Aceria aegyptindicae frequently co-occur and likely cooperate in building shared silk webs on mango.

Web-spinning mites on mango are phylogenetically linked to the Cecidophyinae subfamily.

Abstract

Eriophyoid mites are an ancient lineage of highly specialized plant parasites. Despite their minute size, certain species produce large protective silk nests. Using an integrative approach combining field observations, detailed morphology, and molecular data, we investigated web-spinning mites associated with the leaves of Mangifera indica (mango) in Asia, Africa, and North America and Lepisanthes rubiginosa (mertajam) in Vietnam. Our results demonstrate that silk-web production evolved convergently in phylogenetically distant lineages. We also show that on mango, the species Cisaberoptus kenyae and Aceria aegyptindicae frequently co-occur and likely cooperate in spinning shared webs. Finally, we provide evidence for a phylogenetic relationship linking the mango-associated web-spinners to the mite subfamily Cecidophyinae.

Several lineages within the Eriophyoidea, an ancient group of phytoparasitic acariform mites, produce large protective silk webs on plant surfaces. This study examined the diversity and phylogeny of web-spinning eriophyoids associated with the leaves of Mangifera indica (mango) in Asia, Africa, and North America and Lepisanthes rubiginosa (mertajam) in Vietnam. We report, for the first time, silk-producing structures in Aceria aegyptindicae and Aculops knorri, as well as the presence of tibial seta l’ I and a lobular unpaired prosomal gland in Cisaberoptus kenyae. Molecular and morphological data indicate female dimorphism in A. knorri and reveal cryptic diversity within Cisaberoptus and mango-associated Aceria. The web-spinning species C. kenyae and Ac. aegyptindicae form a strongly supported clade and frequently coexist in syntopy on mango leaves, likely co-producing silk web. Phylogenetic analyses of COI and 28S genes place this clade as sister to Cecidophyinae, while grouping Aberoptus and A. knorri with Anthocoptini and Aceriini. These results demonstrate convergence, cryptic speciation, and unexpected mutualism in web-spinning eriophyoids, providing a framework for future research on the evolution of silk producing organs in this economically important mite group.

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