| abstract | During 2001 and 2002, we examined Turkish populations of eriophyid mites infesting Centaurea solstitialis L. and C. squarrosa Willd. (Asteraceac). The analyses of the morphometric data, induced symptoms, and the morphological comparison with the descriptions of known species allowed us to identify three new Aceria species, here described and illustrated. Aceria solcentaureae and A. solstilialis were collected on C. solstitialis, and A. squarrosae was associated with C. squarrosa in Cappadocia. Infested plants were stunted, showing reduced growth, a heavy broom-like appearance being bushy, with the apical parts of the stems and flowerheads still green and fresh during the hot and dry season, less spiny than usual, and producing smaller seedheads. Additional information is given about the ecology of these associations and on the potential role of these eriophyids as control agents. |