Aceria kuko ( Kishida, 1927 )

Huang, Kun-Wei, 2008, Aceria (Acarina: Eriophyoidea) in Taiwan: five new species and plant abnormalities caused by sixteen species, Zootaxa 1829, pp. 1-30 : 7-8

Aceria kuko ( Kishida, 1927) (Photo 1), Amrine & Stasny, 1994

Eriophyes kuko Kishida, 1927: 986 , fig. 1900

Eriophyes tjyingi Manson, 1972: 98 , fig. 2: Kuang, 1983:44, fig. 17~21 Aceria kuko ( Kishida, 1927) ; Amrine & Stasny, 1994: 56

PHOTO 1. Blister galls on both leaf surfaces of Lycium chinense caused by Aceria kuko ( Kishida, 1927) .

Female: (n=11) Body worm-like, 160 long, prodorsal shield 30 long, 40 wide, with a protuberance between scapular tubercles, granules at basal center, scapular tubercles set at prodorsal shield rear margin, setae (sc) 22 long, directed backward, sct-sct 23 apart; leg segments normal, foretibial seta (1') set at basal one-third, 5 long; 1st coxal setae (1b) 9 long, 1bt-1bt 8 apart, 2nd coxal setae (1a) 15 long, 1at-1at 6 apart, 3rd coxal setae (2a) 21 long, 2at-2at 18 apart; solenidion ending as a knob; empodium simple, 5 rayed.

Opisthosoma: with about 73 microtuberculate rings; first 3 rings 4 long; lateral setae (c2) 33 long, c2t-c 2t 39 apart, c 2t \dt 41, c2t-dt 23; 1st ventral setae (d) 52 long, dt-dt 33 apart, dt\et 56, dt-et 26; 2nd ventral setae (e) 37 long, et-et 19 apart, et\ft 45, et-ft 40; 3rd ventral setae (f) 19 long, ft-ft 22 apart; setae h1 present.

Coverflap: 16 wide, 9 long, with several vague longitudinal ridges, genital setae 15 long, 3at -3at 13 apart.

Male: not seen.

Specimens examined: 11 females, Kimsha, Kimen; 6-Mar.-1997, K. W. Huang; 4 females, 28-Jul.-2004, Fongsan, Kaohsiung; C. S. Ho; ex. Lycium chinense Mill. (Solanaceae) .

Relation to host: Blister gall protruding from the lower surface of leaf; ostiole opening to lower surface.

Note: The author examined slides of A. tjyingi (Manson, 1973) , the species found infesting Lycium chinense in Taiwan, and discovered that the admedian lines showed variations in length. The admedian lines varied from base to basal 1/4, or to basal 1/3, or to one half or complete.

Distribution: Japan, mainland China, Taiwan.