Aceria taiwanensis sp. nov. (Fig. 10; photo 14)

Female: (n=4) Body worm-like, 160 long; prodorsal shield 36 long, 22 wide, anterior lobe present; prodorsal shield design with no distinct median lines, admedian from base to basal 2/3, Y-shaped, submedian lines with many lines; scapular tubercles set at prodorsal shield rear margin, setae (sc) 5 long, directed backward, sct-sct 18 apart; leg segments normal, foretibial seta (1') set at half, 3 long; 1st coxal setae (1b) 4 long, 1bt-1bt 6 apart, 2nd coxal setae (1a) 17 long, 1at-1at 5 apart, 3rd coxal setae (2a) 19 long, 2at-2at 14 apart; solenidion ending as knob; empodium simple, 4-rayed.

Opisthosoma: with about 66 microtuberculate rings, dorsum with spiny microtubercules at posterior onefourth; first 3 rings 6 long; lateral setae (c2) 8 long, c2t-c 2t 44 apart, c 2t \dt 40, c2t-dt 21; 1st ventral setae (d) 47 long, dt-dt 38 apart, dt\et 46, dt-et 30; 2nd ventral setae (e) 7 long, et-et 35 apart, et\ft 53, et-ft 46; 3rd ventral setae (f) 15 long, ft-ft 15 apart; setae h1 present.

Coverflap: 16 wide, 8 long, with about 8 short longitudinal lines at base, genital setae (3a) 5 long, 3at-3at 13 apart.

Male: not seen.

Type data: Holotype, female, Yungli, Miaoli; 3-Sept.-2001, S. Y. Yang; ex. Vitex trifolia L. ( Verbenaceae). Paratypes, 3 females, with same data as holotype.

Relation to host: Mites form pouch galls on both leaf surfaces.

Note: This new species is similar to A. vitecicola (Kikuti, 1939) but differs in the prodorsal shield design without median lines, admedian from base to basal 2/3, Y-shaped, coverflap with about 8 short longitudinal lines at base and by the 4-rayed empodium.

Etymology: The specific designation is derived from the locality “ Taiwan ”.

PHOTO 14. Galls on both leaf surface of Vitex trifolia caused by Aceria taiwanensus sp. nov.