Aceria virosae sp. nov. (Fig. 11; photo 15)

Female: (n=3) Body worm-like, 171 long; prodorsal shield 31 long, 41 wide, anterior lobe present; prodorsal shield with several short lines at lateral and posterior sides, design with median and admedian lines complete, subparallel, with transverse lines at basal 1/3 and half, submedian lines absent; scapular tubercles set at prodorsal shield rear margin, setae (sc) 12 long, directed backward, sct-sct 20 apart; leg segments normal, foretibial seta (1') set at half, 5 long; fore coxal area with short lines, 1st coxal setae (1b) 9 long, 1bt-1bt 10 apart, 2nd coxal setae (1a) 18 long, 1at-1at 7 apart, 3rd coxal setae (2a) 28 long, 2at-2at 24 apart; solenidion ending as knob; empodium simple, 7-rayed.

Opisthosoma: with about 57 microtuberculate rings, dorsum smooth at posterior 1/5; first 3 rings 7 long; lateral setae (c2) 25 long, c2t-c 2t 35 apart, c 2t \dt 40, c2t-dt 24; 1st ventral setae (d) 30 long, dt-dt 32 apart, dt\et 39, dt-et 32; 2nd ventral setae (e) 10 long, et-et 17 apart, et\ft 45, et-ft 42; 3rd ventral setae (f) 14 long, ftft 18 apart; setae h1 present.

Coverflap: 23 wide, 15 long, with about 6 longitudinal lines, genital setae (3a) 28 long, 3at-3at 17 apart.

Male: not seen.

Type data: Holotype, female, Taichung, Taichung; 2-Dec.-1999, M. M. Yang; ex. Flueggea virosa (Roxb. & Willd) . Voigt. ( Euphorbiaceae). Paratypes, 2 females, with same data as holotype.

Relation to host: Mites form pouch galls on the upper leaf surface.

Note: This new species resembles A. securinegae Mohanasundaram, 1990 but differs in the median and admedian lines with two transverse lines and in the 7-rayed empodium.

Etymology: The specific designation is derived from the specific name of the type host plant.

PHOTO 15. Galls of Flueggae virosa caused by Aceria virosae sp. nov., upper surface.