Anthocoptes rubicolens Roivainen, 1953

Pye, Daniel R. L. & Lillo, Enrico De, 2010, A review of the eriophyoid mites (Acari: Eriophyoidea) on Rubus spp. in Britain, with a new species (Diptilomiopidae) and two new records, Zootaxa 2677, pp. 15-26 : 17

Anthocoptes rubicolens Roivainen, 1953

( Figs. 2 & 3 )

Type host and locality. Rubus sp., Spain.

Distribution. England (recorded here), Poland (from R. laciniatus Willd ) (Shi, 2000), Latvia (from Rubus sp.) ( Rupais, 1976) and Spain ( Roivainen, 1953).

Relation to the host. Vagrant, recorded as causing discoloration to the foliage (Shi, 2000).

Collection data. England, Kent, Tonbridge, commercial plant nursery site, low numbers of adult females, males and nymphs on R. fruticosus , 12.xi.2009. No host plant damage symptoms were observed.

Remarks. This is the first record of this species from plant material growing in Britain. Following Amrine et al. (2003), two forms of A. rubicolens were found in this population, a mature female with expanded dorsal annuli ( Fig. 2 ) and a teneral female without expanded dorsal annuli ( Fig. 3 ). The biological meaning of these two forms remains to be established.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Digital micrographs of the prodorsal shield and coxigenital region. Anthocoptes rubicolens. Mature female. Scale bar: 20 µm.

FIGURE 3. Digital micrographs of the prodorsal shield and coxigenital region. Anthocoptes rubicolens. Teneral female. Scale bar: 20 µm.