Cosella fleshneri (Keifer, 1959)

Huang, Kun-Wei & Wang, Chin-Fah, 2009, Eriophyoid mites (Acari: Eriophyoidea) of Taiwan: thirty-seven species from Yangmingshan, including one new genus and twenty-two new species, Zootaxa 1986, pp. 1-50 : 13-15

Cosella fleshneri (Keifer, 1959) (Pl. 2 A, B)

Floracarus fleschneri Keifer, 1959: 12 Cosella fleschneri Keifer, 1975: 570 -: Wang & Huang, 1999: 132 -: Huang, 2001d: 13

Cosella formosana Huang & Wang, 2003: 325 Specimens examined: 4Ψ, Taipei: Yangmingshan (670m; N25°10´E121°34´), 21-Jan.-1998, Huang & Wang; ex Helicia formosana Hemsl. (Proteaceae) . (deposited at NMNS).

Relation to host: A vagrant on the lower leaf surface. No apparent damage was observed.

Remarks: In Taiwan, we have collected eriophyoid mites infesting Helicia formosana from Fushan (northeast Taiwan), Hueysuen (central Taiwan) and Yangmingshan. In Fushan and Hueysuen, Calepitrimerus heliciopsus Chandrapatya et Boczek, 2000 was associated with Cosella fleshneri (Keifer, 1959) on the same host plant (in a previous study, Co. fleshneri was misidentified as a new species, i.e., Co. formosana Huang et Wang, 2003 ). At Yangmingshan, the eriophyoid mites that occur on Helicia formosana are C. fleshneri and Taicolopodacus primus sp. nov., which were collected on different dates and different trees.

PLATE 2. Cosella fleshneri (Keifer, 1959) A, Prodorsal shield; B, Prodorsal shield; Gammaphytoptus commune sp. nov. C, Dorsal view; D, Ventral view.