Aculops Temporal range:
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Willow gall mite (Aculops tetanothrix) on arroyo willow (Salix lasiolepis) Cache Creek, Bear Valley, CA | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
Class: | Arachnida |
Family: | Eriophyidae |
Genus: | Aculops Keifer, 1966 |
Species | |
Around 200 species see text | |
Synonyms | |
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Aculops is a genus of parasitic plant mites in the family Eriophyidae. Some species, such as Aculops lycopersici, are severe crop or ornamental pests, while Aculops ailanthii is being considered as biocontrol for the extremely invasive tree-of-heaven in North America.[1] Very little is known about this genus, with new species constantly being discovered even in well covered regions such as New Zealand.[2]