Brevulacus reticulatus Manson 1984

Pye, Daniel R. L., 2012, New eriophyoid mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Eriophyoidea) in Britain: one new genus, four new species, 19 new records and two incursions, Zootaxa 3578, pp. 43-68 : 61-62

Brevulacus reticulatus Manson 1984

Type host and locality. Quercus sp. ( Fagaceae ), New Zealand.

Distribution. On Quercus robur L.; from England (recorded here), Poland (Skoracka et al. 2005), Russia (Chetverikov & Sukhareva 2010), Turkey ( Denizhan & Çobanoġlu 2008) and West Virginia, USA (James Amrine, personal communication 2012); on Quercus cerris L. from England (recorded here); on Quercus sp. from China ( Kuang, Luo & Wang 2005) and New Zealand (op. cit.); and on Quercus glauca Thunb. from China ( Xue & Hong 2006). This species has also been reported on Xylosma japonicum A. Gray (Salicaceae) from China ( Kuang, Luo & Wang 2005), however no further biological details were given, and it is unknown if it had naturalised on this host.

Relation to host. Vagrant on the under surface of the leaves, causing no apparent damage.

Collection details. England, North Yorkshire, York, Sand Hutton (54° 1ʹ 1.92ʺ N, 0° 58ʹ 5.52ʺ W), mid to high numbers on Q. robur , 24.vi.2009, collected by the author; Quadracus urticae Keifer 1944 Sand Hutton (54° 1ʹ 5.88ʺ N, 0° 57ʹ 47.52ʺ W), low numbers on Q. cerris , collected by C. Malumphy, 07.ix.2010.

Discussion. Quercus cerris is a new host record for this species. The empodium of B. reticulatus were originally described by Manson (1984) as having “bundles of ‘rays’ distal to which can be faintly discerned the normal apical rays”, but the exact number of rays was not given. Specimens from the British populations studied here have 10 (rarely 9) rays. Furthermore, the solenidia were originally described as being positioned lateral to the empodia, but this feature was not observed in the populations studied: the solenidia were in the normal position, above the empodia. The British populations studied also differed slightly to the original description by having 54–58 dorsal annuli (n=10), and with the sc setae 30–36 µm long (n=10).