Tumescoptes trachycarpi Keifer 1939b

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 : 59-60

Tumescoptes trachycarpi Keifer 1939b

Type host and locality. Trachycarpus fortunei (Hook.) H. Wendl. (Arecaceae) , USA.

Distribution. China ( Kuang 1991), England (recorded here as an incursion), Iraq [on Phoenix dactylifera L. ( Arecaceae )] ( Mohamed & El-Haidari 1968), Ukraine [from botanical gardens on Chamaerops humilis L. ( Arecaceae ) and a palm listed as Trachycarpus excelsa (= excelsus)] ( Mitrofanov et. al 1983a), and USA (op. cit.).

Relation to the host. Vagrant on the leaf blades, causing no apparent damage.

Collection details. England, Hampshire, commercial plant nursery site, low numbers on T. fortunei , collected by R. Whittaker (PHSI, Fera), 21.x.2009.

Additional remarks. The mites were found on an imported plant from an unknown location that had apparently been at the plant nursery for many months. This species is therefore recorded here in Britain as an incursion on a nonnative host. However, T. fortunei is a popular ornamental plant in private and botanical gardens, but T. trachycarpi has not been recorded elsewhere in Britain, although intensive and targeted surveys may reveal otherwise.