''Aculops ailanthii'', the Ailanthus leafcurl mite, is a species of eriophyid mite that infects trees-of-heaven ('' Ailanthus altissima''). Very little is known about this species. ''A. ailanthii'' has been proposed as a potential biocontrol alongside

ailanthus webworm The ailanthus webworm (''Atteva aurea'') is an ermine moth now found commonly in the United States. It was formerly known under the scientific name ''Atteva punctella'' (see Taxonomy section). This small, very colorful moth resembles a true bug o ...

s and mimosa wilt ('' Fusarium oxysporum'') in North America, where ''Ailanthus'' is a severe invasive.

Identification

Infections by this species can be found by the changes it makes to the leaves of ''A. altissima''. Compared to healthy leaves, leaves infected by ''A. ailanthii'' have somewhat undercurled, wrinkled and somewhat glossier. This can be difficult to detect compared to the conspicuous galls made by many other members of

Eriophyidae Eriophyidae is a family of more than 200 genera of mites, which live as plant parasites, commonly causing galls or other damage to the plant tissues and hence known as gall mites. About 3,600 species have been described, but this is probably l ...

, possibly contributing to the poorly known status. The whitish mites themselves are tiny and hard to find on the underside of the leaves.

References

Animals described in 1997 Eriophyidae {{Acari-stub