Aculops
Guides
Aculops ailanthii
Ailanthus leafcurl mite
Aculops ailanthii, commonly known as the Ailanthus leafcurl mite, is an eriophyid mite that infests Ailanthus altissima (tree-of-heaven). This species produces subtle leaf symptoms—undercurled, wrinkled, and glossier foliage—rather than the conspicuous galls typical of many eriophyid mites. The mites themselves are tiny, whitish, and difficult to locate on leaf undersides. The species has been proposed as a potential biocontrol agent against invasive Ailanthus populations in North America, though it remains poorly studied.
Aculops euphorbicolus
Aculops euphorbicolus is a species of eriophyid mite in the genus Aculops. Like other members of this genus, it is likely a plant-feeding specialist, though specific host associations and pest status have not been documented in the provided sources. The genus Aculops contains several economically significant pest species, including the tomato russet mite (Aculops lycopersici) and the hemp russet mite (Aculops cannabicola), but A. euphorbicolus itself has received limited research attention.