Aceria Keifer 1944

Key species of the genus Aceria known from Hibiscus spp.

1. Prominent lobe-like structures absent on postero-lateral margins of prodorsal shield; coxal granulations may or may not be present on both coxal plates; empodium 4- or 5- rayed; solenidia on Legs I and II, more or less subequal to empodia of legs...................................................................................................... 2

- Prominent lobe-like structures present on postero-lateral margins of prodorsal shield; coxal granulations present on coxal plate; empodia 4-rayed, solenidia on Legs I and II at least 2.5× length of empodia.................... Aceria tripuraensis n.sp.

2. Empodia on Legs I and II, 4-rayed........................................................................ 3

- Empodia on Legs I and II, 5 rayed....................................................................... 5

3. Coxal granulations present only on fore-coxae; median line on prodorsal shield appears complete but anterior half is indistinct; admedian and submedian lines form a spear-shaped pattern........................ Aceria hastatum Ueckermann, 1990

- Shield design not as above; coxal granulations absent or unknown.............................................. 4

4. Coxal granulations absent; coxal area with few lines;prodorsal shield with median line on basal half, and an arrow pointing posteriorly; admedian lines spaced widely apart with basal arch-like line connecting submedians bordering on either side of the shield............................................................... Aceria vitifoliae Mohanasundaram, 1990

- Coxal granulations present or absent, not clearly indicated; median lines on prodorsal shield complete; admedian lines, wavy; submedian lines placed laterally................................................... Aceria hibisci (Nalepa, 1906)

5. Coxal granulations absent; prodorsal shield with complete median line; admedian and submedian lines incomplete.......................................................................... Aceria liuzhouensis Qin, Wei & Chen, 2003

- Prodorsal shield with complete admedian and submedian lines................................................. 6

6. Prodorsal shield with prominent median line visible on posterior two-thirds, fading anteriorly; admedian lines complete; first submedian lines complete, wavy; second submedian lines on anterior half of shield; sides of prodorsal shield, granular; coxal area, lightly granular.............................................. Aceria hirsutivagrans Mohanasundaram, 1984

- Prodorsal shield with median line present; admedian, first submedian and second submedian lines all arising from prodorsal shield apex, bending out and joining back while running parallel to median line and meeting at base; coxal granulation not clearly indicated............................................................ Aceria punctulata (Nalepa, 1914)