During recent research on autofluorescence in tardigrades a new species of Milnesium was discovered on the campus of Warren Wilson College (North Carolina, USA). We provide an integrative description of this new species based on morphology and genetics (COI, 18S rRNA and 28S rRNA sequences). The new species has six peribuccal lamellae, a smooth cuticle (but with pseudopores) and [3-3]-[3-3] claw configuration. This is a very common cluster of characters in the genus, and we provide a differential diagnosis for 24 similar species from which the new species differs by some morphological and morphometrical characters in addition to genetic differences. Key words: Apochela, Milnesiidae, North America, Tardigrada, taxonomy, water bears. Sampling: Lichen samples were collected on the Warren Wilson College Farm in North Carolina, USA. Samples were then packed in paper envelopes, dried at room temperature and delivered to the Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology at the Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (Poland). The tardigrade extraction and mounting techniques followed the protocol of Stec et al. (2015). In total seven samples were collected on 6 December 2022, tardigrades were found only in one. This sample contained predominantly the common greenshield lichen (Flavoparmelia caperata) mixed with other foliose lichen species from a red maple tree (Acer rubrum) on the Warren Wilson College Farm (35.609434°N, 82.439780°W).