''Eriophyes tiliae'' is a

mite Mites are small arachnids (eight-legged arthropods). Mites span two large orders of arachnids, the Acariformes and the Parasitiformes, which were historically grouped together in the subclass Acari, but genetic analysis does not show clear evid ...

that forms the lime nail gall or bugle gall. It develops in a chemically induced

gall Galls (from the Latin , 'oak-apple') or ''cecidia'' (from the Greek , anything gushing out) are a kind of swelling growth on the external tissues of plants, fungi, or animals. Plant galls are abnormal outgrowths of plant tissues, similar to be ...

; an erect, oblique or curved distortion rising up from the upper surface of the leaves of the lime (linden) trees (genus ''

Tilia ''Tilia'' is a genus of about 30 species of trees or bushes, native throughout most of the temperateness, temperate Northern Hemisphere. The tree is known as linden for the European species, and basswood for North American species. In Britain a ...

''), such as the large-leaved lime tree ''

Tilia platyphyllos ''Tilia platyphyllos'', the large-leaved lime or large-leaved linden, is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae (Tiliaceae). It is a deciduous tree, native to much of Europe, including locally in southwestern Great Britain, growing ...

'', the common lime tree ''

Tilia × europaea ''Tilia'' × ''europaea'', generally known as the European lime, common lime (British Isles) or common linden, is a naturally occurring hybrid between ''Tilia cordata'' (small-leaved lime) and ''Tilia platyphyllos'' (large-leaved lime). It occurs ...

'', etc.

Description

During late spring and summer, tubular growths up to long develop apically on the leaves of ''Tilia sp.'' These galls are yellow-green or red in color, may be very numerous, and predominantly occur on the lower leaves in some sub-species. The galls appear not to affect the health of their hosts, and no way of controlling or preventing them exists.

Taxonomy

Several sub-species have been identified, partly identified by their positioning on the leaves in relation to the

veins Veins are blood vessels in humans and most other animals that carry blood towards the heart. Most veins carry deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart; exceptions are the pulmonary and umbilical veins, both of which carry oxygenated b ...

and other structures.

Life cycle

The mites move onto the foliage in the spring, having overwintered in bark crevices and around buds. Individually, "Eriophyes tiliae" are less than 0.2 mm long, but the chemicals it releases while drinking

sap Sap is a fluid transported in xylem cells (vessel elements or tracheids) or phloem sieve tube elements of a plant. These cells transport water and nutrients throughout the plant. Sap is distinct from latex, resin, or cell sap; it is a separa ...

from the lower leaf epidermis have a dramatic, consistent and colourful effect. An upright, hollow, red finger-like extension grows from the leaf around the mite. Before the autumn, the mites, which up to now have been actively feeding and growing inside the galls, depart from these shelters and seek protected sites elsewhere on the tree. The mites will pass the winter in such locations and then the cycle will be repeated. This species is one amongst a number of gall-formers which can be superficially similar in appearance; however ''E. tiliae tiliae'' is restricted to lime trees.

References

External links

Virtual Field Guide
{{Taxonbar, from=Q5389474 Eriophyidae Animals described in 1857 Arachnids of Europe

Description

Taxonomy

Life cycle

See also

References

External links