Eriophyes inangulis is a mite that forms the alder vein angle gall.[3] It develops in a chemically induced gall; a sub-spherical distortion rising up from the upper surface of the leaves of alder trees Alnus glutinosa along the midrib. Synonyms are Eriophyes laevis inangulis, Phytoptus laevis, and Cephaloneon pustulatum.[3]

Eriophyes inangulis
Mature midrib galls on an alder leaf
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Family: Eriophyidae
Genus: Eriophyes
Species:
E. inangulis
Binomial name
Eriophyes inangulis

The physical appearance

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The gall's appearance on the upper surface is sub-spherical, smooth and may vary in colour from pale yellow-green to deep red. The adult mite lives on alder tree sap, sucked from the cell tissues. The galls cluster along the midrib in the angle of the veins.[4][5] The wide opening and interior on the lower epidermis and is lined with large numbers of small hairs. Galls may be so numerous that the leaf expansion is inhibited.[3][4]

 
The gall on the lower epidermis.

Infestations of alder vein angle galls

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The galls induced appear not to affect the health of trees infected with these mite species and no practical way of controlling or preventing them exists.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "World of Galls Online". Archived from the original on February 20, 2015. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
  2. ^ F. B. Stubbs, ed. (1986). Provisional Keys to British Plant Galls. British Plant Gall Society. p. 14. ISBN 0-9511582-0-1.
  3. ^ a b c Arnold Darlington (1975). The Pocket Encyclopaedia of Plant Galls in Colour. Poole, Dorset: Blandford Press. pp. 144–145. ISBN 0-7137-0748-8.
  4. ^ a b M. Redfern & P. Shirley (2002). British Plant Galls. FSC Publications. p. 279. ISBN 1-85153-214-5.
  5. ^ "Trees for life ". Archived from the original on March 1, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
  6. ^ "Nail Gall". Gardeners World. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
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