Kingdom Animalia Class Arachnida Order Prostigmata Rank Species | Phylum Arthropoda Subclass Acari Family Eriophyidae | |
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Similar Phyllocoptes populi, Eriophyes inangulis, Eriophyes laevis, Acalitus, Aceria erinea | ||
Phyllocoptes eupadi is a mite that chemically induces a pouch gall to develop as a sub-spherical distortion rising up from the upper surface of the lamina of leaves of blackthorn shrubs Prunus spinosa and other Prunus spp. Synonyms are Eriophyes padi (Nalepa) and Phytoptus padi prunianus (Nalepa 1890).
Contents
The physical appearance
The gall's appearance on the upper surface is sub-spherical pustules, hairy and opening below, often clustering along the midrib, but also found over the whole leaf lamina surface and may vary in colour from pale yellow-green to deep red. The adult mite lives on sap, sucked from the cell tissues. The leaf surface can be so densely covered with galls that it becomes deformed and wrinkled.
Distribution
The species is found in Denmark as well as in England and Scotland.