crimson erineum mite

(Aceria elongata)

Conservation Status
crimson erineum mite
 
  IUCN Red List

not listed

     
  NatureServe

not listed

     
  Minnesota

not listed

     
           
           
           
 
Description
 
 

At only one tenth the width of a human hair in length, a crimson erineum mite (Aceria elongata) is barely visible to the human eye unaided by magnification. Its claws, dorsal shield markings, and other identifying body features are not. Identification in the field is possible only by noting the properties of the abnormal growths (galls) it produces on its host.

When an individual leaf cell is injured by a mite, it produces a small, nipple-like projection (papilla) on the upper surface of the leaf. The papilla has a rounded tip, visible only with magnification, and is filled with colored fluid. As the mite feeds on adjacent cells, the aggregation of papillae forms a pustule-like, felty patch (erineum). The erinea are usually scattered over the leaf surface, thickest toward the upper (apical) half, and avoiding the major veins. They are greenish-white at first, soon becoming crimson or purplish. They reach their maximum extent, and are most noticeable, in summer.

The infestation is sometimes abundant and can cause leaf distortion and premature leaf drop.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

Total length: 0059 to .0085 (150 to 216 microns)

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat and Hosts
 
 

Sugar maple and possibly also black maple

 
     
 
Biology
 
 

Season

 
 

Galls visible from early spring to fall

 
     
 

Behavior

 
 

 

 
     
 

Life Cycle

 
 

The life cycle of the crimson erineum mite involves alternating generations and is adapted to seasonal changes in the host. Overwintering females emerge in early spring from bark where they spent the winter. The migrate to newly developing buds and ride out on new leaf growth. They begin feeding, enter the resulting galls, lay eggs, and die. In late spring and early summer the eggs in the galls hatch, producing white male and female mites (protogynes). In mid-summer, red female mites (deutogynes) are produced. They fill the galls, obscuring the white protogynes. In September, these female deutogynes migrate to bark crevices in stems and twigs, where they will spend the winter.

 
     
 

Damage

 
 

 

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

7, 30.

 
  5/25/2022      
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Common in Eastern North America

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Class Arachnida (arachnids)  
  Subclass Acari (mites)  
  Superorder Acariformes (mites)  
 

Order

Trombidiformes  
 

Suborder

Prostigmata (prostigs)  
  Infraorder Eupodina  
 

Superfamily

Eriophyoidea  
 

Family

Eriophyidae (gall and rust mites)  
 

Subfamily

Eriophyinae  
 

Tribe

Aceriini  
 

Genus

Aceria  
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Eriophyes elongatus

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

crimson erineum mite

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Erineum

A type of plant gall. An abnormal, felt-like growth of hairs on a leaf surface caused by a mite, especially Eriophyes. Plural erinea.

 

Gall

An abnormal growth on a plant produced in response to an insect larva, mite, bacteria, or fungus.

 

Papilla

A tiny, rounded, nipple-like projection on the surface of a leaf or petal.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
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Infestation

 
    crimson erineum mite   crimson erineum mite  
           
 

Erineum

 
    crimson erineum mite   crimson erineum mite  

 

Camera

     
 
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