Minnesota Mites and Ticks

 

Subclass Acari

Acari is the subclass of arachnids that includes mites and ticks. Acari are characterized by having an unsegmented abdomen and generally four pairs of unjointed legs.

There are about 50,000 known Acari species worldwide. There are at least 34 species of Acari, but certainly many more, in Minnesota. There are 13 species of ticks known to occur in Minnesota. Only 3 are commonly encountered by humans.

 

  blacklegged tick  
  Photo by Christa Rittberg  

 

Recent Additions

Crimson erineum mite

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.

Crimson erineum mite is a plant parasite infecting only sugar maple and possibly black maple. It is common in eastern United States and Canada. When injured by a mite, a leaf cell produces a small projection filled with colored fluid on the upper surface. Small patches of these are usually scattered over the leaf surface. 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.

  crimson erineum mite
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Lime nail gall mite

In Minnesota, this specialized plant feeder is found only on American basswood and littleleaf linden, usually the lower leaves. In other parts of the country it is also found on lime trees. As it feeds on the leaf it causes the host plant to create finger-like galls on the upper leaf surface. The galls are unsightly but the infestation causes no harm to the host tree. This is a common species yet little is known of its life cycle. The adult spends the winter in a crevice in the bark or near a bud. The first galls appear in June.

  lime nail gall mite
Other Recent Additions

snout mites (Family Bdellidae)

elm bead gall mite (Aceria campestricola)

ash bead gall mite (Aceria fraxini)

velvet mites and chiggers (Superfamily Trombidioidea)

true velvet mite (Family Trombidiidae)

boxelder pouchgall mite (Aceria negundi)

red velvet mite (Trombidium spp.)

red velvet mite (Trombidium sp.)
Photo by Kirk Nelson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This list includes only mites and ticks that have been recorded in Minnesota, but not all of the mites and ticks found in Minnesota.

 

Profile Photo Video      
       

alder beadgall mite (Eriophyes laevis)

American dog tick

ash bead gall mite

black cherry finger gall mite

blacklegged tick

boxelder pouchgall mite

crimson erineum mite

elm bead gall mite

elm finger gall mite

lime nail gall mite

maple bladdergall mite

plum finger gall mite

red velvet mite (Trombidium sp.)

snout mite (Family Bdellidae)

true velvet mite (Family Trombidiidae)

       

alder leaf gall mite (Acalitus brevitarsus)

  Photo Video  

American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis)

Profile Photo    

ash bead gall mite (Aceria fraxini)

       

ash flower gall mite (Aceria fraxiniflora)

       

big bud mite (Phytoptus avellanae)

Profile Photo Video  

black cherry finger gall mite (Eriophyes cerasicrumena)

Profile Photo Video  

blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis)

       

black walnut petiole gall mite (Aceria caulis)

Profile Photo    

boxelder pouchgall mite (Aceria negundi)

       

brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus)

       

California black walnut petiole gall mite (Aceria brachytarsa)

Profile Photo Video  

crimson erineum mite (Aceria elongata)

Profile Photo    

elm bead gall mite (Aceria campestricola)

Profile Photo    

elm finger gall mite (Aceria parulmi)

       

gall mite on sumac (Eriophyes rhoinus)

       

hackberry witches’ broom mite (Eriophes celtis)

       

ironwood leaf gall maker (Eriophyes spp.)

       

lime felt gall mite (Eriophyes leiosoma)

Profile Photo Video  

lime nail gall mite (Eriophyes tiliae)

Profile Photo Video  

maple bladdergall mite (Vasates quadripedes)

Profile Photo    

maple spindle-gall mite (Vasates aceriscrumena)

       

maple velvet erineum gall mite (Aceria aceris)

       

oribatid mites (Galumna spp.)

Profile Photo    

plum finger gall mite (Eriophyes emarginatae)

       

poison ivy leaf gall mite (Aculops rhois)

       

poplar budgall mite (Aceria parapopuli)

Profile Photo Video  

red velvet mite (Trombidium spp.)

Profile Photo Video  

snout mites (Family Bdellidae)

  Photo Video  

true velvet mites (Family Trombidiidae)

  Photo    

velvet mites and chiggers (Superfamily Trombidioidea)

       

wheat curl mite (Aceria tulipae)

       

willow bead gall mite (Aculus tetanothrix)

       

winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus)

       

witches’ broom (Eriophyes spp.)

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

         

Acalitus brevitarsus (alder leaf gall mite)

Aceria aceris (maple velvet erineum gall mite)

Aceria brachytarsa (California black walnut petiole gall mite)

Aceria campestricola (elm bead gall mite)

Aceria caulis (black walnut petiole gall mite)

Aceria elongata (crimson erineum mite)

Aceria fraxini (ash bead gall mite)

Aceria fraxiniflora (ash flower gall mite)

Aceria negundi (boxelder pouchgall mite)

Aceria parapopuli (poplar budgall mite)

Aceria parulmi (elm finger gall mite)

Aceria tulipae (wheat curl mite)

Aculops rhois (poison ivy leaf gall mite)

Aculus tetanothrix (willow bead gall mite)

Bdellidae (snout mites)

Dermacentor albipictus (winter tick)

Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick)

Eriophes celtis (hackberry witches’ broom mite)

Eriophyes cerasicrumena (black cherry finger gall mite)

Eriophyes emarginatae (plum finger gall mite)

Eriophyes laevis (alder beadgall mite)

Eriophyes leiosoma (lime felt gall mite)

Eriophyes rhoinus (gall mite on sumac)

Eriophyes spp. (ironwood leaf gall maker)

Eriophyes spp. (witches’ broom)

Eriophyes tiliae (lime nail gall mite)

Galumna spp. (oribatid mites)

Ixodes scapularis (blacklegged tick)

Phytoptus avellanae (big bud mite)

Rhipicephalus sanguineus (brown dog tick)

Trombidiidae (true velvet mite)

Trombidioidea (velvet mites and chiggers)

Trombidium spp. (red velvet mite)

Vasates aceriscrumena (maple spindle-gall mite)

Vasates quadripedes (maple bladdergall mite)

No Species Page Yet?

If you do not see a linked page for a arachnid in the list at left you can still upload a photo or video or report a sighting for that arachnid. Click on one of the buttons below and type in the common name and/or scientific name of the arachnid in your photo, video, or sighting. A new page will be created for that arachnid featuring your contribution.

These buttons not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.

 

 

 

 

Capitalization of Common Names

The 1997 version of Common Names of Insects and Related Organisms, published by the Entomological Society of America (ESA), contains only 9 spider species. Two of those are placed in the wrong family and four are unrecognized common names. The inadequate coverage of arachnids by the ICZN spurred the American Arachnological Society (AAS) to develop their own list, Common Names of Arachnids. While the ESA has no rule or guideline that addresses capitalization of common names, the AAS does. Capital letters should not be used unless 1) the name begins a sentence, then the first letter of the name should be capitalized; or 2) the common name begins with a proper name, and that proper name begins with a capital letter (place name or person’s last name). MinnesotaSeasons.com will adhere to the convention adopted by AAS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© MinnesotaSeasons.com. All rights reserved.

About Us

Privacy Policy

Contact Us