Gall Mites
Scientific group or name: Eriophyidae
Overview
Gall mites are microscopic eriophyid mites that feed within buds or on young plant tissue. Their feeding can stimulate distinctive galls, blisters, felt-like growth or distorted shoots.
Host plants
Fruit crops, ornamentals, trees and shrubs.
Identification
The mites themselves are extremely small and worm-like and usually require magnification. Diagnosis is normally based on the characteristic plant symptoms and host species.
Damage and symptoms
Symptoms include leaf galls, blistering, russeting, enlarged buds and distorted shoots. Some species cause mainly cosmetic damage, while others affect growth or fruit quality.
Lifecycle and favourable conditions
Many species overwinter in buds or protected crevices and become active as new growth begins. Infestations can build over several seasons.
Monitoring
Record affected plants and inspect new growth from bud break onwards. Compare symptoms with healthy leaves and confirm uncertain cases microscopically.
Management
Remove heavily affected shoots where practical, dispose of infested propagation material and avoid moving suspect plants into clean areas.
Biological control and natural enemies
Naturally occurring predatory mites may suppress exposed eriophyid mites, although mites feeding inside buds or galls are difficult for predators to reach.
Biological control should be selected only after the pest has been identified and the crop, temperature, growing environment and pest pressure have been considered.
Related BioWiki pages
This page provides general integrated pest-management information. Identification and control decisions should be confirmed for the crop and local situation.