Vasates quadripedes

Vasates quadripedes
Galls on sugar maple
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Subclass: Acari
Order: Trombidiformes
Superfamily: Eriophyoidea
Family: Eriophyidae
Genus: Vasates
Species: V. quadripedes
Binomial name
Vasates quadripedes
Shimer, 1869

Vasates quadripedes, the maple bladder-gall mite, is an eriophyid mite in the genus Vasates, which causes galls on the leaves of silver maple (Acer saccharinum), red maple (A. rubrum), and sugar maple (A. saccharum).[1] The gall is rounded, sometimes elongate, and has a short, thin neck. Typically, galls are 2–3 millimetres (0.079–0.118 in) in diameter, and may be numerous on the upper surfaces of leaves.[1] They have an opening in the lower surface. At first they are yellowish-green or bright red, later they become dark red and black.[2]

In Britain, the mite affects introduced silver maple. The species is relatively new to Britain, being first recorded in London in 2002.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 "Maple Bladdergall Mite". Maine Forest Service. April 2000. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  2. Margaret Redfern & Peter Shirley (2011). British Plant Galls (2nd ed.). Preston Montford: Field Studies Council. p. 23. ISBN 978-1-85153-284-1.
  3. Brian Wurzell (2002). "The maple bladder gall of the gall mite Vasates quadripedes new to Britain". Cecidology (British Plant Gall Society) 17 (1): 31–35.
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