Acalitus plicans
Species of mite
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Acalitus plicans is an eriophyid mite which causes galls on beech (Fagus sylvatica). It is found in Europe and was first described by the Austrian zoologist Alfred Nalepa in 1917.
| Acalitus plicans | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Trombidiformes |
| Family: | Eriophyidae |
| Genus: | Acalitus |
| Species: | A. plicans |
| Binomial name | |
| Acalitus plicans | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Description of the gall
The leaf is distorted and crumpled with folds, and is covered with reddish hairs. The reddish tinge resembles an emerging leaf, which together with the small size makes the gall easy to overlook. The mites live and feed among the hairs which are deep in the folds of the leaf and overwinter under the bud scales.[2][3]
Inquilines
Distribution
The mite is found in Europe. Countries where it has been recorded include Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Great Britain, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, (Kaliningrad) and Slovenia.[1][3]
