Aculus magnirostris

Aculus magnirostris is a species of mite which causes galls on the leaves of willows (Salix species). It was first described by Alfred Nalepa in 1892.

Aculus magnirostris
Gall of Aculus magnirostris
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Subclass: Acari
Order: Trombidiformes
Family: Eriophyidae
Genus: Aculus
Species:
A. magnirostris
Binomial name
Aculus magnirostris
(Nalepa, 1892)

Description

According to Redfern et al. (2011), the gall of A. magnirostris is similar to the gall of A. craspedobius and the mites need to be examined for firm identification. The gall of A. magnirostris is a long, 1–2 mm narrow twisted, downward roll on the leaves of eared willow (S. alba), crack willow (S. fragilis) and their hybrids in Great Britain. The gall is lined with red hairs and contains the mites.[1] Elsewhere it has been found on Babylon willow (S. babylonica) and purple willow (S. pururea).[2]

In comparison, the galls of A. craspedobius differ by a shorter downward roll on the leaf edge.[1] On the website Plant Parasites of Europe, photographs of A. magnirostris are similar to the description for A. craspedobius, but also shown is a longer downward roll in one photograph.[2]

Distribution

Has been found in Great Britain, Hungary and the Netherlands.[1][2]

References
  1. Redfern, Margaret; Shirley, Peter; Bloxham, Michael (2011). British Plant Galls (Second ed.). Shrewsbury: FSC Publications. pp. 282–299. ISBN 978 1 85153 284 1.
  2. Ellis, W N. "Aculus magnirostris (Nalepa, 1892)". Plant Parasites of Europe. Archived from the original on 12 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
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