Aceria fraxinivora (Nalepa, 1909)
cauliflower gall mite, ash key gall mite.
on Fraxinus
Fraxinus excelsior, Dronten, 1.x.2007 © Arnold Grosscurt
transverse section
Fraxinus excelsior, Zalk, 27.v.2020 © Arnold Grosscurt: fresh gall
even in such detail the responsible mites are too small to be seen.
Fraxinus excelsior, Naarderbos, 30.ix.2011; of this particular tree no inflorescence remained unaffected
Fraxinus excelsior, Belgium, prov. Liège, Grivegnée, 22.iv.2010 © Jean-Yves Baugnée: gall of previous year
Fraxinus ornus, Bulgaria, Varna, 30.viii.2014 © Stéphane Claerebout: sometimes the gall occurs on the twigs ….
and occasionally even on a leaf.
Fraxinus excelsior, Dronten, Roggebotsebos, 28.vii.2020 © Arnold Grosscurt: here too galling of leaf and petiole
Fraxinus ornus, Dronten, 24.x.2017 © Arnold Grosscurt; galls not larger than ± 2 cm.
Fraxinus excelsior, Amsterdamse Bos, 8.iv.2020 © Cor Zonneveld: galls on a 2-3 years old sapling
detail
slight malformations in the inflorescence of a mature tree
strong malformations
parasite
frequently occurring gall, generally in the inflorescence, rarely also on the branches of very young trees.
host plants
Oleaceae, monophagous
Fraxinus americana, angustifolia & subsp. oxycarpa, bungeana, excelsior, ornus, pennsylvanica.
synonyms
Eriophyes fraxinivorus; Eriophyes, Phytoptus, fraxini Karpelles, 1884.
notes
It would be interesting to investigate if male and female trees are affected to a different degree.
inquilines
the mites are predated by the larvae of the gall midge Arthrocnodax fraxinellus.
references
Abras, Fassotte, Chandelier & Cavelier (2008a), Ashe & O’Connor (2005a), Béguinot (2002a,d,e,h, 2003a, 2006a,c, 2007b, 2012a), Bellmann (2012a), Braggion (2013a), Buhr (1964b), Chinery (2011a), Coulianos & Holmåsen (1991a), Dauphin & Aniotsbehere (1997a), Denizhan, Monfreda, de Lillo & Çobanoğlu (2015a), Farkas (1965a), Flügel (2016a), Groom (2011a), Hellrigl (2003a, 2004b, 2006a), Houard (1909a), Keifer, Baker, Kono, ao (1982a), Kollár (2007a, 2011a), Koops (2013a), Korda, Csóka, Szabó & Ripka (2019a), Lambinon, Carbonnelle & Claerebout (2015a), Lambinon, Schneider & Feitz (2001a, 2012a), Lehmann & Hannover (2016a), Petanović & Stanković (1999a), Redfern & Shirley (2011a), Ripka (2007a, 2008a, 2020a), Ripka & de Lillo (1997a), Roivainen (1947a, 1951), Roques, Cleary, Matsiakh & Eschem (2017a), Roskam (2009a), Skoracka, Lewandowski & Boczek (2005a), Tomasi (2003a, 2012a, 2014a), Vaněčková-Skuhravá (1996a), Weidner (1954a), Xue, Sadeghi & Hong (2009a).