Aceria pseudoplatani explained

Aceria pseudoplatani causes the sycamore felt gall that is found on the leaves of sycamores (Acer pseudoplatanus) or Norway maple (Acer platanoides),^[1] and is caused by an acarine gall-mite.

Appearance

The gall forms a bulge on the upper epidermis, where the pigment colour is usually light yellow to start with and brown later on in the year. The appearance on the lower epidermis is a concavity with cream- or white- coloured felt-like mat that later turns brown.^{[2] [3]} The bulge is due to the erinae, or hairs, being wider at their top. In purple-leaved varieties of the sycamore, the patches are pink.^[1] The size of the felt-like patches is variable, and they may appear from late spring onwards.^[4]

Distribution

The sycamore felt gall is quite common, is widespread throughout the United Kingdom^[5] and is also recorded in Poland, Belgium, and Germany.^[6]

References

Notes;

Sources;

• Darlington, Arnold (1975). Plant Galls in Colour. Poole : Blandford Press. .
• Hancy, Rex (2000). The Study of Plant Galls in Norfolk. The Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society.
• Redfern, Margaret & Shirley, Peter (2002). British Plant Galls. Identification of Galls on Plants and Fungi. Shrewsbury : FSC Publications. .

External links

Aceria pseudoplatani In: DrfpLib

Notes and References

1. http://www.plantengallen.com/dataengels/gall_mites.htm Plant Galls
2. Hancy, Page 83
3. Redfern, Page 274
4. Darlington, Page 125
5. http://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/aceria-pseudoplatani Naturespot
6. http://eol.org/pages/3200520/maps Encyclopedia of Life