Acalitus calycophthirus

Acalitus calycophthirus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Family:	Eriophyidae
Genus:	Acalitus
Species:	A. calycophthirus
Binomial name
	Acalitus calycophthirus; (Nalepa, 1891)
Synonyms
	List Phytoptus calycophthirus Nalepa, 1891; Aceria calycopthira; Aceria rudis calycopthtira; Cecydoptes calycophthirus; Eriophyes calycophthirus; ;

Acalitus calycophthirus is an eriophyid mite which causes big bud galls on birch (Betula species) twigs. It is found in Europe and was first described by the Austrian zoologist, Alfred Nalepa in 1891.

Description of the gall

The gall consists of clusters of swollen leaves and, at first in the spring, are silvery-green. They gradually turn brown and become quite woody. The gall shelters a large number of mites which spend most of the year there, passing the winter in a dormant state. In the following spring and early summer they emerge to invade the new buds.^[3] Affected trees are silver birch (Betula pendula) and downy birch (Betula pubescens).^[4]

Inquiline

A mite, Cecidophyopsis vermiformis is an inquiline of Acalitus calycophthirus, as well as an inquiline of Aceria tenella on hornbeam and Phytoptus avellanae on hazel.^[5]

References

^ "Acalitus calycophthirus (Nalepa, 1891)". Fauna Europaea. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
^ Ellis, W N. "Acalitus calycophthirus (Nalepa, 1891)". Plant Parasites of Europe. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
^ Chinery, Michael (2011). Britain's Plant Galls. Old Basing, Hampshire: WildGuides Ltd. p. 36. ISBN 978-190365743-0.
^ Redfern, Margaret; Shirley, Peter; Boxham, Michael (2011). British Plant Galls (Second ed.). Shrewsbury: Field Study Council. pp. 52 and 425. ISBN 978-185153-284-1.
^ Ellis, W N. "Cecidophyopsis vermiformis (Nalepa, 1889)". Plant Parasites of Europe. Retrieved 20 March 2021.

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[fe-1] "Acalitus calycophthirus (Nalepa, 1891)". Fauna Europaea. Retrieved 20 March 2021.

[wne-2] Ellis, W N. "Acalitus calycophthirus (Nalepa, 1891)". Plant Parasites of Europe. Retrieved 20 March 2021.

[3] Chinery, Michael (2011). Britain's Plant Galls. Old Basing, Hampshire: WildGuides Ltd. p. 36. ISBN 978-190365743-0.

[4] Redfern, Margaret; Shirley, Peter; Boxham, Michael (2011). British Plant Galls (Second ed.). Shrewsbury: Field Study Council. pp. 52 and 425. ISBN 978-185153-284-1.

[5] Ellis, W N. "Cecidophyopsis vermiformis (Nalepa, 1889)". Plant Parasites of Europe. Retrieved 20 March 2021.

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