Aculus laevis

Aculus laevis

Description

Aculus laevis is a gall mite that causes slightly hairy, more or less spherical galls to form on the leaves of sallows. The galls are 1 to 2 mm high and firmly attached to the leaves; the hairs protrude through the opening on underside.  The galls may be on the leaf margin.  

Similar Species

Taxonomy is tentative; this may be a complex of closely related species. 

Iteomyia capreae (a gall midge) is similar; it has a circular red-rimmed openings underneath.  Aculus tetanothrix ([possibly a species aggregate) forms similar galls on willows. 

Aculus iteina forms similar galls on sallows, but may be a species complex.  The galls are toadstool-like, with a stalk.

Identification difficulty

Gall Adult

Recording advice

Ensure you have identified host correctly, and that your photos include images of host plant leaves as well as galls; photograph the underside as well as upper

Habitat

On Willows.

When to see it

Summer.

UK Status

Believed to be fairly frequent in Britain, but poorly recorded.

VC55 Status

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Additional images

No additional images available for this species.

All NatureSpot records