Aculus laevis
Aculus laevis
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.
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.
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
On Willows.
Summer.
Believed to be fairly frequent in Britain, but poorly recorded.
Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known.
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
Enter a town or village to see local records
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.



