Eriophyes exilis

This mite causes galls to form on the leaves of Lime. The galls are of two sorts: a small hairy hemispherical bump on the top surface of the leaf, in a vein axil; and an erineum either on the underside or top side of the leaf.  

The erineum galls used to be named as Eriophyes leiosoma, but the latest edition of British Plant Galls (Redfern and Shirley 2023) has combined the two former species.

Several other mite species cause pouch galls or bumps on lime, but not in axils of main veins

Gall Adult

Please note whether the specimen is a pouch gall/bump, or an erineum

Wherever Lime trees are found.

Summer and autumn while Lime is in leaf.

Widespread, but little recorded in Britain.

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known.

Redfern, M. & Shirley, P.  2023. British Plant Galls. FSC