Eggs? on Lime leaves ID

[TeresaW]

I found these yesterday, not sure if they are eggs or pupae, but curious as to what they are. One young lime tree was infested with them on all leaves. They actually 'stood' about 5mm and were firmly stuck to the leaf.

[The Woodman]

These are Lime nail galls TeresaW.

To save me typing, this will give you all the info you probably need.

Eriophyes tiliae - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[TeresaW]

Thank you Woodman, that's spot on.

Now, do they affect the overall health of the tree? I have a very tall old lime at the front of my flat, (about 200 yards away from the galls) i fact it's all I can see out of my window, and although I haven't spotted any on this one, it is looking a bit fragile this year with some dead branches appearing. Could the mites be to blame?

It would be a shame to lose it, as I get a woodpecker visit it regularly, as well as a variety of tits.

[The Woodman]

Hi TeresaW

I don't think the mites and galls will affect the lime tree and the dying branches may just be an age related thing. It is common to see smaller dead branches in limes, the wood rots quickly being so light and soft.

Limes appear to me to be resistant to the commoner pathogens and it is unusual to see saprophitic fungi on them.

We're fortunate to have some very old small leaved limes up here in old woodland - hundreds of years old some of them.

Sorry I can't be more specific but it's one of those things I've never thought about until it crops up as in your query!

[TeresaW]

Thanks for that. Those dead branches are still hanging on in spite of it's being battered by the wind today, and I think it is in good health overall, if a bit aged.

It's odd that these mites seem only to have affected a small young lime close by, and not any of the others near us, and in some proliferation too! Near the river there are plenty of leaf miners of some sort eating the leaves of the limes there, but again, not all of them, only the younger ones. Seems to be an age preference going on here