What's on our blackthorn?

[Mercadante]

One of our blackthorn trees has these little white things all over its leaves - anyone know what they are?

[Wild-Woman]

Could they be some sort of gall, perhaps one caused by an aphid?

[djackso]

Or mite galls?????

Or midge galls - Putoniella marsupialis.

[Jez]

The leaf does look like it's been munched away.

[Jez]

Bear in mind Hoverflies like munching on aphids!

[thunder]

I think this is the early stage of the gall caused by the gall mite Eriophyes prunispinosae. They should soon turn red.

Putoniella marsupialis galls occur along the midrib of the leaf (in my book!)

henrya

[djackso]

Originally Posted by thunder

Putoniella marsupialis galls occur along the midrib of the leaf (in my book!)

henrya

Thanks for the info - sounds like a good book! Do you mind if I ask what it is?

[thunder]

Originally Posted by djackso

Thanks for the info - sounds like a good book! Do you mind if I ask what it is?

Not at all. It's the Field Studies Council guide - British Plant Galls by Margaret Redfern and Peter Shirley. Excellent book, in my view.

henrya

[djackso]

Thanks for the info, henrya

[Mercadante]

thunder wrote: I think this is the early stage of the gall caused by the gall mite Eriophyes prunispinosae. They should soon turn red.

Thanks! I shall watch them eagerly