Four-legged-mite
Guides
Aceria aceris
maple gall mite, maple erineum mite
Aceria aceris is a gall-forming eriophyid mite that infests maple species (Acer), producing distinctive erineum galls on leaf surfaces. The mite has a worm-like, elongated body with four legs and annular ridges typical of the superfamily Eriophyoidea. It is one of numerous Aceria species specialized on maple hosts, with populations often associated with specific maple species or varieties.
Aceria negundi
box elder pouch gall mite
Aceria negundi, commonly known as the box elder pouch gall mite, is an eriophyid mite that specializes on box elder (Acer negundo). This microscopic arachnid induces characteristic pouch galls on its host plant. Like other members of the Eriophyidae, it has a worm-like body with four legs and is among the smallest plant-parasitic mites, measuring less than 0.2 mm in length. The species has been observed across a broad geographic range with over 4,700 documented observations.
Aceria nyssae
Black Tupelo Gall Mite
Aceria nyssae is an eriophyid gall mite that induces distinctive leaf curl galls on Nyssa sylvatica (black tupelo, sour gum). The mite's feeding activity causes leaf margins to curl inward, forming hollow pockets that shelter the mites and their eggs. This species exemplifies the highly specialized host relationships typical of Eriophyoidea, where individual species are often restricted to a single plant host genus. The galls are most evident on young leaves at branch tips during the growing season. Like other eriophyid mites, A. nyssae is extremely small and difficult to observe directly, with populations typically assessed through gall symptoms rather than mite counts.
Aceria parulmi
Elm Finger Gall Mite
Aceria parulmi is an eriophyid mite species commonly known as the Elm Finger Gall Mite. It is a plant-parasitic mite that induces distinctive gall-like structures on elm leaves. Like other members of the genus Aceria, it has a worm-like, elongated body with four legs and is extremely small, typically less than 0.2 mm in length. The mite is specialized to feed on elm species (Ulmus), causing characteristic finger-shaped galls on leaf surfaces.
Aceria trinema
Aceria trinema is a species of eriophyid mite in the family Eriophyidae. Like other members of the genus Aceria, it is a minute, worm-like mite with a highly reduced body plan adapted for living in confined spaces on plants. Eriophyid mites are among the smallest arthropods, with some species measuring less than 0.1 mm in length. The genus Aceria contains numerous species that are specialized plant parasites, many of which cause distinctive damage symptoms including galls, leaf curling, and witches' brooms on their host plants.
Aceria triplacis
Aceria triplacis is a species of eriophyid mite in the genus Aceria, family Eriophyidae. Like other members of the superfamily Eriophyoidea, it is a minute, worm-like, four-legged mite. Eriophyid mites represent one of the largest lineages of plant-parasitic arthropods, with conservative estimates of 100,000 living species. Most species in this group are highly specialized parasites of vascular plants, typically associated with specific host species or genera. The specific host associations and biology of A. triplacis have not been documented in published literature.
Aceria vaga
Aceria vaga is a species of eriophyid mite in the family Eriophyidae. Eriophyid mites are minute, worm-like arachnids with four legs that are specialized plant parasites. Many species in this group cause distinctive growth abnormalities on their host plants, including galls, witches' brooms, and leaf distortions. Aceria vaga is among the numerous eriophyid species that remain poorly studied despite the group's significant agricultural and ecological importance.