Page 8 - Volume 6, Issue 1, January 2013

© Benaki Phytopathological Institute
Kapaxidi 6
their vigor, sometimes they produce small-
sized fruits that drop off (Keifer et al. , 1982).
The plum rust mite is a frequent pest on
peaches in northern Greece and in some
cases develops high populations in summer
(July to August) mainly in upper young leaves
(Savopoulou-Soultani and Koveos, 1993).
Diptacus gigantorhynchus (Nalepa) [Phyl-
locoptes gigantorhynchus Nalepa, Ep-
itrimerusgigantorhynchus (Nalepa), Rhyn-
caphytoptus gigantorynchus (Nalepa),
Diptilomiopus gigantorhynchus (Nalepa)]
Syn: Diptacus prunorum (Keifer) [Diptilomio-
pus prunorum Keifer]
Common name: big-beaked plum mite
Damage: Mites are vagrants on under leaf
surface causing no apparent symptoms.
In some cases leaf discoloration or even
defoliation (Carmona, 1973; Bayan, 1988;
Schliesske, 1992) may occur. Alford (2007) re-
ported similar leaf symptoms to A. fockeui. It
is considered of not economic importance.
Eriophyes padi (Nalepa) [Phytoptus padi
Nalepa]
Syn: Eriophyes eupadi (Newkirk) [Phytoptus
eupadi Newkirk]
Common name: plum leaf gall mite
Damage: It causes prominent, finger shaped,
red or dark red galls on the upper surface of
plum foliage. The galls are often clustered
closely together but cause little or no distor-
tion of leaves (Alford, 2007). It is considered
of not economic importance.
Phyllocoptes abaenus Keifer
Damage: It lives on undersides of plum
leaves, including ornamentals and fre-
quents basal hairs along midribs, causing
not apparent symptoms. It is considered of
not economic importance.
Eriophyoids of pome fruits
Aculus schlechtendali (Nalepa) [Phyllo-
coptes schlechtendali Nalepa, Vasates
schlechtendali (Nalepa)]
Common name: apple rust mite
Damage: This species is a widespread pest
of apple worldwide. It causes patchy felt-like
malformation and a yellowing of hairs be-
low the leaves, the upper surface of foliage
appearing speckly, dull and faded. In heavy
infestations, it damages terminal growth;
the leaves curl lengthwise and become rusty
brown, which gives the tree the appearance
of being affected by drought. It also produc-
es fruit russeting. The deutogynes find rest-
ing places under lateral buds not far below
terminals, or in crevices on old wood. In the
spring they move to opening buds, especial-
ly during the bloom period (Jeppson et al.,
1975).
Calepitrimerus baileyi Keifer
Syn: Calepitrimerus aphrastus (Keifer) [Phyllo-
coptes aphrastus Keifer]
Damage: This mite causes browning on the
underside of apple leaves. It is considered to
be of no importance.
Diptacus gigantorynchus (Nalepa) [see
stone fruits]
Damage: It is considered to be of no impor-
tance.
Epitrimerus pyri (Nalepa) [Tegonotus pyri
Nalepa]
Syn: Epitrimerus pirifoliae Keifer
Common name: pear rust mite
Damage: This mite attacks both pear leaves
and fruit in the spring. High infestations
cause severe browning of leaves and russet-
ing of fruit. Lower populations may injure
only the calyx end of fruit.
Clear-skinned fruit varieties show the
most injury. In Greece the pear varieties
“Kontoula” and “Krystalli” show great sus-
ceptibility to the infestation causing reduc-
tion of the product quality with economic
impact (Papaioannou-Souliotis, 2001).
Eriophyes pyri (Pagenstecher) [Phytoptus
pyri Pagenstecher]
Common name: pear leaf blister mite
Damage: It causes small galls, green at the
beginning of the infestation, that gradual-
ly turn to reddish and finally to dark brown.
At first, the galls are along sides of the main