Hi Maggie,
I am glad John Smeathers is back in the fold and willing to ID mites for us.
It's probably best to send specimens straight away when fresh, although I
believe you can identify eriophyids from their dried up bodies, which swell up
again when wetted.
All the best, Margaret

Quoting Roy Frankum <royfrankum@...>:

> Hi Margaret,
>
> In 2004, I emailed the pics of the Holm Oak galls to John Smeathers and he
> said that they could be Aceria ilicis but to keep the specimens for him till
> next time we met, so that he could identify the mites. Well I parcelled up
> the galls as per instructions but I haven't seen him since and I guess that I
> must have discarded all but one very dried up specimen [any mites that
> initially survived have most likely turned to dust by now!]. I could ask
> Gareth to see if he can find new specimens on the holm oak at the Bot. Garden
> this year, so that someone can have another go at identifying the mites.
> 'bye for now,
> Maggie
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: M Redfern
> To: british_galls@... ; THOMAS HIGGINBOTTOM
> Cc: british_galls@...
> Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2008 1:50 PM
> Subject: Re: [british_galls] Galls on Holm Oak (Quercus ilex), Maidenhead
>
>
> Hi Jerry, Tom etc.,
> I've been trying to look at Maggie's photos of the gall but my computer is
> being
> obstruse and won't let me open it! The erineum could be caused by Aceria
> ilicis
> but there is also recorded Aculops coulteri. To separate them certainly
> would
> require ID of the mites, which none of us in the BPGS has done. So we
> probably
> can't identify the species with certainty.
> Redards,
> Margaret
>
> Quoting THOMAS HIGGINBOTTOM <thomas.higginbottom@...>:
>
> > Hi Jerry,
> > Many thanks for the observation. I have looked through French, Dutch and
> > Hungarian books looking for something like your description. Hope you
> don't
> > mind I thought it might be a good idea to copy your email to Margaret
> Redfern
> > who is one of the authors of the 'Keys'.
> > Regards,
> > Tom
> > jrclough2 <jrclough2@...> wrote:
> > I've noticed galls on a Holm Oak in Kidwell's Park, Maidenhead.
> > These
> > are small raised pimples (2-3 mm, above leaf dorsal surface) with what
> > I assume is an erineum on the ventral surface (rusty brown hairs).
> > Unfortunately no photos. I assume that this is likely to be Aceria
> > ilicis.
> >
> > If anyone is interested in the location the oak is located by the
> > subway under the A4 just next to the roundabout junction with the
> > Marlow Road (A308), approx grid ref. SU 885 812.
> >
> > Jerry Clough
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>