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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Chelicerates (Chelicerata) » Arachnids (Arachnida) » Mites and Ticks (Acari) » Acariformes » Trombidiformes » Prostigs (Prostigmata) » Eleutherengona » Raphignathina » Eriophyoidea » Gall mites (Eriophyidae) » Aceria » Ash Flower Gall Mite (Aceria fraxiniflora)
Photo#434442
gall on ash fruiting twig - Aceria fraxiniflora
Copyright © 2010 John Pearson

gall on ash fruiting twig - Aceria fraxiniflora
Elliot, Montgomery County, Iowa, USA
July 15, 2010
Size: ~2 cm diameter cluster
This brocolli-like gall occupied the tip of a fruiting twig of Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) in the lawn of a schoolyard. It resembles the spiky gall produced by ash flower gall mites (Aceria fraxiniflora) illustrated by Eiseman and Charney (1) (page 393); however, they describe it as affecting the flower buds of male ash trees, but the specimen in my photo is on a female tree (note samaras below gall).

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gall on ash fruiting twig - Aceria fraxiniflora gall on ash fruiting twig - Aceria fraxiniflora gall on ash fruiting twig - Aceria fraxiniflora
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Contributed by John Pearson on 29 July, 2010 - 9:24pm
Last updated 14 August, 2010 - 11:22am

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Charley Eiseman, 14 August, 2010 - 11:22am login or register to post comments

I'd still say that's what it is...
Maybe this tree is just a little undecided about gender? Consider this paragraph I just found on Wikipedia:

"A species such as the ash tree (Fraxinus excelsior L.), demonstrates the possible range of variation in morphology and functionality exhibited by flowers with respect to gender. Flowers of the ash are wind-pollinated and lack petals and sepals. Structurally, the flowers may be either male or female, or even hermaphroditic, consisting of two anthers and an ovary. A male flower can be morphologically male or hermaphroditic, with anthers and a rudimentary gynoecium. Ash flowers can also be morphologically female, or hermaphroditic and functionally female."
… Charley Eiseman, 29 July, 2010 - 9:53pm login or register to post comments

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