A. fuchsiae is a typical eriophyid mite with a wormlike or fusiform body, colour in life light yellowish-white (CABI/ EPPO, 1997). The adults are very small mites bearing only two anterior pairs of legs. The adult females measure 200-250 µm in length and 55-60 µm in width. In eriophyoids, the males are slightly smaller than the females. Morphological observation of the short and acuminate anterior shield lobe over the rostrum, which is truncate underneath, plus the granules on the shield surface that obscure the shield pattern on the rear part of the shield, characterize this species. The adult female stage morphological description is described by Keifer (1972).
Look for any variation in coloration of the plant. The leaves start to redden and as populations of the mite increase, the leaves and flowers are deformed or galled. New galled leaf tissue is pale-green and rusted, and becomes reddened with time. Symptoms of infestation are most strongly expressed on the terminal shoots, and heavy infestation can stop all new growth. Examination with a hand lens should reveal the presence of the mite.
Related invasive species
- Aculops fuchsiae
Related Farm Practice
- Light
A. fuchsiae, the fuchsia gall mite, is native to South America. It was first found in California, USA in 1981 where it has spread rapidly, and more recently it has invaded Europe since 2003, and it is a declared quarantine pest in both. It attacks only fuchsia (Fuchsia spp.), but once established it is very difficult to eradicate and impacts can be so severe that some growers in California have given up growing the plants entirely.
Infestation causes rusting and deformation of the leaves, galls becoming grotesquely swollen and blistered. The deformed tissues develop russeting or become reddened. These symptoms are most strongly expressed on the terminal shoots. The leaf galls resemble those of peach leaf curl (Taphrina deforans). Later the flowers become deformed and at the end all new growth ceases (CABI/ EPPO, 1997).
A. fuchsiae is the only species of Eriophyidae developing on Fuchsia spp. Anderson and MacLeod (2007) state that m ore than 100 Fuchsia species are recorded mostly native to Central and South America, but also New Zealand and Tahiti with thousands of cultivars. However, only a relatively small number of these have been evaluated for their susceptibility to this pest. Those tested can be divided into groups based on their resistance to attack by the mite, into: very sensitive, sensitive, and resistant to highly resistant (Koehler et al., 1985). Very sensitive: species: Fuchsia magellanica;cultivars: Angel Flight, Bicentennial, Capri, Chiona Doll, Christy, Dark Eyes, Display, Firebird, First Love, Golden Anne, Jingle Bells, Kaleidoscope, Kathy Louise, Lisa, Louise Emershaw, Manrinka, Novella, Papoose Raspberry, South Gate, Stardust, Swingtime, Tinker Bell Troubadour, Vienna Waltz, Voodoo, Walz Bella, Westergeist. Sensitive: species: Fuchsia arborescens, Fuchsia denticulate, Fuchsia gehrigeri, Fuchsia macrophylla, Fuchsia procumbens, Fuchsia triphylla;cultivars: Dollar princess, Englander, Golden West, Lean, Macchu Picchu, Pink Marschmallow, Postijon, Psychedelic. Resistant to highly resistant: species: Fuchsia boliviana, Fuchsia microphylla, Fuchsia microphylla ssp. h indalgensis, Fuchsia minutiflora, Fuchsia radicans, Fuchsia thymifolia, Fuchsia tincta, Fuchsia vensusta;cultivars: baby Chang, Chance Encounter, Cinnabarina, Isis, Mendocino, Miniature Jewels, Ocean Mist, Space Shuttle.
Host Plants and Other Plants Affected
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Plant name|Family|Context
Fuchsia|Onagraceae
Fuchsia arborescens|Onagraceae
Fuchsia boliviana|Onagraceae|Unknown
Fuchsia denticulata|Onagraceae
Fuchsia gehrigeri|Onagraceae
Fuchsia macrophylla|Onagraceae
Fuchsia magellanica (Magellan fuchsia)|Onagraceae
Fuchsia microphylla|Onagraceae|Unknown
Fuchsia minutiflora|Onagraceae|Unknown
Fuchsia procumbens|Onagraceae
Fuchsia radicans|Onagraceae|Unknown
Fuchsia regia subsp. serrae|Onagraceae|Unknown
Fuchsia thymifolia|Onagraceae|Unknown
Fuchsia triphylla|Onagraceae|Unknown
Growth Stages
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Flowering stage, Vegetative growing stage
Symptoms
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Infestation causes rusting and deformation of the leaves, galls becoming grotesquely swollen and blistered. The deformed tissues develop russeting or become reddened. These symptoms are most strongly expressed on the terminal shoots. The leaf galls resemble those of peach leaf curl (Taphrina deforans). Later the flowers become deformed and at the end all new growth ceases (CABI/ EPPO, 1997).