Epitrimerus gibbosus ( Nalepa, 1892 )

Pye, Daniel R. L. & Lillo, Enrico De, 2010, A review of the eriophyoid mites (Acari: Eriophyoidea) on Rubus spp. in Britain, with a new species (Diptilomiopidae) and two new records, Zootaxa 2677, pp. 15-26 : 23

Epitrimerus gibbosus ( Nalepa, 1892)

Type host and locality. R. fruticosus , Austria.

Distribution. Widespread in the Palearctic region (de Lillo, 2004; Skoracka et al., 2005).

Relation to the host. Gall-making: greyish-white erineum along veins, may extend to cover most of the upper or lower leaf surface.

Remarks. Epitrimerus gibbosus has been recorded in England as follows: by Swanton (1912) from R. plicatus Wheine & Nees ; by Bagnall and Harrison (1928) on R. fruticosus from an unspecified location; by Burkhill (1930) on R. echinatus Lindl. from an unspecified location; by Niblett (1959) 11 times from the London area, on Rubus spp; by Turk (1953), who listed E. gibbosus as Species Incertae Sedis; and by Robbins (1997) on an unspecified host from Warwickshire. Epitrimerus gibbosus has been recorded three times by the British Plant Gall Society from Herefordshire, Surrey and Isle of Wight (Janet Boyd, pers. comm., 2009). These records were made on observed damage symptoms alone and cannot be verified. Massee (1931) confirmed the presence of this species in England on 28 different species of Rubus , including the cultivated blackberries and reported it again ( Massee, 1961) as causing “mottling of leaves” on Rubus spp. from East Malling, Kent. He reported it as being “common”.