Galls in gardens
By Peter Shirley British Plant Gall Society reviewed by Steve Head
Many garden plants are hosts to gall-causing insects, mites and fungi. Their galls are often complex and colourful and generally harmless, although some such as Taphrina padi (see below) and Agrobacterium tumefascians (which causes crown galls) can be serious pests of fruit and vegetables. On the other hand the Rhyzobium root galls of legumes are responsible for the nitrogen enrichment of soils associated with the family. A lot of galls can easily be identified (see references and images below) and learning to find and recognise them opens up a new dimension for wildlife gardeners.
The main groups of mite and insect gall-causers are eriophyid mites,
gall midges and
gall wasps. Other insect gall causers include some
psyllids,
aphids, flies other than midges,
beetles,
moths and
sawflies. Galls are found on trees and shrubs and on many herbaceous plants, including grasses and ferns. They come in a wide variety of forms and sizes and may be very prominent or very obscure. Insect and mite causers are wholly or partly enclosed by their galls, which provide them with nutrition as well as shelter and protection while they develop.
Most gall-causers are associated with particular species or genera of host plants. Well known examples include oak apples, robin’s pincushions on wild roses, nail galls on maples, limes and other trees, and red bean galls on willows and sallows.
The number of species and their range in Britain is constantly changing, not least because of the horticultural trade. A psyllid, Trioza alacris, which produces galls on bay was first found in Britain in gardens in the south, and has since spread northwards. A gall causing mite on Fuschia, Aculops fuchsiae first recorded at Kew in 2007, appears to be following the same route, although its spread may be limited because it may not survive harsh winters. These and eight other galls likely to be found in gardens and allotments are described and illustrated below. Records of these and other galls in gardens will be welcome, either through local biological recording schemes or iRecord.
Gall made by a fungus
Taphrina padi "pocket plum" fungus on Prunus species
There are two galled and two normal fruits.