Here is a list of Plant Galls & Causers recorded at the lake. This follows the checklist on the British Plant Gall Society website. All records are my own unless stated, so any inaccuracy is entirely down to me. If anyone has records they’d like to include, please contact me and I will insert and acknowledge them accordingly. As there are over 1200 entries on the BPGS checklist, there is clearly plenty of scope to add many more records to the site list. I shall add species and photo links in due course.

 

Plant Galls & Causers Photo Gallery

 

Annotated Site Plant Gall & Causer Checklist [2026]

Arachnida: Acari: Eriophyoidea

    • Aceria campestricola (Frauenfeld, 1865) (= Aceria brevipunctata = Aceria ulmicola = Eriophyes ulmi) Elm Leaf Gall. Causer is a gall mite on Elm Ulmus sp. leaves. 30th Oct. 2011 (N.R. Milbourne, photo). Bell’s Bush
    • Aceria cephalonea (Nalepa, 1922) Sycamore Cherry Mite Gall. Causer is a gall mite on Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus leaves. 2nd Nov. 2011 (N.R. Milbourne, photo). Holt Copse
    • Aceria fraxinivora (Nalepa, 1909) (= Eriophyes fraxinovorus) Ash Key Gall. Causer is a gall mite on Ash Fraxinus excelsior fruits. (N.R. Milbourne).
    • Aceria macrochela (Nalepa, 1891) (= Eriophyes macrochelus). Causer is a gall mite on Field Maple Acer campestre leaves. 8th July 2015 (U. Garland), 2nd Sep. 2026 (N.R. Milbourne, photo). Cheddar Water.
    • Aceria myriadeum (Murray, 1877) (= Artacris acericampestris) Field Maple Red Pustule Gall. Causer is a gall mite on Field Maple A. campestre leaves. 17th May 2011 (N.R. Milbourne). Green Lawn.
    • Cecidophyes rouhollahi (Craemer, 1999) Bedstraw Gall. Causer is a gall mite on Cleavers Galium aparine leaves. 13th May 2011 (N.R. Milbourne, photo). Long Bay. Note this sp. is newly described in 1999, having been thought to be C. galii, and Redfern & Shirley (2011) believe all previous British records of C. galii are now referable to this sp.
    • Eriophyes axillaris Connold, 1901 (=Eriophyes inangulis) Alder Vein Angle Gall. Causer is a gall mite on Alder glutinosa leaves, formerly thought to be caused by the mite Aceria nalepai, but this is now thought to be an inquiline in the gall. 1st Sep. 2026 (N.R. Milbourne, photo).
    • Eriophyes laevis (Nalepa, 1889) (= Phytoptus laevis) Alder Leaf Gall. Causer is a gall mite on native Alder Alnus glutinosa leaves. 30th Oct. 2011 (N.R. Milbourne, photo). On Alder at Hellfire Corner.
    • Eriophyes similis (Nalepa, 1890) (=Eriophyes prunispinosae). Causer is a gall mite on Blackthorn Prunus spinosa. Not in the checklist under this name. 17th May 2011 (N.R. Milbourne, photo). Green Lawn.
    • Eriophyes tiliae (Pagenstecher, 1857) (= Phytoptus tiliae) Lime Nail Gall. Causer is a gall mite on Lime Tilia sp. 13th May 2011 (N.R. Milbourne, photo). Holt Copse.
    • Phyllocoptes eupadi (Newkirk, 1984) (= Eriophyes padi). Causer is a gall mite on Blackthorn Prunus spinosa & other Prunus sp. leaves. 3rd May 2011 (N.R. Milbourne, photo). North Shore.
    • Phyllocoptes goniothorax (Nalepa) (=Eriophyes goniothorax) Hawthorn Leaf Roll Gall. Causer is a gall mite on Hawthorns Crataegus sp. 8th Nov. 2011 (N.R. Milbourne, photo). Wood Bay.
    • Stenacis euonymi (Frauenfeld, 1865) (= Stenacis convolvens) Spindle Leaf Roll Gall. Causer is a gall mite on Spindle-tree Euonymus europaeus leaves. 30th Oct. 2011 (N.R. Milbourne, photo). Home Bay Point.

Arachnida: Acari: Tarsonemidae

    • Steneotarsonemus graminis (Krämer). Causer is a gall mite on Festuca sp. 8th July 2015 (U. Garland). There are no records on the NBN Atlas so will need to verify this record.
Fungi: Pucciniales: Pucciniaceae
    • Gymnosporangium clavariiforme (Wolfen) De Candolle Tongues of Fire. Causer is a fungus on native Hawthorns Crataegus sp. 8th July 2015 (U. Garland).
Fungi: Pucciniales: Phragmidiaceae
    • Phragmidium violaceum (Schultz) G. Winter (1880) Violet Bramble Rust. Causer is fungus on Bramble Rubus fruticosus agg. leaves. 8th July 2015 (U. Garland) 1st Sep. 2026 (N.R. Milbourne, photo).
Fungi: Taphrinales: Taphrinaceae
    • Taphrina alni (Berk. & Br.) Gjaerum (= Taphrina amentorum), Alder Tongue Gall. Causer is a fungus in the female catkin of Alnus Alnus glutinosa. (N.R. Milbourne). Hellfire Corner.
    • Taphrina betulina Rostrup, 1883 Birch Besom. Some witches’ brooms on Birches Betula sp. may be caused by a phytoplasma. (N.R. Milbourne). Lodge Copse.

Insecta: Diptera: Cecidomyiidae

    • Contarinia lathyri Kieffer, 1909. Causer is a gall midge on Meadow Vetchling Lathyrus pratensis flowers. 8th July 2015 (U. Garland). Only one record on NBN Atlas so will need to verify this record.
    • Contarinia melanocera Kieffer, 1904. Causer is a gall midge on Dyer’s Greenweed Genista tinctoria. 8th July 2015 (U. Garland). Only two records on NBN Atlas so will need to verify this record.
    • Contarinia tiliarum (Kieffer, 1890) Lime Leaf-stalk Gall/Lime Petiole Gall. Causer is a gall midge on Lime trees Tilia sp. forms galls on petioles & midrib of leaves. 21st June 2016 (N.R. Milbourne, photo). Holt Copse.
    • Dasineura crataegi (Winnertz, 1853) Hawthorn Button-top Gall.  Causer is a gall midge on native Hawthorns Crataegus sp. on the tips of shoots. 8th July 2015 (U. Garland) & 1st Sep 2026 (N.R. Milbourne, photo).
    • Dasineura fraxinea Kieffer, 1907 Ash Midrib Gall. Causer is a gall midge on Ash Fraxinus excelsior leaf midrib. 22nd Sep 2011 (N.R. Milbourne, photo).
    • Dasineura plicatrix (Loew, 1850). Causer is a gall midge on Bramble Rubus fruticosus agg. leaves. 8th July 2015 (U. Garland).
    • Dasineura pustulans (Rübsaamen, 1889). Causer is gall midge on Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria. (N.R. Milbourne).
    • Dasineura ulmaria (Bremi, 1847). Causer is a gall midge on Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria. (N.R. Milbourne).
    • Dasineura urticae (Perris, 1840) Nettle Pouch Gall. Causer is a gall midge on Common Nettle Urtica dioica. 2nd Nov. 2011 (N.R. Milbourne).
    • Rhopalomyia hypogaea (F. Löw, 1885). Causer is a gall midge on Oxeye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare forming strong swelling and curving of the stem. Also buds may be galled, both axillary buds as lateral buds, especially near the root collar. 8th July 2015 (U. Garland).
Insecta: Hemiptera: Aphididae
    • Myzus (Nectarosiphon) ligustri (Mosley, 1841). Causer is an aphid on Wild Privet Ligustrum vulgare. 8th July 2015 (U. Garland).
    • Pemphigus (Pemphigus) bursarius (Linnaeus, 1758) Poplar-lettuce Gall. Causer is an aphid on Poplar Populus nigra ‘italica’ leaf petioles. 24th September 2026 (N.R. Milbourne, photo). Long Bay.
    • Pemphigus (Pemphigus) spyrothecae Passerini, 1860 Poplar Spiral Gall. Causer is an aphid on Poplar Populus nigra ‘italica’ leaf petioles. 7th Nov. 2011 (N.R. Milbourne, photo). Long Bay.
    • Phyllaphis fagi (Linnaeus, 1767) Woolly Beech Aphid Gall. Causer is an aphid on Common Beech Fagus sylvatica leaves. 23rd September 2026 (N.R. Milbourne, photo). Rainbow Point.

Insecta: Hemiptera: Psylloidea

    • Psyllopsis fraxini (Linnaeus, 1758). Causer is a jumping plant louse (psyllid) on Ash Fraxinus excelsior leaves. 8th July 2015 (U. Garland).
Insecta: Hymenoptera: Cynipidae
    • Andricus aries (Giraud, 1859) f. agamic Ram’s-horn Gall. Causer is a gall wasp on Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur buds. 30th Aug. 2026 (N.R. Milbourne, C. Patch, photo). Green Lawn.
    • Andricus foecundatrix (Hartig, 1840) f. agamic, Artichoke Gall. Causer is a gall wasp on Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur buds. 7th Aug. 2016 (N.R. Milbourne). Holt Copse.
    • Andricus quercuscalicis (Burgsdorf, 1783) f. agamic, Oak Knopper Gall. Causer is a gall wasp on Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur acorns. 28th Sep. 2024 (N.R. Milbourne, photo). Home Bay. Abundant.
    • Biorhiza pallida (Olivier, 1791) (= B.aptera) Oak Apple Gall. Causer is a gall wasp on Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur buds. 15th July 2010 (N.R. Milbourne, photo). Green Lawn & Holt Copse.
    • Diastrophus rubi (Bouché, 1834) Bramble Stem Gall. Primarily caused by a wasp on Bramble Rubus fruticosus agg. stems. 12th March 2003 (N.R. Milbourne, photo).
    • Diplolepis eglanteriae sens. lat. (Geoffroy, 1762) Smooth Pea Gall. Causer is a gall wasp on Rosa sp. leaves. 30th Oct. 2011 (N.R. Milbourne, photo). Burmah Road.
    • Diplolepis rosae (Linnaeus, 1758) Rose Bedeguar Gall. Causer is a gall wasp on Rosa sp. leaves (N.R. Milbourne, photo). Uncommon.
    • Liposthenes glechomae (Linnaeus, 1758) (= L. latreillei) Ground Ivy Gall. Causer is a gall wasp. (N.R. Milbourne).
    • Neuroterus albipes (Schenk, 1863) Common Spangle Gall. Causer is a gall wasp on Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur leaves. Asexual generation. 2nd Nov. 2011 (N.R. Milbourne). Holt Copse.
    • Neuroterus numismalis (Geoffroy,1785) Silk-button Spangle Gall. Causer is a gall wasp on Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur leaves. 2nd Nov. 2011 (N.R. Milbourne).
    • Neuroterus quercusbaccarum (Linnaeus, 1758 ) f. sexual Oak Currant Gall. Causer is a gall wasp on Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur leaves & catkins. 13th May 2011 (N.R. Milbourne, photo). Green Lawn.
    • Euura proxima (Serville, 1823) (= Pontania proxima) Willow Red Gall/Kidney Bean Gall. Causer is a sawfly on Willow Salix sp. leaves. 2nd Nov. 2011 (N.R. Milbourne, photo). Wood Bay. Abundant.

Total 45 spp.

There appear to be examples of Mossy Willow Catkin Gall at Wood Bay, but as yet this is a difficult gall to list because, so far as I know, the causer is unknown. More research is required, and I’d like to get photographs of examples that precede the old woody remnants seen today (NRM, 30th Aug. 2026).

I also have a photograph of what might be a Gooseberry Gall caused by the gall wasp Andricus grossulariae on Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur. This is to be verified.

Key to abundance:

Extremely rare – five or less records

Very rare – twenty or less records

Rare – less than annual; many years between records

Very scarce – less than annual; typically every 2 or 3 years

Scarce – very small numbers virtually every year

Uncommon – recorded in low numbers each year

Fairly common – occurs in reasonable numbers

Common – regularly occurs in good numbers

Abundant – occurs in large numbers

Bibliography (sources of information)

    1. NBN Atlas
    2. British Plant Gall Society website
    3. Pemphius spyrothecae (Poplar spiral Gall)

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Last update: 24th September 2026