ERIOPHYID^ OR GALL-MITES. 23 



buds " ; those living in various forms of galls ; and those causing 

 malformations of flowers, fruit, or leaves. The last division presents 

 a very considerable variety, inasmuch as the leaves may be folded or 

 puckered, and the leaf-veins enlarged in various ways. 



As regards classification, Nalepa divides the family into two sub- 

 families — viz., Eriophyinse and Phyllocoptin;^. 



I. Number of the back and belly half-rings almost equal ; abdomen 



therefore similarly ringed ; ventral side always, dorsal side 

 as a rule punctured .... Eriophyinae. 



II. Abdomen not similarly ringed; dorsal half -rings distinctly 



broader than the belly half-rings . . Phyllocoptinae. 



Sub-Family ERIOPHYINAE. 



Synopsis of the Genera. 



Abdomen without dorsal median furrow . 1, Genus Eriophyes. 

 Abdomen with dorsal median furrow , 2, Genus Monociietus. 



Species living in Buds. 



These may very easily be seen under the microscope, eating the 

 vital parts of the bud. The infested bud, therefore, is transformed 

 into an abnormally large swollen "blind-bud," which, instead of 

 bursting into flower or leaf, becomes the dwelling-place and feeding- 

 ground of many mites. Here we may again quote from the literature 

 on the "Currant-bud Mite." 



"With regard to the actual number of mites tenanting a single bud, 

 Newstead says of Phytoptus {Eriophyes) rihis : — 



" The number of mites tenanting a single bud would vary according 

 to the time of year. By desire of Mr Spencer-Pickering I last year 

 (January 9, 1900) selected a medium-sized bud-gall, and in it counted 

 2748 individuals ; allowing for many individuals destroyed in dissect- 

 ing the bud, I should put the number in round figures at 3000. 

 Larger buds would contain considerably more, and in ^NEarch it would 

 be safe to add half as many more." ^ 



^ "The Currant-bud Mite or Currant Gall-Mite," in Journal of Roj'al Horti- 

 cultural Society. 1901. 



