Insects, etc., Injurious to Nuts. 



307 



THE NUT BUD MITE. 



(Eriopliyes avcttance. Nalepa.) 



This mite was first observed by Dujardin(3) in 1851. Until the 

 last few years but little importance has been attached to this acarus, 

 which is a mite closely related to, 

 but quite distinct from, the Big 

 Bud Mite of the black currant. 

 Normally its host is the hazel, but 

 for some years it has been noticed 

 on filberts and more recently it has 

 infested the cob nut. 



Mr. William Bear of Hailsham 

 wrote in 1900 that it was becoming 

 serious on his nuts. Mr. F. Smith 

 of Loddington informs me it occurs 

 on botli his cobs and filberts, but 

 does not seem to cause much harm. 

 In my own garden a row of cobs 

 and filberts grow adjoining a copse 

 with many hazels. The latter are 

 badly infested with this mite, but 

 it has never taken to either of the 

 former, although they even inter- 

 lace with the hazels. 



It is, however, undoubtedly 

 spreading more on to the cultivated 

 kinds. 



The effect on nuts is much the 

 same as that produced on the black 

 currant. The buds swell in a very 

 similar way, and either shrivel up 

 and die or they produce mere bushy, 

 deformed foliage. 



There is no possible connection between this mite and the one 

 infesting currants. The species are quite distinct, as shown by 

 Xalepa. Nor will the Nut Mite infest currants. Experiments 

 carried out in this direction have failed in every case. 



LlFE-HlSTORY. 



The mites live much as do those on the currant. The swollen 

 buds may be found in winter, but they do not become prominent 



x 2 



FIG. 206. CURRANT GALL MITE. 



Compare with nut species to see difference 



(p. 308). 

 (After Xalepa.) 



