Knowledgebase
Trying to identify something on a maple #873030
Asked June 13, 2024, 6:30 PM EDT
Clackamas County Oregon
Expert Response
As to the gall mites, they are a part of nature and you are lucky to get to see them, or their galls at least. They are too small to be seen without magnification but feed on the leaf tissue emitting a chemical that causes the leaf to grow these galls around them. This protects them and they remain within the galls, feeding on the gall tissue until they have matured into adults, usually within a few weeks. Then they exit through an opening on the underside of the leaf to crawl to newly developing leaves and begin the cycle again. Once the tree has stopped new growth, usually in early summer, the mites are unable to stimulate the abnormal growth to produce the galls. At this time they head for the trunk and branches to overwinter in roughened areas on the bark, bud scales, or other protected places.
They seldom cause damage to mature trees and their populations go up between years related to weather. If you are concerned, you can remove the affected leaves but the galls have already formed to protect the mites, so sprays will not be effective.
https://agsci.oregonstate.edu/nurspest/mites/maple-bladder-gall-mite
Thanks for sharing this fascinating creature with me!