Following up on an article in the recent issue of The Highland Naturalist concerning inter alia the Lime Aphid, Eucallipterus tiliae, I went to look at the Lime (Tilia x europaea) trees in Raasay House grounds. I did find a very few aphids but not at a stage that I could identify. It was a bit impatient really, considering that the image accompanying the article was taken in mid-October.
Aphid on Tilia x europaea
However, I did find two sorts of gall, each recorded only once on NBN for the vice-county, both in Portree, one by Carl and one by Neil at rather different times.
This is caused by the dipteran, Contarinia tiliarum:
Contarinia tiliarum on Tilia x europaea
and this by the mite Eriophyes leiosoma:
It seems likely that these galls and in due course perhaps the aphid, are waiting to be found on limes across the patch.
Known Distribution of LIme Trees
Plants of Skye, Raasay & The Small Isles 
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