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](https://skyeraasayplants.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/aphid-on-tilia-x-europaea.jpg?w=300&h=241)
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 tiliaru](https://skyeraasayplants.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/contarinia-tiliarum-on-tilia-x-europaea-1.jpg?w=450)
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.
![Lime map](https://skyeraasayplants.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/lime-map.jpg?w=450)
Known Distribution of LIme Trees
Leave a comment