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Eriophyidae · gumbadarės erkės

Eriophyidae is a family of more than 200 genera of mites, which live as plant parasites, commonly causing galls or other damage to the plant tissues and hence known as gall mites. About 3,600 species have been described, but this is probably less than 10% of the actual number existing in this poorly researched family. They are microscopic mites and are yellow to pinkish white to purplish in colour. The mites are worm like, and have only two pairs of legs. Their primary method of population spread is by wind. They affect a wide range of plants, and several are major pest species causing substantial economic damage to crops. Some species, however, are used as biological agents to control weeds and invasive plant species.

0,1–0,3 mm ilgio, pailgos; priekinis galas pleišto formos. Visose raidos stadijose kūno priekinėje dalyje yra 2 poros kojų. Gumbadarių erkių apniktos augalų dalys deformuojasi, išsipučia, ant jų atsiranda įvairios formos ir spalvos išaugų. Lietuvoje dažniausios kriaušinė erkutė (Eriophyes pyri), serbentinė erkutė (Eriophyes ribis), slyvinė gumbadarė erkutė (Eriophyes similis), liepinė gumbadarė erkutė (Eriophyes tiliae).