Aceria aloinis

Eriophyes aloinis

Hosts: Aloe spinosissima, striata; Haworthia spp, retusa

Relationship: The mites cause severe deformation on the inner sides of leaf axils and on inflorescences.

Range: CA, WA

An affected plant shows a remarkable proliferation of unsightly, irregular outgrowth, clustered densely on the surface of the leaf blades or in leaf axils. The infestation may be con-fined to the base in the leaf axils as bunched, greenish, tiny-to-large globular sprouts or as a lumpy, rough-looking thickening in the form of wartlike growths from the base of the leaf blade extending to the tip. The longitudinal pattern of growth follows that of the lanceolate shape of the leaf. It ranges from yellowish to brownish, to green tinged with yellow. The mites also attack the inflorescence and cause galled blooms. This eriophyid attacks golden-tooth aloe, spider aloe, and star cactus or wart plant in southern California and Florida. It is probably found wherever these plants are grown.