Leaf roll caused by Eriophyes granati (Canestrini & Massalongo) (pl. 68)

This is an interesting tubular leaf roll, which consists of a downward tight rolling and curling of the whole length of the leaf margin into a tube. Eventually the infested margin rolls toward the midrib but does not cover it. The mites are wrapped in the thickened turned-over leaf edge, where they live and reproduce inside the roll. In some plants, infestations are so heavy that nearly every young leaf is rolled, distorted, and twisted.

[photos pg. 151]

Aceria granati ... is a monophagous gall mite damaging the leaves of Punica granatum ... The leaf margins are narrowly rolled in a downwards direction, sometimes so deeply that a branch may appear defoliated. Aceria granati occurs worldwide where Punica granatum is grown ... galls were present in the parts of the plants with intensive growth ...