Pear blister mite is a microscopic mite that feeds within the foliage of pear trees.

Similar mites can be found on Sorbus and other trees in the Rosaceae family, these are different species to that found on pear. As with pear blister mite they have limited effects on the host plant health and can be tolerated. 

Pear blister mite is a gall mite, also known as eriophyid mites, these are minute animals usually less than 0.2mm long when fully grown. They have elongate bodies and two pairs of legs, unlike other mites which have four pairs. Their size means they can usually only be seen with the aid of a microscope. Their presence is readily detected by the distinctive abnormal plant growths induced by their feeding activities.

There are many species of eriophyid mite which are usually host specific this means that each species of mite will only feed on a single, or several closely related, plant species.

Eriophyid mites feed by sucking sap but while doing so secrete chemicals into the plant tissue that converts some of the normal (parenchyma) plant cells to meristem tissues which can give rise to a range of growth forms. These then grow to produce the gall. The mites can then suck sap from plant cells lining the gall structure, which are invariably more nutritious than unaffected tissue, but often do not cause serious damage to the plant.

Pear trees with blister mite will have the following symptoms;

• In spring, new foliage develops many slightly raised reddish pink or yellowish green blisters, up to 4mm in diameter
• Later in the summer, these blisters become blackish brown
• The whole leaf can be affected and almost all the leaves on a tree may become blackened
• The mite does not normally affect cropping or the health of the tree and it can be treated as part of the biodiversity these trees support

Although heavily affected trees may look unhealthy, the mite has little impact on the tree’s health or ability to produce fruit and control is not necessary and it can be treated as part of the biodiversity a healthy tree supports.

In light populations leaves or shoots could be removed however taking these leaves off a heavily affected tree may do more harm to the plant than the mite.

Pear blister mites overwinter underneath the outer bud scales on pear trees.

In spring, the mites emerge and penetrate into developing foliage. They feed by sucking out the contents of the leaf cells and while doing so produce secretions that create small discoloured blisters around where the mites are feeding.

The mites spend the summer feeding and breeding inside the leaves but come out and to seek overwintering sites before leaf fall.