# Rocky Mountain Maple Felt Mite (*aceria calaceris*)

The Rocky Mountain Maple Felt Mite is a tiny creature that lives on maple trees! These little mites help keep the trees healthy by breaking down old leaves.

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** On the leaves of Rocky Mountain maple trees.
- **Also known as:** Aceria Mite, Felt Mite, Maple Mite

![Rocky Mountain Maple Felt Mite](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Aceria_calaceris_galls.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Ryan Durand, CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aceria_calaceris_galls.jpg)

## Appearance

The Rocky Mountain Maple Felt Mite is incredibly tiny, appearing as a pale yellow or whitish speck. It has a distinctive worm-like, elongated body and uniquely possesses only four legs, all located at its head end, setting it apart from many other mites.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Arachnida
- **Order:** Trombidiformes
- **Family:** Eriophyidae
- **Genus:** Aceria

## Interesting facts

- A single maple leaf can be home to thousands of these microscopic creatures!
- Most mites have eight legs, but this super unique mite has only four!
- These tiny mites trick maple trees into growing bumpy homes just for them!
- They can hitch a ride on the wind to find new maple trees to live on!

## Special abilities

- **Gall Architect:** Rocky Mountain Maple Felt Mite can create protective shelters, called galls, on maple leaves that help them feed and develop safely.
- **Micro-Infiltrator:** Rocky Mountain Maple Felt Mite has an incredibly tiny size that helps them burrow into plant tissues for feeding and hiding.
- **Sap Siphon:** Rocky Mountain Maple Felt Mite has piercing-sucking mouthparts that help them extract vital plant sap from maple leaves.

## Measurements & details

- **Size:** 0.1-0.2 mm
- **Lifespan:** 30-60 days
- **Leg Count:** 4

## Diet & Feeding

These tiny mites are plant-eaters, gently sipping sap from the leaves of maple trees.

- **Primary Foods:** Maple leaf sap, Acer grandidentatum, Acer glabrum

## Ecological connections

- **Depends on:** [Bigtooth Maple](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bigtooth-maple) (*Acer grandidentatum*) — Mite shelters and feeds on its leaves.
- **Depends on:** [Rocky Mountain Maple](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rocky-mountain-maple) (*Acer glabrum*) — Mite shelters and feeds on its leaves.
- **Eaten by:** [Ladybug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ladybug) (*Stethorus punctillum*) — Small ladybugs sometimes prey on these mites.

## Traits

- [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
- [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

## Collections

- [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects)

## Safety

**Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Rocky Mountain Maple Felt Mite?

Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How big is Rocky Mountain Maple Felt Mite?

0.1-0.2 mm

### How long does Rocky Mountain Maple Felt Mite live?

30-60 days

### What does Rocky Mountain Maple Felt Mite eat?

These tiny mites are plant-eaters, gently sipping sap from the leaves of maple trees.

### Where is Rocky Mountain Maple Felt Mite usually found?

On the leaves of Rocky Mountain maple trees.

### How many legs does Rocky Mountain Maple Felt Mite have?

4

## Where to spot

- [Kelly's Camp Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kellys-camp-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District
- [Darke Lake Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/darke-lake-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park

## More Insects

- [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*)
- [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*)
- [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*)
- [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*)

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Source: [Rocky Mountain Maple Felt Mite Facts — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rocky-mountain-maple-felt-mite)