Broad Mite
Polyphagotarsonemus latus
Overview
The Broad Mite (Polyphagotarsonemus latus) attacks a wide range of hosts including many tropical and subtropical fruit, cotton, greenhouse crops such as capsicums, eggplants, chillies, flowers, and ornamentals.
Broad Mites are difficult to see with the naked eye, but you can see them using a hand lens. They are 0.2mm long and appear white or pale yellow. The time for Broad Mites to develop from egg to adult can take 4 to 5 days in summer, and 7 to 10 days in winter. Broad Mites thrive in warm humid conditions.
Broad Mites are not similar or related to spider mites such as Two-Spotted Mite, instead they belong to an entirely different mite family.
Broadleaf weeds are a significant source of Broad Mite infestations.
Why you need to control Broad Mite
Broad Mite damage can manifest in different ways in different crops.
In most crops, the tell-tale damage pattern is twisted, curled, leathery, and stunted leaves. You can usually see damage in the new leaves near the growing tips.
If you do not detect a Broad Mite infestation early and act quickly to control it, the mites can cause permanent damage to the growing tips which will reduce your yield due to no growth or flowers.
In lemons, Broad Mites cause a silvering of immature fruit. Damaged fruit take on a silvery-white to pale yellow-brown scab-like appearance. Fruit on the shady side and within the tree canopy tend to be most affected. Fruits of other crops can have cork-like patches causing misshapen fruits that often crack at the sites of damage.
Beneficial predators to control Broad Mite among crops
It is important to detect Broad Mite early as it is the key to preventing permanent damage to your crops.
Biological Services can design a program to help you control Broad Mites in your commercial crop. This can include Neoseiulus cucumeris and Neoseiulus californicus, and methods to control flying pests such as whiteflies which can spread Broad Mite within your greenhouse crops.
Get tailored advice for your commercial crop
To speak with one of our qualified consultants about your current commercial crop challenge or to learn about the benefits of the IPM maintenance and monitoring services we provide, contact us.
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