Tea Red Spider Mite
Oligonychus coffeae
📖 Description
Tea Red Spider Mite (TRSM) is one of the most important mite pests of tea across the Indian subcontinent, particularly in northeastern India (Assam, West Bengal) and southern India (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka). Both adults and nymphs feed on the upper surface of mature leaves by piercing leaf tissue and sucking out cell contents, causing characteristic bronzed, rusty appearance. Heavy infestation causes premature leaf drop, reduced photosynthesis, and reduced flush production. The pest thrives in hot, dry conditions and is most damaging during prolonged dry spells. TRSM has developed resistance to most major acaricides, making rotation of modes of action and biological control with predatory mites (Amblyseius spp.) essential for sustainable management. Maintaining humidity through overhead irrigation during dry periods is also an important cultural practice.
⚠️ Symptoms to watch for
- Bronzed and rusty appearance of upper leaf surface, yellowing and browning of leaves, premature leaf drop, reduced photosynthesis, stunted bushes, reduced flush production, yield loss 15-30% in heavy infestation
🩹 Treatment
- Spray neem oil 5ml/L with sticker, release predatory mites, apply wettable sulfur 5g/L, use recommended acaricides at early infestation, conserve natural enemies
🌿 Organic treatments
- Spray neem oil 5 ml/L with sticker, release predatory mites (Amblyseius spp. @ 5000/ha), apply wettable sulfur 5 g/L, spray 5% NSKE, apply Beauveria bassiana @ 5 g/L, maintain humidity by overhead irrigation, prune infested bushes
🧪 Chemical treatments
- Propargite 57 EC @ 2 ml/L, Fenpropathrin 10 EC @ 1 ml/L, Spiromesifen 240 SC @ 1 ml/L, Abamectin 1.9 EC @ 0.5 ml/L, Hexythiazox 5.45 EC @ 1 ml/L (rotate; resistance common — avoid spraying same mode of action twice in a season)
🛡️ Prevention
- Inspect upper leaf surfaces weekly during dry periods, maintain proper bush architecture by pruning, avoid excessive nitrogen, conserve predatory mites and Stethorus beetles by avoiding broad-spectrum insecticides, maintain humidity by overhead irrigation during dry spells, intercrop with shade trees, practice skiffing and pruning to remove infested leaves
🪴 Affected plants
- Tea, Coffee, Cotton, Castor, Mango, Croton, Many Ornamentals
🦋 Natural predators
- Amblyseius spp., Stethorus Beetles, Predatory Thrips, Green Lacewings, Spiders
🌱 Host plants
- Camellia sinensis, Coffea spp., Gossypium spp., Ricinus communis, Mangifera indica
🔄 Lifecycle
- Females lay 30-80 eggs on the upper leaf surface along the midrib.
- Eggs hatch in 4-7 days.
- Nymphs pass through 3 stages (larva, protonymph, deutonymph) in 7-12 days.
- Adults live 15-30 days.
- Total life cycle 10-20 days in hot conditions; 20-30 overlapping generations per year in tropical conditions.
📅 Season
- Year-round, peaks Mar-Jun and Oct-Dec during dry periods
🔎 Appearance
- Tiny eight-legged mites, dark red to purplish with lighter legs.
- Eggs are round, reddish, and laid on the upper surface of leaves along the midrib.
- Nymphs are smaller and orange-red.
- They feed on the upper surface of mature tea leaves, giving a bronzed appearance.
💥 Damage level
- High
🔁 Reproduction rate
- Rapid
🗺️ Geographic regions
- Indian Subcontinent
- Southeast Asia
- East Asia
- Africa
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