Broad Mites
Polyphagotarsonemus latus
Mites & Ticks (Arachnids) High Risk 0.1-0.2 mm
📖 Description
Broad mites are among the most insidious plant pests because they are invisible to the naked eye and their damage closely resembles viral disease or herbicide injury. They feed on the youngest, most tender plant tissue, injecting toxic saliva that causes severe distortion and stunting. By the time damage is noticed, significant populations are usually established. Broad mites are easily spread on tools, hands, and by air currents, making sanitation critical in greenhouses and indoor growing operations.
⚠️ Symptoms to watch for
- Twisted, distorted new growth that appears shriveled,Leaves curling downward with hardened, brittle texture,Flower buds aborting or failing to open,Stunted terminal growth,Copper or purple discoloration on new leaves,Resembles herbicide damage or viral disease
🩹 Treatment
- Remove and destroy all affected growth (organic),Release predatory mites (Neoseiulus cucumeris) (organic),Spray with wettable sulfur (organic),Apply insecticidal soap to new growth (organic),Use abamectin-based miticide (chemical),Apply cyromazine (chemical)
🌿 Organic treatments
- Remove and destroy all affected growth,Release predatory mites (Neoseiulus cucumeris),Spray with wettable sulfur,Apply insecticidal soap to new growth
🧪 Chemical treatments
- Use abamectin-based miticide,Apply cyromazine
🛡️ Prevention
- Quarantine new plants for at least 2 weeks,Inspect new growth regularly for early symptoms,Avoid taking cuttings from infected plants,Maintain moderate humidity,Clean tools between plants to prevent transmission
🪴 Affected plants
- Peppers,Tomatoes,Cannabis,Begonias,Gerbera,Citrus,Tropical Plants
🦋 Natural predators
- Predatory Mites,Minute Pirate Bugs
🌱 Host plants
- Capsicum spp.,Solanum lycopersicum,Citrullus lanatus
🔄 Lifecycle
- Females lay 30-75 eggs on leaf undersides over their 1-2 week lifespan.
- Eggs hatch in 2-3 days.
- Larvae pass through a resting quiescent stage before becoming adults in just 3-5 days.
- The entire lifecycle can be completed in 4-7 days under warm conditions, allowing extremely rapid population growth.
- Males carry female pupae to new feeding sites.
📅 Season
- Year-round indoors, Summer outdoors
🔎 Appearance
- Microscopic mites invisible to the naked eye.
- Only detectable by their damage symptoms.
- Eggs have distinctive white tubercles visible only under magnification.
💥 Damage level
- High
🔁 Reproduction rate
- Rapid
🗺️ Geographic regions
- North America
- South America
- Africa
- Asia
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