Morphology, Classification and Control of Mites

Muhammad Zeeshan Nazar 1

Glenn B. Stracher 2
Zahid Mahmood Sarwar 3

Faculty of Agriculture Science and Technology

1

Department of Agriculture Entomology

Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan

School of Science and Mathematics

2

East Georgia State College, University System of

Georgia
Swainsboro, Georgia 30401 USA

Faculty of Agriculture Science and Technology

3

Department of Agriculture Entomology

Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan 1
Taxonom
y

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum:
Arthropoda

Class: Arachnida

Order: Acari

2
Distribution
• Mites and ticks collectively form the most diverse group of class Arachnida

• Mites are the 2nd most diverse group of living organisms after insects

• Until 1999, about 50,000 species of mites have been identified all over the

world (Walter and Proctor, 1999).

• Up to 2011, a total of 54,617 mites and ticks species has been reported

(Zhang, 2011).

• There is an estimate that half a million species are still to be

• The small in size and strongest in evolutionary flexibility of the Acari have

permitted mites to colonize most of the aquatic and terrestrial habitats.

• As human being, the Acari form a major component of the fauna of the

cultivated crops and forests either as pest or as biological control agent (Kiefer

et al, 1982 and Gerson et al, 2003).

Mites are minute to small range from 300 to 500 µm in body length.
The largest Acari (Red velvet mites: Trombidiidea) may reach
lengths 10 – 20 mm i.e., 0.4 – 0.8 inches (Weygoldt, 1998).
• Moreover, this little animal play an important role in litter, grasslands and

agricultural soils, where they recycle minerals (Balogh, 1972).

• Walter and Proctor (1999) summarized very effectively the

ecological importance and the economic role of mites as

“ The average mite is minuscule, barley perceptible to even the sharpest eyes.

When enough are present, mites can exert efforts disproportionate to their size.
• Mites are microscopic in nature and world wide in distribution and

successfully colonized the terrestrial and aquatic habitats.

• They are present in all types of abiotic and biotic habitats like planes,

mountains, desert, fresh water, salt water and springs, oceans, organic matter

and lotter.

• Mites are present in large number in soils where they constitute up to 7% of

total weight of invertebrate fauna.

Morphology of Mites
Morphology

• The mite are too small in size to be studied like insects.

• Therefore, they have been ignored by zoologies and Entomologists.

• At the time of Linnaeus, only 30 species had been known.

• Mites can be found as ecto-parasites of other invertebrate and

vertebrate animals.
Integument
• In the mites, the developing integument initially appears as undifferentiated

tissues which is covered by thin layer of cuticulin and separated from the

epidermis layer by ‘Schmidt layer’.

• During developmental process, base of the integument undergoes more

conversion and shows from the outside inwards.

• An epiculicular layer an underlying Schmidt layer and finally, a basal lamina

below the epidermis (Alberti et al, 1981 and Norton et al, 1997).
 Cement layer
• In addition to micropores, in Wax layer
Outer epicuticle
integument, the body surface of
Inner epicuticle
Pore canal
mites also have variety of
Exocuticle

macropores that play a Evolving pore canal

Endoculticle
functional role in secretory and
Schimdt layer
Nucleus
sensory process (Henriot, 1969). Epidermis
Basal lamina

(According to Norton et al, 1997)

Body Division

• Mostly mites have oval-shaped bodies with two body regions that may

appear fused together.

• Mostly mites have piercing sucking mouthparts such as

Phytophagous and Predatory mites.

• Some mites have chewing mouthparts as Stored grain mites.

• Mites can easily be distinguished from their sister class Insecta by the

following characters

S. No. Insects Mites

Features
1. Body Division Head, thorax Gnathosoma and
and abdomen Idiosoma

2. Antenna Present Absent

3. Wings Present Absent
4. Legs 3 pairs 4 pairs
• The mites lack the true head and conspicuous body segmentation.

• The body of mites divided into

i. Gnathosoma
ii. Idiosoma

• The anterior part of the mite body is called as ‘gnathosoma’ that is moveably

connected to the idiosoma.

• The idiosoma is divided into the anterior podosoma and the posterior

opisthosoma.
 Gnathosoma

Prosoma
(Gnathosoma +
Podosoma) Propodosoma

Sejugal furrow

Podosoma
Idiosoma
disjugal
furrow
H
y
s
t Opisthosoma
e
r
o
s
o
m
Gnathosoma
Gnathosoma
• Gnathosoma considered the mouth parts which are mainly concerned with

feeding and for sensatory purpose.

• It is generally located anterior to the body but in some cases, it may be

hidden under the propodosoma.

• The gnathosoma having the mouthparts differ from a true head in a sense

that is lacks the eyes, antennae and brain.

• If eyes present, they are located in idiosoma.

• It generally consists of chelicerae and pedipals (Krantz, 2009).

Chelicerae

• Chelicerae are the main food getting organs.

• They are placed dorsally in relation to the opening mouth and commonly
consist of three segments known as cheliceral base, digitus fixus and digitus
mobilis.

• First segment is basal and bears the digitus fixus which is articulated with the
distal digitus mobilis dorsally (Grandjean, 1947).

• Both digits are provided with teeth on the opposite side of each other.
• The chelicerae are used for the cutting and piercing of food.

• They vary from three segmented and pincer like appendages of

mesostigmata to slender prostigmata.

• In phytophagous and parasitic mites,

there are modification in chelicerae that result in styliform,

hood-like

or finely toothed like adapted to pierce plant or animal tissues or attacked

on bacterial film (Krantz, 2009).

• Bases of the chelicerae may be fused partially or completely to each other to

form stylophore as in Tetranychoidea.

• The digitus mobilis is modified into a stylet that can pierce the pant cell wall.

• Extrusion and retraction movements depends on contraction of dorsoventral

idiosomatic muscles and action of retractor muscles respectively.

• In some groups, the chelicerae are involved in sperm transfer (Krantz,

2009).
Pedipalp

• The pedipals are usually called simply “pulp” have five segments

beyond coax, usually resembling legs but shorter and primarily sensory

in nature rather than locomotors.

• The coax portions border the cheliceral bases and form the side walls of the

gnathosoma. Their distal segments bear many setae and sometimes claws.

21
• Their function is related to searching for and handling food, with the distal

segments usually leading to chemosensory and thigmotactic sensory

receptors which act as support for feeding activity.

• The number of papli vary from species to species as one or two in Astigmata

and Prostigmata, three or four in Ixodida, and five in Mesostigmata and

Oribatida (Krantz, 2009).

• In Tetranychidae, the palpi contain part of silk gland (Alberti and Crooker,

1985).
Idiosoma
Idiosoma

 The second division of the acarine body is the idiosoma.

 Often it is ovoid or sac like but occasionally worm like.

 A simple pattern divides the idiosoma into anterior propodosoma and the

posterior hysterosoma, distinct or not by sejugal furrow.

 The region bearing the legs that are derives from embryonal somites known as

podosoma (Coineau, 1974 and Krantz, 2009). 25

• The first two somites includes the first two pair of legs known as

propodosoma, while last part bearing two other pairs of legs known as

metapodosoma (Coineau, 1974 and Krantz, 2009).

• Organs for digestion, excretion and reproduction are present in

idiosoma.

• Ocili if present they are also present in idiosoma.

• Sclerotized shields or plates that are heavily tanned are present on the cuticle

of the idiosoma, normally protect the upper surface of the idiosoma.

26
Setae
• Setae are also present on the
idiosoma.

• The number, type, shape,

distance and pattern of
distribution of these setae on
idiosoma is important are used
to classify many groups.

27
Legs

• Adult and nymphs of mites, except in some Prostigmata and Astigmata, have
four

pairs of jointed legs and the larval instar has three pairs of legs.

• Typically the legs consists of seven segments.

• Their names are coxa, trochanter, femur, genu, tibia, tarsus and apotele.

• According to systematic group, the coxae may be free or fused with the

ventral podosoma and femur may be divided into basifemur and telofemur. 28
• One or, more segments of leg 2 and sometimes leg 5 are spurred in
males

of the Mesostigmata are used to grasp the female during mating.

• Different segments of legs bear a number of setae which are arranged in

whorls i.e., in rings around the circumference of legs (Evans, 1963).

29
Sensory Receptors

• The idiosoma has different types of sensory receptors known as

chemoreceptors, mechanoreceptors and photoreceptors with setal structure

(Evans, 1992 and Coons, 1999).

• The cuticular surface has different pore-like openings, which have a sensory

function (Krantz, 2009).

• These pores have various shaped but mostly small membrane covered clefts
Secretory Organs
• Pore-like openings located in the cuticle of mites and connected b a ducts to

suncuticular gland cells (Alberti and Seeman, 2005).

• The nature of the secretory products is heterogenous and varies from cement

like to waxy (Evans, 1992 and Coons, 1999).

• The secretory products contain vary chemical composition, having

monoterpenes, hydrocarbons, esters, aromatics etc and may have various

functions that act as pheromones (Mizoguchi et al, 2003).

Life History of
Mites
Life cycle

• The life cycle of Acari develops through the eggs and six biological instars:

Eggs Prelarva Larva Protonymph Deutonymph

Tritonymph Adult

• The two resting stages occur between larva and nymph and between nymph

and adult known as nymphochrysalis and imagochrysalis respectively

(Manson and Oldfiels, 1996).

Eggs
• Life cycle of mites depending on the temperature and availability of food.

• This cycle usually takes 17 days at 20 OC

•Female deposit 5 to 6 eggs per day, with total

of 60 to 100 eggs underside of the leaves.

• Mostly eggs are oval in shape and reddish, ge

oran
or whitish in colour. Spider mite eggs by Scot Nelson

• Eggs hatch in 3 to 6 days depending on environmental condition.

Prelarva
• The prelarva also known as prolarva or deutovum and represents a non-

feeding stage and lack legs, known as calyptostasis.

• It develops inside the egg chorion and consume yolk.

• In some groups the prelarva has three pairs of legs, mouthparts and setae,

known as elattostasis (Coineau, 1974).

• A calyptostasis is reported for Tetranychus urticae and elattostasis for

Panthaleidae (Andre and Van Impe, 2012).

Larva

• This is active, feeding instar, a weak, miniature stage.

• After eclosion, larvae shed both skin and chorion.

• Larva is typical six-legged instar and lack external genitalia.

• In some groups, larva directly develops into nymph, known as

nymphochrysalis while in other case, larva first changes into protonymph

before nymph, known as protochrysalis (Oku et al, 2003).

Protonymph

• They represent the first eight-legged nymphal instar that is free living and

active.

• The protonymph of the Tetranychus kanzawai develops into the deutonymph

through a resting stage known as deutochrysalis (Oku et al, 2003).

Deutonymph

This second nymphal instar in eight legged and resembles t the adult but lack

external sexual organ.

• When tritonymph (third instar) is absent, the deutonymph develops into the

adult through resting stage known as teliochrysalis (Oku et al, 2003).

Tritonymph

• This third nymphal instar is eight legged and uncommon.

• When present, it is active and free living.

• It is absent in Mesostigmata and in many Prostigmata.

• Larva and nymphs complete development in 4 to 9 days depending on

temperature.
Adult
• Generally, the adult instar concludes the biological life cycle.

• It is eight legged and sexually functional and live about 30 days.

• In T. urticae, the adult instar is absent and is replaced by tritonymph instar,

which is able to reproduce by pedogensis (Andre and Van Impe, 2012).

• The male and female sex ration vary from species to species as in

eriophyoid mites, the percentage of female ranges from 51 to 95 % (Sabelis

and Bruin, 1996).

• Generally, mites tend to increase in population during the summer as the

prefer hot day conditions.

• Reproduction in mites is characterized by a haploid-diploid genetic

system.

The main genetic systems are diplodiploidy, haplodiploidy and thelytoky.

• All these systems are sexual.

• Mites have very small chromosomes, less than 0.03 mm long.

• They have 2 to 12 numbers of chromosomes varies from group to group

Life stages of Chaetodactylus krombeini (Astigmata) by Ron Ochoa and Gary Bauchan, USDA-ARS
Categories of Mites
Type
s
The mites can be divided into four main groups according to their economic

importance i.e.,

i. Phytophagous mites ( plant feeding mites)

ii. Predatory mites.

iii. Stored grain and stored product mites.

iv. Parasites mites (mites of medical and veterinary importance)

Phytophagous Mites
Phytophagous Mites
• Phytophagous mites infest and damage cultivated crops,
vegetables,

orchards, ornamental plants, forest trees and also wild vegetation.

• Worldwide, around 7500 species of phytophagous mites are known which

damage plants.

• They are usually opaque white, translucent, slow moving and short legged.

• They infest the leaves, inflorescence and developing tissue by sucking the
• These mites cause both qualitative and quantitative losses.

• In various crops like rice, sugarcane, brinjal, okra and chillies, 10-

30% losses are reported due to spider mites.

• The damage is more severe in case of mangoes where it may reach up to

50-80 % (Chhillar et al., 2007).

• Tetranychus urticae can damage 18-22 cells in a minute (Liesering 1960).

• Their feeding results in leaf stippling, blotching, curling and twisting.

• They also modify the developing tissue by forming galls and
injecting

toxins (Jeppson, Baker and Keifer, 1975).

• The symptoms may be irregular deformities of growth pattern, rosette type

growth, irregular leaf or fruit growth, total destruction of growing tips etc.

• All stages of mites except eggs can transmit virus and cause diseases.

• Different viral diseases caused are wheat streak mosaic, fig mosaic, potato

virus, tobacco ring spot and tobacco mosaic virus etc.

• Certain soil inhabiting mites carry fungal spores of various root crop diseases

like fungal rot of garlic and onion (Evans, 1992).

The damage pattern of mites belonging

to these families is as follows
1. Tetranychidae

• Both nymphs and adults feed on the leaf surface.

• White spots are formed on the leaves in later stages of infestation and general

chlorosis occurs in patches.

• Tetranychid mites secrete certain substances into plant cells.

• Puncturing of new cells proceeds from one spot to another in the form of a

circle, which results in the formation of small rounded chlorotic spots.

• It is estimated that roughly 50 per cent of the mass of an adult female

spider mite is eaten per mite per hour.

.

• The numbers of photosynthetically active leaf cells that are

punctured

and emptied per mite, are 100 cells per minute.

• At the macroscopic level, damage from mite feeding can cause leaf

bronzing, stippling or scorching as well as extensive webbing on leaf

surface and black fecal dots are seen on the leaf surface.
• Severe spider mite infestation cause major reductions in plant growth
rates,

flower formation and yield.

• Penetration of cells by mite stylets and injection of saliva cause both

mechanical damage and changes in cell cytology, physiological and

biochemical processes of non-punctured adjacent cells.

• In case of severe infestation, plants show yellowing and general drying of

leaves, which drop prematurely.

 2. Eriophyidae:
The mites occur on all parts of a plant and may or may not exhibit the

symptoms of damage.

Based on type of injury, they have been classified as under:

a. Gall Formers
• Due to feeding on various plant parts hypertrophy of cells occur.

• It results into formation of galls on leaves, flower buds and stem.

• Different types of galls like pouch galls (Pongamia sp.), bead galls (Ficus
sp.), finger galls (Pongamia sp.)
b. Leaf Rollers

These mites roll the whole leaves or only edges of leaves and feed within
the rolls.

c. Erineum Formers

Due to feeding by mites, epidermal layer of cells produce hair

like out growths, which produce the erineum.

d. Blister Mites

Some species cause formation of blisters on the leaf sheath and feed within.
Leaf Rollers Erineum Formers

Blister Mites
 3. Tenuipalpidae:
• These mites generally feed on the ventral
surface of leaves near the midrib or
veins.
• There is bronzing and rusting symptoms
on the lower surface of leaves due to
feeding of nymphs and adults.
• Some species form galls on the leaves
and stems of plants.
 4. Tarsonemidae:
• They usually infest the tender portion of
plants and suck the sap from buds, leaves,
shoots, flowers and stem sheath.
• They cause curling, crinkling and brittleness
of foliage but shows little leaf symptoms.
• The injury caused by this group is often
mistaken as a disease symptoms caused by
pathogenic microorganisms.
 5. Tuckrellidae:
• This is the smallest phytophagous family,
which includes four species.
• These are brightly colored having fan like
dorsal body setae and long whip like caudal
setae.
• The mites do not have much importance, as
they do not cause any economic damage
(Chhillar et al., 2007).
Predatory Mites
Predatory Mites
There is a large group of predatory mites which feed on other harmful mites,
small soft bodied insects, their eggs and occasionally on nematodes
(Krantz, 1978). These mites are usually red, yellow and green, long legged
and fast moving.
1. Phytoseiidae
• This group has received maximum attention globally as they are reported
as predators of phytophagous mites and small insects.
• These mites are whitish/ creamish/ reddish or light brownish in color,

fast moving and abundant in nature.

• They have very long legs, which help them to run very fast.

• They have wide range of food habits from carnivores to non-animal food
(pollen, honey, nectar, plant sap) eaters.
• These mites have several advantages over
other predatory mites because of High
fecundity
 Abundant availability

 Good searching ability

 Dispersal rate

 Adaptability to different ecological niches

 High degree of prey specificity

2. Stigmaeidae
• These are probably next to phytoseiidae as far as predatory efficiency is
concerned.
• These are yellowish/reddish/light brownish in color
• Ovoid or elongated in shape which occupy various habitats.
• These mites cannot run very fast hence these are used for controlling slow
moving mites and for destruction of mite eggs.
• Agistemus spp. are found to be of high promise as biocontrol agents.
Ventral view Dorsal view
3. Anystidae

• These are round, long legged,

reddish

and soft bodied mites.

• They are very fast moving and start

making whirling movement as soon as

touched.
4. Bdellidae
• These are fast moving, medium sized and reddish in colour.
• They prey upon phytophagous mites and small insects like collembola.
• So far, no species of high predatory potentiality has been noticed in field.
5. Cheyletidae
• These are free living predators of phytophagous,
stored and house dust mites.
• Comb like or sickle like setae are present on
pedipalp tarsus.
• Cheletogenes, Cheyletus, Hemicheyletia,
Paracheyletia are important genera whose
interaction with phytophagous mites are well
documented (Chhillar et al., 2007).
6. Cunaxidae
• These are reddish/yellowish/ brownish
mites, fairly fast moving and are known to
be active predators of phytophagous mites.
• They have very strong and thorny
mouthparts but their number is limited in
nature.
• Some of the mites are known to fasten
their preys with silken threads secreted by
their mouthparts.
Stored Grain and Stored Product Mites
Stored Grain and Stored Product Mites

Mites of stored grain and stored product are of great economic importance.

These mites infest and cause damage to goods in following ways:

• Stored grain cereals.

• Seeds of all kind

• Bulbs, tubers and decaying material

• Fresh, cultivated and stored mushrooms

• Dried fruits of all kind

71
Direct Damages

• Some free living mites live in the stored grains and their products where they

multiply rapidly and attain the status of pests.

• Food products, especially the cereals are liable to be infested directly.

• The mites penetrate the seeds through cracks, tear the outer covering of

embryo and eat away cavities where they develop and multiply.

72
• These mites feed on the grain itself or fungi growing on it.

• These mites have blunt chelicerae for scraping and gouging the food.

• Majority of these mites feed on the embryo while some can feed on

cotyledons as well.

• Due to the attack of these mites quality of the stored grains is affected more

badly as compared to the quantity.

73
Indirect Damages
• These mites cause damage to stored grains products by raising the moisture content

and generating sufficient heat which favors growth and infections of pathogens.

• They contaminate the space between the grains with their dead bodies, cast skins

and excrement hereby hindering the circulation of the air in the stock.

• They also act a vectors of fungal and bacterial diseases and spread those through out

the whole mass.

74
 75

• The flour which is prepared from infested grains is more acidic in nature, bitter

taste, stagnant smell, more hygroscopic and has a tendency to stick togather.

• They are clumsy, slow in movement and almost incapable of covering large

distance by themselves.

• They can undergo a transitory quiescent stage which is very difficult to

control.

• The mites of stored of stored grain include following important families

1. Acaridae

• Inhalation or contact on the skin or mucus

membranes of the eyes can induce allergic
reactions.
• These mites also occur in bread, pancakes,
cakes, pizza, pasta, and bread made from
ingredients contaminated with mites.
• Humans have had anaphylactic reactions after
eating these mite contaminated foods.
2. Tyroglyphidae

• This mite also known as flour mite, which is pale greyish white in color

with pink legs.

• The males are from 0.33–0.43 mm in length and the female is from
0.36–

0.66 mm in length .

• Flour mites contaminate grain and flour by allergens and they transfer

pathogenic microorganisms.
• When infested feeds fed by animals , they

show reduced feed intake, diarrhea,

inflammation of the small intestine, and

impaired growth.

• If a person is bitten from a flour mite they

might suffer a reaction called Baker's itch.

3. Carpoglyphidae

• Carpoglyphus lactis is a stored product mite

infesting saccharide rich stored commodities

including dried fruits, wine, beer, milk

products, jams and honey.

• The association with micro-organisms can

improve the survival of mites on dried fruits.

4. Glycyphagidae

• This mite also known as Furniture mite, is

found in foods and grains in warehouses.
• In homes, it flourishes in infested foodstuffs
and in damp areas.
• It has a soft, cream-white body.
• For both sexes, the body bristles are very long
and feathery, 0.3 – 0.7 mm in length.
• Its main food sources are flour, cereals, other
cereal products and fungi.
5.
Pyroglyphidae
• These mites feed on stored products such as grain, cereals, nuts, dried fruit,

cheeses and pet foods, but only in conditions of high relative humidity.

• Each species is the source of multiple potent

allergens that sensitize and trigger allergic

reactions cause perennial rhinitis, asthma

and atopic dermatitis.

Parasitic Mites
Parasitic Mites

 Some mites are parasites of man, animal, other arthropods ,poultry birds and
cause many disease in them.

 These are either ecto-parasites and endo-parasites.

 They have tearing and piercing type of that cause scaling and crushing around
the legs of poultry birds.

 Northern fowl mite and red chicken mite are very important parasites of
poultry birds all over the world.
83
• Psoroptes species (non burrowing mites) cause sheep scab.

• They damage wool and sometimes the loss of animal may also occur.

• Scrub typhus is caused by chigger mites

• Even human beings are not free from their effect

Sarcoptes scabies causes itching in human.

• Trombicula akamushi and dust mite cause lung

Scrub typhus
disease like asthma. 84
• Trombicula akamushi and dust mite cause lung disease like asthma.

• These mites are also vectors of internal parasites like tape worm and filarial

worms. e.g, Family Oribatidae, Acrididae and Pyemotidae etc.

• Gamasid mites are considered as vectors of epidemic hemorrhagic fever

virus.

• Leptotombidiumni akamushi and L. deliense are transmitters of scrub

typhus in man. 85
Biology

• Mites associated with mammals and birds are usually translucent or

whitish in color so they are difficult to detect.

• After feed on host’s blood their color changes to reddish brown.

• Life cycle include egg, larva , two nymphal stages and adult.

86
Nature of Damage

• These mites act as causative agents for anaemia.

• Pneumonia crusting of skin, hair loss, decreased production, death of host

occurs in severe case of inflammation.

• Inflammation, scratching and irrition lead to secondary infection.

• Sarcoptes scabei in case of heavy infestation may cause death of the animal.

• The life cycle of these mites generally require 2 to 17 days. 87

Mites associated with honeybees

• There are certain mites which are associated with honey bees.

• These mites maybe external parasites like varroa destructor, varroa jacobsoni

and internal parasites like Acarapis woodi.

• Some mites which cause the bees as carries to move

from one place to another are also present around the bee

hives. 88
Families of Parasitic mites

• Family sarcoptidae mites are tiny arachinids that are parasites of mammals

and humans

• These cause infection and the mites spend their life in the epidermis of the

skin of their host causing various skin disorders.

89
 1. Psoroptidae

• Well-known sheep mange mites

causing serious damage to fleece

and can even cause deaths.

90
2. Knemidocoptidae

• Species of this family burrow in the non-

feathered areas around the break, eyes, vent

and legs of birds causing tiny non-itching

wart-like lesions.

91
 3.
Pyroglyphidae

• Members of the family are the well-

known house dust mites causing asthma,

rhinitis and allergies in human due to an

antigen they produce.

• Where the humidity is very high.

92
 4. Demodicidae

• Members of this family cause symptoms in mammals characterized by

itching, inflammation and other skin disorders.

93
 Management of Mites
Monitoring
• Mites are small and difficult to see with the naked eye.
• Using a 10x hand lens will enhance your ability to see mites and their eggs.
• Spider mites can be detected by infestations such as cast skins and webbing.
• The mites, eggs and cast skins can seen under surfaces of the leaves.
• Mites can also be sampled using the "beat method" whereby plant parts are
beaten onto an white paper.
• This method works particularly well for evergreens and small-leaved plants.
Cultural Control

• Use of clean, pest free plants and cuttings is essential.

• Knowledge of mite prone species/ varieties can enable the grower to avoid

these plants or to monitor these most closely as "indicator" plants.

• Watering practices affect spider mite populations.

• Drought-stressed plants are most susceptible to mite outbreaks

• Overhead sprinkler systems are less favorable for mite outbreaks.

Biological Control

• A number of predatory mite species are available for mites control.

• Phytoseiulus persimilis, Mesoseiulus longipes, Metaseiulus occidentalis and

Neoseilus californicus have been marketed for released into greenhouses.

Occasionally they are applied as Biotic Insecticides using an Inundative

Release to try to bring down an existing population.

Physical Control
• High-volume, high pressure water sprays through some application devices
such as the Water Wand and Jet All-Water Wand can displace many mites
from foliage and reduced mites population for short period of time.
Chemical Control
• Different miticides have different performance characteristics.
• For example: Avid penetrates into treated foliar plant cells.
• Pentac is relatively slow acting and has ovicidal activity
• Sulfur, registered as a Miticide on some vegetable crops but highly
phytotoxic.
Resistance Management:

• Use miticides only when mites or plant injury they cause is first detected.

• Use the lowest effective miticide rates initially.

• Use long rotation of miticides with different modes of activity.

• Use of tank mixtures containing two or more products with different

modes of action on the mite's nervous system.

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