Tarsonemid Mites in Berry Crops

Tarsonemid mites are small organisms that can represent prevalent pests of berry crops. In particular, cyclamen mite (Phytonemus pallidus) and broad mite (Polyphagotarsonemus latus) are the most damaging to berry plants.

Tarsonemid mites thrive in humid and dark environments and prefer to feed on young foliar tissue; for this reason, infestations usually start from young, enclosed leaflets. Feeding damage will appear as foliar distortion and stunted growth. As infestations worsen, the mites will be found on flowers, fruits, and older leaves, inhabiting both the lower and top foliar margins, causing bronzing of these plant portions. Plant death can occur consequentially to severe infestations.

Nursery hygiene and regular plant sampling during crop walking are good preventative measures to keep tarsonemid mites from proliferating excessively. Predatory mites can additionally help with managing these pest organisms.

Identification of broad mite and cyclamen mite is difficult due to the small size of these organisms (~200μm) and the presence of similar, non-damaging species of tarsonemid mites, which often coexist with the former two species.

Haygrove Chrysalis can help with the identification of tarsonemid mites at affordable prices to assist your integrated pest management strategies in an effective and efficient manner.

Please get in touch with Marco Corradi for a quote or for the extensive service list of Haygrove Chrysalis. We can help growers and agronomists with samples from outside of the UK as well!