Pest Severity: High ⚠️ Contagious

Broad Mites: Urgent! How to Save Your Plant

Broad mites (Polyphagotarsonemus latus) are microscopic pests measuring only 0.25mm, making them nearly invisible to the naked eye. These arthropods feed on meristematic tissues at growing tips, injecting toxic saliva that severely damages new growth. They prefer warm, humid environments and reproduce rapidly, with females laying eggs every 2-3 days. The damage appears weeks after initial infestation, making early detection extremely difficult.

Spread speed

Fast

Recovery time

21 days

🔍 Symptoms

Main Symptoms

! Microscopic shiny amber or dark green mites (0.25mm) - nearly impossible to see without magnification
! New leaves appear puckered, shriveled, or have abnormal strap-like shape
! Leaf margins curl downward and become brittle or leathery
! Bronzing or dark brown discoloration at leaf edges
! Severely stunted or stopped growth at plant tips
! Distorted, twisted, or aborted flowers and buds
! Glossy or wet appearance on damaged new growth
! Plant appears healthy but new growth is severely deformed

Visual Signs

Microscopic mites (0.25mm) - nearly invisible to naked eyeShiny, distorted, or curled new leaves with downward curlBronzed or discolored leaf edgesPuckered, brittle, or strap-like leaf appearanceStunted growth and reduced plant heightDark brown edges at base of young leavesTwisted or deformed flowers and budsGlassy or wet appearance on new growth

Affected parts: LEAVESStemFlowers

❓ Possible Causes

→ Extremely small size (0.25mm) makes early detection nearly impossible
→ Toxic saliva injected during feeding causes distorted growth
→ Rapid reproduction - females lay 40-50 eggs in their lifetime
→ Thrive in warm (70-80°F) and humid conditions
→ Introduced through infested plant material, especially cuttings
→ Feed on meristematic tissues at growing points
→ Can be spread by workers, tools, and air currents in greenhouses
→ White flies may carry broad mites on their bodies

💊 Treatment

⚡

Quick Fixes

~11 days

Step 1

Isolate all affected plants immediately

Step 2

Remove and destroy all visibly damaged new growth and shoot tips

Step 3

Apply fast-acting miticide (abamectin or fenpyroximate) to entire plant

Step 4

Focus spray on new growth areas and undersides of young leaves

Step 5

Repeat miticide application every 5 days for 3 applications

Step 6

Lower humidity and increase air circulation around plants

Materials needed:

AbamectinSpirodiclofenBifenthrinMineral oilPressure sprayerGloves and mask

🌿

Organic Treatment

~21 days

Step 1

Immediately isolate infested plants to prevent spread to healthy plants

Step 2

Release predatory mites (Neoseiulus cucumeris: 50-100 per plant) on all plants

Step 3

Apply sulfur dust or sulfur spray to affected plants weekly

Step 4

Remove and destroy heavily infested shoot tips and new growth

Step 5

Apply neem oil (1-2% solution) every 7 days for 4 weeks

Step 6

Maintain humidity below 60% and ensure good air circulation

Step 7

Continue releasing predatory mites every 2 weeks for prevention

Step 8

Monitor new growth weekly with magnifying lens for 8 weeks

Materials needed:

Neem oilPotassium soapWettable sulfurPredatory mites (Amblyseius)Canola oilHigh-pressure spray bottleMagnifying glass

🔬

Expert Treatment

~32 days

Step 1

Conduct thorough inspection with magnifying lens (10x) of all plants

Step 2

Implement comprehensive Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy

Step 3

Apply translaminar systemic miticides (spirotetramat/spiromesifen) to penetrate tissues

Step 4

Calculate and release appropriate numbers of predatory mites (1,500 per 1,000 sq ft)

Step 5

Remove and destroy all heavily infested plant material in sealed bags

Step 6

Adjust environmental conditions: humidity below 60%, temperature below 80°F

Step 7

Apply miticides on 5-7 day rotation for 4-6 applications minimum

Step 8

Rotate chemical classes to prevent resistance development

Step 9

Install yellow sticky traps to monitor for white flies that spread mites

Step 10

Implement strict sanitation: sterilize tools, quarantine new plants

Step 11

Document all treatments and monitor effectiveness weekly

Step 12

Continue preventative predatory mite releases monthly after control achieved

Step by Step

1
1. Immediately isolate all suspected infested plants from healthy plants
2
2. Remove and destroy heavily infested shoot tips and leaves in sealed bags
3
3. Apply chosen miticide thoroughly to all new growth and undersides of leaves
4
4. Repeat miticide applications every 5-7 days for 3-4 weeks minimum
5
5. Monitor with 10x magnifying lens for new damage or mite presence
6
6. Consider releasing predatory mites after chemical treatments end
7
7. Maintain lower humidity (below 60%) and good air circulation
8
8. Continue monitoring for 6-8 weeks after last symptoms appear

🧪 Solutions

🌱 Natural Solutions

✓ Predatory mites (Neoseiulus cucumeris, N. californicus) - most effective biological control
✓ Sulfur dust or sulfur-based sprays (organic approved)
✓ Neem oil (1-2% solution) applied weekly for 3-4 weeks
✓ Horticultural oil sprays to smother mites
✓ Hot water dip: Immerse entire plant at 110-115°F for 15 minutes (potted plants only)
✓ Insecticidal soap (may have limited effectiveness due to mite location)
✓ Remove and destroy heavily infested parts
✓ Release predatory mites early before population explodes

💉 Chemical Solutions

✓ Abamectin (Avid) - translaminar systemic miticide
✓ Bifenazate + abamectin (Sirocco) - combination product
✓ Spiromesifen (Judo) - growth regulator affecting eggs and nymphs
✓ Spirotetramat (Kontos) - systemic translaminar activity
✓ Fenpyroximate (Akari) - contact miticide
✓ Pyridaben (Sanmite) - contact and translaminar activity
✓ Chlorfenapyr (Pylon) - pro-insecticide with translaminar activity
✓ Note: Rotate chemical classes to prevent resistance development
✓ Translaminar products penetrate leaf tissue where mites feed

🛡️ Prevention

✓ Quarantine all new plants for 2-3 weeks before introducing to collection
✓ Inspect new growth regularly with 10x magnifying lens
✓ Maintain good air circulation and avoid excess humidity above 60%
✓ Keep temperatures below 80°F when possible
✓ Remove and destroy heavily infested plant parts immediately
✓ Isolate plants at first sign of distorted new growth
✓ Avoid overcrowding plants to reduce mite spread
✓ Sterilize pruning tools between plants
✓ Control white fly populations that can spread mites

🌿 Common in These Plants

African Milk Tree

Swiss Cheese Vine

Moon Orchid