Re: mites

["Richard K. Lindquist" <rlindqui@postbox.acs.ohio-state.edu>]

While visiting a bedding plant greenhouse in the (beautiful) Toledo, Ohio area yesterday, I brought back a double impatiens hanging basket (sitting on the floor of the greenhouse) with classic thrips feeding injury. After looking at a few terminals, I did find immature thrips. No surprise there.  But I also found what appeared to be Tyrophagus mites within the very young leaves. These mites aren't very well known (to me, at least), but we used to have occasional problems with them on greenhouse vegetables. They look much like bulb mites, only are more hairy. Much larger than a cyclamen or broad mite. Leaves appeared to be very small, deformed and stunted. See the photo attached for the symptoms - not the mites. Has anyone else seen these mites? Chuck Powell mentioned what could have been this same mite group in a recent article - on tuberose begonias, I believe.

doubleimp1.jpg

Richard Lindquist
Department of Entomology
OARDC/OSU
1680 Madison Ave
Wooster, OH 44691
Tel: (330)263-3736
Fax: (330)263-3686
e-mail: lindquist.1@osu.edu