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Plant-Feeding Mites in Citrus

L. M. Diepenbrock, J. D. Burrow, and D. Carrillo

Flat Mite (Brevipalpus sp.) Identification

  • Flat, diamond shaped
  • Yellow to reddish orange in color
  • Females may have a black “H” marking with green and dark spots
  • Approximately 0.2 mm; males are smaller than females
  • Can be found on both sides of leaf, stems, and fruit
Figure 1.
Credit: T. R. Weeks, UF/IFAS

Flat Mite (Brevipalpus sp.) Feeding Damage

  • Leaves circular yellow spots on fruit from feeding (pictured)
  • Can vector citrus leprosis virus when the virus is present in the system
  • When populations are very high, leaf damage may occur
A green apple with a stem Description automatically generated with medium confidence
Figure 2.
Credit: T. R. Weeks, UF/IFAS

Texas Citrus Mite Identification

  • Females (left) are a broad oval shape; males (right) are slender oval shape
  • Males have longer legs than females
  • Approximately 0.5 mm long
  • Often located on upper side of leaf and move from the inner leaf to the outer leaf
A picture containing arthropod, invertebrate, acarine Description automatically generated
Figure 3.
Credit: University of Arizona

Texas Citrus Mite Feeding Damage

  • Leaves will look speckled (stippling)
  • High populations may cause leaf and fruit drop
  • When leaves drop, the leaf petiole stays intact on tree
  • Damage progresses from top of tree, then downward
Figure 4.
Credit: University of Texas

Citrus Rust Mite Identification

  • Wedge shaped, longer than wide
  • Light yellow in color
  • 0.15 mm long
  • Feed on both fruit and leaves, but prefer fruit
  • Often found on outer canopy fruit
Figure 5.
Credit: E. Demard, UF/IFAS

Citrus Rust Mite Feeding Damage

  • Leaves and fruit have smooth, dark-brown spots
  • Extreme damage causes bronzing (pictured) on fruit; bronzing also occurs on leaves
  • May cause smaller fruit size
  • Most often found on outer canopy away from direct sunlight
Figure 6.
Credit: J. D. Burrow, UF/IFAS

Broad Mite Identification

  • Oval shaped
  • Light yellow to reddish or brownish yellow, may be green
  • Females have a stripe, whereas males do not
  • Females are 0.2 mm long and males are 0.11 mm long; males move faster
  • Feed on unhardened leaves and fruit
Figure 7.
Credit: L. Buss, UF/IFAS

Broad Mite Feeding Damage

  • Leaf bronzing
  • Leaf curling unevenly distributed on leaf, no pattern
  • Feeding damage same on various plants (dogwood pictured)
  • Rind damage on developing fruit
  • Common greenhouse pest
Figure 8.
Credit: Tennessee State University

Citrus Red Mite Identification

  • Females are oval, whereas males have a tapered rear
  • Dark red in color
  • Approximately 0.5 mm; male is smaller than female and has long legs
  • Found on both leaves and fruit
A ladybug on a green leaf Description automatically generated with medium confidence
Figure 9.
Credit: L. Buss, UF/IFAS

Citrus Red Mite Feeding Damage

  • On leaves, damage is speckled and may have a silvery appearance
  • Leaves and fruit may be pale in color
  • Severe populations may cause leaf drop
Figure 10.
Credit: D. Rosen, University of California

Two Spotted Spider Mite Identification

  • Oval shaped with two dark spots
  • Male is brown to orange in color; the female color is typically pale green, but may have a yellow, brown or orange look
  • Approximately 0.4 mm
  • Female is larger than male, male has a pointed abdomen
  • Prefers underside of leaves
A close up of a leaf Description automatically generated with low confidence
Figure 11.
Credit: T. R. Weeks, UF/IFAS

Two Spotted Spider Mite Feeding Damage

  • Leaves appear gray or yellow
  • Between leaf veins, yellow or brown spots from feeding
  • If infestation severe, leaf drop may occur
  • Common greenhouse pest
A close up of a leaf Description automatically generated with medium confidence
Figure 12.
Credit: Government of Western Australia