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DESCRIPTION
Adult- Broad mites are almost microscopic (less than 0.2 mm long). They are translucent and colorless to pale brown. There are four pairs of legs; the last pair in the female ends in a long hair; the last pair on the male ends in a strong claw.
Egg- The egg is elliptical, translucent, colorless, about 0.08 mm long, and is covered by 29 to 37 whitish bumps.
Larva- The young broad mite has three pairs of legs and is whitish due to minute ridges on the skin. It is about 0.1 mm long.
Fig. 111: Broad mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks)
Tarsonemidae, PROSTIGMATA
A-Adult female,
B-Male,
C-egg,
D-Nymph.
Fig. 111a: Damaged schefflera plant. 
BIOLOGY
Distribution- The broad mite is found in India, Ceylon (where it is called the yellow tea mite), Bangladesh (where it is called the yellow jute mite), Rumania (where it is called the broad spider) and other European countries, Africa, Brazil (where it is called the tropical mite and the broad rust mite), and the United States.
Host Plants- Broad mites feed on a large number of field crops, including potato, tomato, chili, cotton, mango, papaya, and tea. Broad mites also infest African violet, ageratum, azalea, begonia, dahlia, gerbera, gloxinia, ivy, jasmine, impatiens, lantana, marigold, peperomia, snapdragon, verbena, and zinnia.
Damage- Infested plants become unthrifty. Leaves curl downward and turn coppery or purplish. Internodes shorten and lateral buds break more than normal. This new growth may also be stunted or killed which forces out additional shoots. Flowers are distorted and fail to open normally. Unless controlled, broad mites usually destroy the commercial value of infested ornamental corps. Broad mites damage flowers and foliage of begonia and cyclamen, and bronze the lower leaf surfaces. Broad mites are so small that they are virtually invisible on the host plant even with a good hand lens. Also the mites tend to crowd into crevices and buds and feed on the growing tips. Their toxic saliva causes twisted, hardened and distorted growth in the terminal of the plant. The effects of their feeding may persist long after the mites have been eradicated.
Life History- Female broad mites lay 30 to 76 eggs on the leaf surface over an 8- to 13-day oviposition period. Unmated females lay male eggs; mated females usually lay four female eggs for every male egg. The larvae hatch in 2 or 3 days and emerge from the egg shell to feed. Larvae are slow moving and do not disperse far. In 2 or 3 days, the larvae develop into a quiescent larval stage. Quiescent female larvae become attractive to the males which pick them up and carry them to the new foliage. Males and females are very active, but the males apparently account for much of the dispersal of a broad mite population in their frenzy to carry the quiescent female larvae to new leaves. When females emerge from the quiescent stage, males immediately mate with them. Males live 5 to 9 days; females live 8 to 13 days.
CONTROL
Broad mites are very sensitive to heat. Lowering infested plants into water held at 43 to 49°C for 15 minutes will destroy broad mites without damaging the plants. Broad mites are also susceptible to various miticides. However, they are more difficult to control in winter than in summer due to lower greenhouse temperatures. For specific chemical control recommendations, see the current Cooperative Extension Service publications on ornamental plant pest management or consult your county agent.
University of Florida/IFAS Reference to Pest Control Guides