Sucks the Life Out
Bright red with a long, spatulate body, this “mighty mite” is known to feed and reproduce on at least 32 palm species, bananas, gingers and heliconias. This pest lives for about 26 days. It thrives on the underside of leaves and fronds and in high numbers causes yellowing of the leaves followed by death of plant tissue. They stick their sucking snouts into the stomata of leaves and feed directly from deep within the leaf. This causes mechanical damage to the stomata so that they are no longer able to close and the leaf dries out.
Easy To See
While the mites are very small, they are usually easy to see because of their large numbers on the underside of leaves. Shaking the leaf over a piece of while paper is an easy test. If red dots appear on the paper, the leaf is infested. You can also see them clearly with a magnifying glass.
Blowin’ in the Wind
Transport of infested plants or plant material seems to be the major mode of dispersal for this mite in the Caribbean region. They have been found on seed coconuts destined for Florida. Handicrafts made from coconut leaves and sold to tourists in the Caribbean have also been found to contain live mites. The red palm mite also disperses on the wind, so a tropical storm or hurricane can spread them over a wide area.
Hard To Get Rid Of
Since the red palm mite is a “new” pest, there is very little at this time that homeowners can do to eradicate it. Insecticidal soaps and horticultural oils are the best options when applications are needed to prevent damaging population levels, but they only work if you can cover the mites with them. Chemical control is difficult outside of the nursery environment because the size of most palms makes the use of acaricides (substances that kill mites and ticks) impractical. Professional pest control companies, including Insect Protection Pest Control, have access to other products that will effectively control these mites. If you suspect red palm mites, call today for a FREE inspection.
If you have red palm mites, don’t move the plant materials from your property without taking precautions. Fronds and leaves should be doubled bagged in trash bags and placed in the garbage.
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