Gorse Spider Mite Red Spider Mite Tetranychus lintearius Biological control agent on Ulex europaeus (Gorse)
Image details
Contributor:
Lindsay Constable / Alamy Stock PhotoImage ID:
E8WA9JFile size:
103.4 MB (7.4 MB Compressed download)Releases:
Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?Dimensions:
7360 x 4912 px | 62.3 x 41.6 cm | 24.5 x 16.4 inches | 300dpiDate taken:
26 September 2014Location:
Reigate Heath, Surrey, UKMore information:
Gorse Spider-mite (Tetranychus lintearius) biological control agent. As the mites suck the juice out of the Gorse the plant turns from dark green to a sickly yellow, and the infested part of the bush may die back. The adult mite is half a millimeter long and bright red. It lives in colonies in a shelter of spun silk spanning many branch tips. Infested plants are easily identifiable by these cobweb-like sheets of silk, which can grow quite large. The female lays one to four eggs per day during her three- to four-week adult lifespan. The tiny nymph is small enough to disperse on the wind during its first stage. Those that stay behind populate the colony as it expands. This mite is native to Europe, where it does more damage to the plant than any other organism. The mite appears to be host-specific; it does not attack any other plants. The adult and nymph damage the plant by piercing its tissues during feeding. Heavy mite activity reduces flowering and can stunt the development of the branches. The red spider mite was introduced into North America and Hawaii in the 1990's as a biological control agent.