Small Fruit Mite - Broad Mites on Blackberries

Broad mites were first found on blackberries in PA in 2013 and this was thought to be an isolated occurrence. Since then we've found that they can contribute to a nearly total crop loss on primocane-fruiting blackberries. Broad mites have also been found in plantings in other states across the eastern U.S.

Photo 1: Leaf distortion and cupping of blackberry leaves infested by broad mites. Photo credit: Donn Johnson, Univ. of Arkansas

Typical damage from broad mites is tissue distortion, reduced terminal leaf growth, either downward or upward curling or cupping of leaves (Photo 1) and flower clusters that appear compressed (Photo 2) or blossoms that dry up. Symptoms on flower clusters may not show up until the second year of infestation. Broad mites build up to hundreds per leaflet on younger terminal leaves.

Photo 2: Infested blackberry terminal growth showing upward leaf cupping and compression of flower cluster. Photo credit: Kathy Demchak, Penn State

These mites are very tiny - less than 0.2 mm (about 1/100th of an inch) as are their distinctive eggs dotted with white spots (Photo 3). These mites are difficult to see even with a 16X hand lens.

Photo 3: Greatly-magnified young blackberry fruit with broad mite female (right) and eggs (left of center). Photo credit: Sara May, Penn State

Because of the small sizes of broad mites and the eggs, symptoms of leaf curling and dying terminal foliage (Photo 4) and flower clusters are all that a grower is likely to notice.

Photo 4: Terminal dieback of blackberry plant resulting from broad mite infestation. Photo credit: Donn Johnson, Univ. of Arkansas

With citrus, the mites are found in depressions on the fruit where the females lay their eggs, and as is evidenced by the number of mites and eggs on a young blackberry fruit (Photo 5), it appears that blackberries provide a similarly desirable fruit surface.

Photo 5: Young blackberry fruit with numerous broad mite eggs and adults. Photo credit: Tim Gleason, Penn State

We're not sure exactly why we are seeing this new mite pest on blackberry at this time or where it came from. Perhaps this pest is better able to survive in more mild winter temperatures, both in the field and in high tunnels. Interestingly, there is some evidence that broad mites may be able to gain mobility by attaching themselves to whiteflies.

So, what can one do to control broad mite infestations? First, keep watch for them, and if you notice just a plant or two exhibiting suspicious symptoms, rogue it out along with a couple of plants to each side of it. It appears that it is possible to hold the problem at bay, or slow it down greatly by utilizing this simple practice. Practices similar to those that would assist with controlling two-spotted mites (conserving natural enemies, releasing predatory mites early enough and at timings that would allow them to establish in the planting, and avoiding use of broad-spectrum insecticides) may be beneficial, though there is currently very little information in this area.

Acknowledgement

Thanks to Sara May at Penn State's Plant Disease Clinic for assistance in diagnosing this problem in Pennsylvania.

Additional Reading/References

Fasulo, T.R. 2000, revised August 2010. Broad Mite. Featured Creatures, Univ. of Florida.

Johnson, D. 2014. Broad Mites Damaging Blackberries. Arkansas Fruit and Nut News, Vol. 4, Issue 7, Sept. 5, 2014

Johnson, D. 2015. Do You Have Broad Mites on Blackberry? Arkansas Fruit and Nut News, Vol. 5, Issue 5, June 8, 2015.

Myers, M. and Bogash, S. 2015. Broad Mites in Fruiting Vegetables. Penn State Extension, posted June 22, 2015.

University of California IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Citrus, Broad Mite. Updated 2015. UC ANR Publication 3441.