Broad mites, also known as Polyphagotarsonemus latus, occurs in moderate climate regions only, often observed in greenhouses and tropics. There is a wide range of plants that are the main prey of the broad mites. Mites, often, appear on plants like peppers, tomato, cucumber, and many ornamental crops like cyclamen, begonia, gerbera, etc. Peppers is the most common host plant for broad mites. Mites on plants cannot survive the winter, especially when the temperature goes below 50° F.
Now, one may ask, what are broad mites? Well, they belong to the mites’ family, Tarsonemidae. They have the most diverse eating habits than the other mites’ groups. They do not only feed on plants but algae, fungi are also not safe from them. They even feed on insects’ predators and parasites. Broad mites damage is considerably larger than the rest of the mites and can eventually kill the plant. They attack plants that are either ornamental or vegetable. There are three types of mites i.e. Cucumeris, Amblyseius californicus, and Amblyseius swirskii.
How to eradicate broad mites?
There are several methods, either chemical or natural for broad mite control. Broad mite treatment becomes easy and possible with these remedies mentioned below:
#1 Avid 0.15EC- Syngenta (Chemical – Editors’ Choice)
Avid 0.15EC works both as insecticide and miticide. It can control leaf miners and mites. Its formula is versatile and can be applied in many different sites. It not only kills the mites but also keeps the other insects in check too. This product is also used in resistance management program rotation, because of its unique chemistry. This product should be applied at the young age of thrips, aphids, and whiteflies. They instantly kill thrips, aphids, and whiteflies.
Mix one-fourth of a teaspoon and one-half of a teaspoon in one-gallon water for mite control and leaf miner control, respectively. Apply this spray in a way, that the solution is uniformly covering the affected areas of the cannabis plant. The spray needs to be repeated after every 7 days for the first 2-3 weeks. Later, some other product should be used, that has a different method of killing. Use a hand-held pressure sprayer and spray on the affected plants thoroughly. The best time to spray your plants is in the evening. Irrigate your plants immediately after spraying your Cannabis plants for more efficacy and precision.
#2 Garden Safe Neem Oil Extract (Natural – Editors’ Choice)
Neem oil can give some unpleasant odor when comes in contact with flower buds, so always keeps it away from those buds. This remedy is effective that keeps things in control for longer in any edible garden and on the Cannabis plants as well. It is an all-natural remedy and can kill many mites, insects, and molds having more accurate control over broad mites and other pests on the undersides of the leaves.
Moreover, this all-natural remedy has long-lasting control over the gardening pests leaving no harm or residues on the edible greens and Cannabis while it can be applied frequently if you are interested to stick yourself to the organic controls.
Mix it in water in a pressure spray bottle. This spray bottle will help you to eventually apply the oil on the affected areas since neem oil and water are immiscible.
#3 Instant Mite Killer
It is an instant kill formula, that kills on every contact with the broad mites on cannabis plants, as well as, on outdoor plants. Other than mites, it can also kill powdery mildew, gnats, russet mites and many more. This miticide is a natural formula and it can always pass the pesticide test easily. This product ensures that mites never appear on your cannabis again. There is no specific stage of the plant cycle when it should not be applied. It can be applied to all vegetables and flowering plants. The maker claims that it can eradicate the mites on the first trial.
Its unique formula kills the mites in three ways. First, the breathing tubes of the bugs are clogged, Then, these bugs start to burn under the effect of citric acid and finally, bugs and eggs like the broad mite eggs are completely destroyed, by dehydrating them completely.
Mix 1-2 ounce of the instant mite killer into one gallon of water. 1 ounce for medium infestation and 2 ounces for severe infestation. If the plant is severely infested then, for the first week, treat the affected areas every 3 days. Then light the dose and mix 1 ounce in 1-gallon water and treat after every 4 days for one month. For maintenance, apply the mixture (0.5 ounces in every 1 gallon) every 6 days. A mist sprayer will be a better choice to cover the entire plant foliage in the evening.
#4 Forbid 4F – Bayer
This product provides controls for both mites and whiteflies. It is specially designed for ornamental, foliage and flowing plants. It can also help in killing mites on cannabis. The active formula present in its formula is designed in a fashion, that it can kill the mites during all stages. However, it is still preferred to apply when the mites are young since this product is more effective on that stage. It has long residual effects that can last up to 45 days. Moreover, it does not harm the beneficial insects of the cannabis plant. It can be applied to trees, shrubs, foliage and flower plants.
This product is ready-made and should be applied as it is, in a uniform terminology. However, water can also be mixed to ease the uniform spraying method. In addition to that, it should be never be applied more than 3 times in a season due to longer residual effects.
#5 Floramite SC/LC
Floramite is a miticide, that can kill and control a wide range of mites. This product has a broad spectrum of application plants. These plants include all flowering plants, foliage plants, bedding plants, perennials plants, bulb crops, ornamental plants, and shrubs and trees. It contains Bifenazate, that can easily kill the broad mites. It has a long residual effect of about 28 days.
Use only 0.04-0.08 oz. of the liquid product per gallon and apply such that full coverage of the plants’ surface takes place. It quickly kills the mites once they get in contact with it. Use a high-pressure hand-held sprayer to cover the entire plant foliage.
#6 Ultra-pure Oil – BASF
This product is an all-seasons product. It can be applied in all the seasons and has almost none sulfonated residues. It is non-toxic and can work for a wide range of insects, fungus and mites. Ultra-pure Oil can be used either as it is or be mixed in-tank solution for effective control. It provides control against powdery mildew, leafhoppers, lace-bugs, fungus gnats, thrips and many more. It has no odor and thus it will not cause any displeasures when applied to the cannabis plants. Its application area is quite wide too, it can be used in gardens, nurseries, greenhouses, farms, foliage plants. ornamental trees, and fruits and nuts crops.
Apply it uniformly, on the affected parts on the cannabis plants. If not, then mix 0.01-0.02 gallons of the product in every 1 gallon and apply as a drench. However, it is recommended to apply it with the help of the tank.
#7 Bush Doctor Force of Nature Miticide-Fox Farm
The crops range for this product includes cucumbers, trees, tomatoes, melons, all types of flowing plants and squash. Force of Nature can kill many types of insects and mites. It can clear all the insects and mites in under a month, with its only 1% solution. It is applied in the form of foliar spray on cannabis plants. This product is non-toxic for both animals and humans. It is made of all-natural ingredients.
Apply the 1% dilute spray of the Force of Nature as a foliar spray to establish a linear and uniform coverage of the product. The best choice is a mist sprayer while its application in the evening is more effective than the one done in the bright sunlight.
#8 Talstar Insecticide
Its active component is Bifenthrin. It contains Bifenthrin about 7.9%. This product can be used in both homes and professional uses. From cannabis plants of home to food processing facilities, it can be used almost everywhere without causing any harm. It is non-toxic in nature. Its makers also say that it can kill broad mites too with the insects on the cannabis plant. Almost over 70 different insects can be controlled and killed by this product.
The amount of the product per gallon may vary from 0.2 oz to 2 oz, depending upon the types of the mite or insects. It has a residual effect of 21-30 days and should be applied, if needed, after this. A hand-held pressure sprayer is recommended to spray your Cannabis and other gardening greens in the evening.
What are Broad mites?
See also:
- How to Get Rid of Russet Mites: 10 way to kill russet mites on Cannabis (Updated for 2022)
- How to Get Rid of Leaf Miners: 11 way kill leaf miners in garden (Updated 2022)
- Scale Insects: 11 way to kill scale insect (Updated for 2022)
- How to Get Rid of Fire Ants: 10 way to kill ants and fire ants in your garden (Review 2022)
Broad Mites are difficult to notice until using a magnifying lens or microscope. Females are larger in size compared to males of the same class where a female can be 0.2 millimeters long while a male up to 0.1 millimeters. Bodies are often ovate and puffy having eight legs and body-color may vary amber to yellow or green. The rare legs in males are distended while compact in females. Colorless truncated eggs with miniature clumps giving them a speckle shape. Premature broad mites might be flattened having 6 legs while they are creepers while the nymph can’t move. Broad mites often originate from dejections on fruit where the eggs were laid.
Broad mite Symptoms
Broad mites heavily feed on the new growth often called tender shoots and fruits that are less than 1 inch in size and found on the inner side of the canopy that doesn’t get direct sunlight. Other locations might be the inner fruit in the plant foliage or the side facing inward. Their feeding leads to scars on the surface of the fruits that turn into cracks as fruit matures. Cupping and curling of the small leaves may occur on the outer foliage that is often similar to 2-4-D or Glyphosate damages on new growth that also sometimes looks to boron deficiencies and physiological malformation. The episodes of premature fruit drop, discoloration, cupping and turning leaves yellow are the major symptoms when broad mites are present on any plant.
What does a Broad mite look like?
Broad mite identification is not that easy as it seems. Broad mites on cannabis are too small to be observed with merely a human naked eye. The pictures of them on the internet are the magnified ones. Their legs maybe 6 or 8: 6 when they are young and 8 when adult. Their symptoms are not very unique and are often confused with symptoms caused by viruses. They’re common, resembling effects are overwatering, root problems, heat stress, and pH imbalance.
But if you are looking for an answer to How to identify broad mites on cannabis? Then the effected plants from broad mites may have leaves, that have watery; and wet appearance. Furthermore, leaves are also seen to be twisted and turned up from the edges. The affected new leaves are often seeming blistered, turned; and wet at the same time. The buds of the flowing plants turn brown and die quickly.
How to kill broad mites on cannabis plants?
The first and foremost requirement is to stop the infestation from spreading. For that eradicate and remove that infected part of the plant. Unless the affected part is the issue, you cannot save the plant. Treat the affected plants at least once every week and spray the required killing sprays before the dark. Even after when the infestation is gone, keep on treating the plant for at least 5-6 more weeks as caution.
Home remedies for Broad Mites
#9 Safer Brand -Insect Killing Soap
These soaps can help against killing broad mites too. These soaps weaken the outer shell of the mites. It is water-soluble and thus non-harmful to plants too. Moreover, they do not leave many residues thus it would not kill the beneficial insects of the plants.
It comes in the fatty acids group and thus is not soluble in water either. That is why it is always to use a spray bottle for it. But again, it does not stay on the plant for long, maximum up to 8 hours. For this reason, this needs to be reapplied, for effective results. It can always give out odor, so prevent their contact with the buds. It is a hassle-free technique to get rid of broad mites than any other and keeps control for longer.
The best choice for its application is to apply it with some surfactants so that the product stays on the foliage for longer to keep the constant control on the Cannabis and other microgreens.
Different Broad Mites vs Russet Mites
One may confuse with both because they affect plants in a similar way and are invisible under the leaves during the early stages of their infestations. However, they do have a separate position in our mites’ list. Both have the same life cycle time i.e. 8-15 days, this time may vary with climate and temperature conditions.
- Broad mites have 4 different development stages; whereas, Russet mites have only two.
- Broad mites’ eggs are colorless, elliptical in shape and luminous; whereas, eggs of Russet mites are clear, and round in shape.
- Broad mites have 6-8 legs; on the other hand, Russet mites have only two front legs.
- Broad mites are oval in shape, whereas, Russet mites are wedge-like.
- The damage caused by Russet mites is more lethal than the one caused by the Broad mites.
- Both drain the plants’ nutrients and caused their leaves to turn yellowish, dull and turned from the edges.
- Both affect the whole growth of the plant, not only the growth of leaves and buds.
How long until broad mites kill my plant?
Broad mites may keep on damaging your Cannabis and other edible greens until the surface temperatures fall below 50°F or exceed over 110°F in your garden. Another best option to eradicate them fully is to expose the affected parts of plants in the water for 15 minutes between 110°F to 120°F temperature ranges.