Broad Mite
Scientific Name: Polyphagotarsonemus latus
Order & Family: Order: Trombidiformes, Family: Tarsonemidae
Size: 0.1–0.3 mm in length (microscopic)
Natural Habitat
Commonly found in greenhouses and outdoor tropical regions on the underside of plant leaves.
Diet & Feeding
Herbivorous; feeds on plant sap by piercing cell walls of young leaves and flower buds.
Behavior Patterns
Rapid reproduction in warm, humid conditions; they often hitchhike on larger insects like whiteflies to colonize new plants.
Risks & Benefits
Major agricultural pest that causes leaf curling, stunting, and fruit discoloration; no benefits to the ecosystem.
Identified on: 2/6/2026