Download Exotic Pest Alert: Banana spider mite

Exotic Pest Alert: Banana spider mite
January 2014, Primefact 1323, 1st edition
Plant Biosecurity, Orange
Banana spider mite (Tetranychus piercei) is an
exotic plant pest
This mite is a serious threat to Australia’s
banana industry
Please report suspect symptoms promptly to
the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline 1800 084 881
Banana spider mite
Banana spider mite is also called banana leaf
mite, banana red mite or Pierce’s spider mite.
This mite is a native of Indonesia and Papua New
Guinea. Its close proximity to northern Australia
is a concern to the Australian banana industry.
The first signs of banana spider mite infestations
are small brown spots on the lower sides of
banana leaves. As mite populations increase
these lower leaf surfaces become reddish-brown
(Figure 1).
The other sign that banana spider mite is present
is white, silky webbing. Webbing is found on the
lower leaf surfaces and on the plant stems.
Leaf symptoms may not be evident in the early
stages of banana spider mite infestation.
Figure 1 Banana spider mite damage (reddishbrown marks) on the under sides of banana leaves
Damage
Banana spider mite damages banana plants by
feeding on their plant sap. Feeding by the mites
slows plant growth and reduces banana yields by
delaying fruit maturity.
Description
Adult banana spider mites have dark red bodies,
eight legs and a spider-like appearance. The
adult mites are 0.3-0.5 mm long (Figure 2).
A magnifying glass or hand lens is needed to find
the adult mites, as they are only twice the size of
the full stop at the end of this sentence.
Figure 2 Adult banana spider mite (0.3-0.5 mm
long) feeds on the sap in banana leaves
Exotic Pest Alert: Banana spider mite
Lifecycle
Banana spider mite has five lifecycle stages:
eggs, larvae, protonymphs, deutonymphs and
adults.
Reporting
If you suspect banana spider mite:
call the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on
1800 084 881
The females lay up to 155 eggs on the under
sides of host plant leaves.
take photos not samples to minimise the risk
of spreading this pest
The larvae hatch and feed on plant sap, covering
the plant leaves with small brown spots. They go
through two nymph stages to become adults.
email clear photos with a brief explanation
and contact details to
[email protected]
Banana spider mites overwinter as eggs or
females on plant stems, leaf litter and topsoil.
Only one infertile female is required to start a
new infestation.
Hosts
Banana spider mite infests cultivated and wild
bananas (Musaceae).
Other host plants include green bean, eggplant,
paw paw and sweet potato.
Spread
Banana spider mite nymphs and adults can crawl
short distances.
Banana spider mite infestation starts at the base
of the banana plant. The mites then slowly move
up the stem of the infested host plant.
Banana spider mite can be spread further by
wind, insects, birds and humans.
An exotic plant pest is a disease causing
organism or an invertebrate not present in
Australia and which threatens agricultural
production, forestry or native and amenity
plants.
Acknowledgments
Figure 1 courtesy of Jeff Daniells, Principal
Horticulturist, Queensland Department of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Forestry
Figure 2 courtesy of Plant Health Australia
Distribution
Banana spider mite is found in China, Indonesia,
Japan, Kampuchea, Malaysia, Papua New
Guinea, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan,
Thailand and Vietnam.
Biosecurity
Put in place biosecurity best practice actions to
prevent entry, establishment and spread of pests
and diseases:
practise “Come clean, Go clean”
ensure all staff and visitors are instructed in
and adhere to your business management
hygiene requirements
source propagation material of a known high
health status from reputable suppliers
monitor your crop regularly
keep records
isolate banana plants or areas with suspect
symptoms to prevent further spread
2
NSW Department of Primary Industries, April 2014
© State of New South Wales through the Department of Trade and
Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services 2014. You may copy,
distribute and otherwise freely deal with this publication for any
purpose, provided that you attribute the NSW Department of Primary
Industries as the owner.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is based on
knowledge and understanding at the time of writing (April 2014).
However, because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of
the need to ensure that information upon which they rely is up to date
and to check currency of the information with the appropriate officer of
the Department of Primary Industries or the user’s independent
adviser.
Published by the NSW Department of Primary Industries.
PUB14/2