Red Palm Mites

Active Seasons

Appearance and Size Facts

Oval shaped with a distinct red coloration
Females are generally larger and less active
Males are similar in shape to females, except they have a tapering posterior section of the body
Size: Roughly 1/100 inch in length
Prefer hot, dry weather rather than wet periods of weather

Behavior and Habitat

Females lay oval shaped eggs, which are attached to leaf surfaces and have a very fine white hair-like structure attached to one end of the egg. Eggs take roughly a week to hatch into the larval stage, which is red with only 6 legs. The mite then progresses through two nymphal stages before becoming a sexually mature adult. Red Palm mites prefer hot, dry weather as opposed to cooler, wet periods of weather. Infestations are usually observed on the underside of leaf surfaces, with chlorotic, or yellow, spots on the leaf surface from the feeding. Red Palm mites do not produce any type of webbing like spider mites. Red Palm mites show a preference for coconut palms, areca palms, banana, and plantain.

Signs of Infestation

On palms, scattered yellow spots will be seen, especially in the middle of the individual leaflets, sometimes on both the top and bottom leaf surfaces. When mite feeding is prolonged, entirely yellow leaves, especially on the bottom 1/3 of the canopy is not uncommon.

Tips for Prevention

Management of most mite species requires a professional pest management company, such as Hulett Environmental Services.

Latest News

Weather and its Impact on Pests

Jul 23, 2019—Insects, Pest Control

We know that weather and seasonal changes affect human behavior and outside activities, so it’s no big surprise that heat and cold, along with dry and wet conditions also affect pest populations. While seasonal changes can be subtle in the South Florida; these changes can send pests looking...