Mites & spiders

Mites

Mites are minute (usually less than 1mm) arachnids with eight legs when adults. They are often pests of animals and plants, infest stored food products and in some cases transmit diseases.

Mites are a risk for Western Australian primary producers as they impact upon market access and agricultural production.

WA is free from some of the world's major agricultural mite pests. Biosecurity and management measures on your property are vital in preventing the spread of mites.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development provides:

  • biosecurity/quarantine measures at the WA border to prevent the entry of mites
  • advice on widespread mites present in the state.

For advice on mites search our website, the Western Australian Organism List or contact our Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS).

For diagnostic services, please contact our Diagnostic Laboratory Services.

Spiders

Spiders are eight legged arachnids. They are not agricultural pests and do not spread disease or damage crops or food products. Spiders can play a beneficial role by feeding on pest insects. There are hundreds of species of spiders in Australia, with very few spiders that are potentially harmful.

Contact the Western Australian Museum for further information on spiders or Poisons Information on 13 11 26 for treatment of severe bites.

See Also

Previous Pause Next

Articles

  • Dorsal view of a red over-wintering form of two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) on a gerbera leaf

    Spider mite pests of Western Australian plants

    9 October 2013

    Mites of the Tetranychidae family (commonly known as spider mites) include some important pests of economic concern to agriculture and forestry.

  • Two treated rows of vines in a block heavily infested with six-spotted mite demonstrate the damage potential of this mite

    Six-spotted mite - a pest of avocados and grapevines

    18 March 2014

    Six-spotted mite can defoliate avocado trees and grapevines in the lower south-west of Western Australia.

  • Yellowing of apple leaves indicates the presence of European red mite

    Management of European red mite in Western Australia

    30 January 2014

    European red mite feeds on leaves of fruit trees especially apples. This can result in premature leaf fall which affects fruit tree vigour and fruit quality.

  • The lighter colour to leaves in apple orchards indicate a mite infestation

    Managing mites in WA deciduous fruit trees

    17 March 2014

    Mites are one of the most consistent pests in deciduous fruit tree orchards in Western Australia. Over-reliance on miticides for control has led to pesticide resistance in some species.

  • Two spotted mite on a banana leaf in the ORIA

    Pest management of bananas in the ORIA

    26 February 2014

    Bananas in the Ord River Irrigation Area face two major insect pests (banana weevil borer and sugarcane bud moth) and two mites (russet and two-spotted).

  • Webbing visible from a heavy mite infestation on this strawberry crop

    Mite pests of strawberry crops

    14 January 2014

    The most common mite pest of strawberry crops is two-spotted mite (Tetranychus urticae), also known as spider mite or red-spider mite.

  • rust mite damage

    Mites in citrus

    10 October 2013

    Mites (Acari) are arthropods, a group that includes insects and spiders. Some mites are large enough to be visible to the naked eye while others can only be seen with a hand lens or microscope.

Filter by search

Filter by topic