JOMALOFAGRinimMlSEARCH 



Vol. X Washington, D. C, August 20, 1917 No. 8 



THE CYCLAMEN MITE 



By G. F. MozNETTE, 

 Assistant Entomologist, Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station 



INTRODUCTION 



The cyclamen mite (Tarsonemus pallidus Banks) has for some time 

 been known as a greenhouse pest. For an arthropod so commonly and 

 widely known to the florists of this country, comparatively little con- 

 cerning its life economy is recorded. Serious outbreaks have occurred 

 at irregular intervals, and more or less damage is done nearly every 

 year. 



During the past season the cyclamen plants in a greenhouse at Cor- 

 vallis, Oreg., appeared badly infested with some pest. Upon examina- 

 tion of the foliage, especially the young developing leaves from the 

 corms, they were found to be infested with a mite which was determined 

 as Tarsonemus pallidus Banks by Dr. Nathan Banks, of Cambridge, 

 Mass. This mite is without question a very serious floral pest, being 

 widely distributed over the United States. The writer having often 

 made an examination of specimens from various parts of the country 

 and of cyclamen stock in a number of floral concerns in the Northwest, 

 decided that, as scarcely anything other than the original description has 

 been published, it appeared appropriate to bring together at this time, 

 as far as possible, the recorded facts concerning the pest. 



HISTORY OF THE SPECIES 



The adults were described by Banks in 1899(1)^ from specimens sent 

 him by Mr. F. A. Sirrine, of the Jamaica branch of the New York Agri- 

 cultural Experiment Station. He reported it as occurring on chrysan- 

 themums in a greenhouse. 



1 Reference is made by number to " Literature cited," p. 389-390. 



Journal of Agricultural Research, • Vol. X, No. 8 



Washington, D. C. Aug. 20, 1917 



jl Key No. Oreg. — 2 



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