GARDEN PESTS IX NEW ZEALAND 



hatch in the spring, when the foliage is again attacked. The red mite 

 develops rapidly, and reaches the adult stage in about two weeks; 

 several generations are thus produced from spring to autumn, when the 

 eggs are laid upon the foliage. 



The eggs (Fig. 13, ?') are very small, globular, and ribbed on the 

 surface; from the centre of each projects a hair-like stalk, somewhat 

 bent at the tip. The colour is bright red, changing to a deep orange. 

 The red mite lives freely upon the foliage, and does not produce a web, 

 as do related species; the adult female is bright red to dark brownish-red, 

 rather globular in shape, with comparatively stout legs and numerous 

 spine-like hairs on the back. Although the eggs of the European red 

 mite are exposed on bark and readily accessible to sprays during the 

 winter, no effective winter wash for their control is yet known ; the 

 most satisfactory method for checking the pest is to spray the active 

 stages of the mite with summer oil. 



Another species of mite, having much the same habits and host 

 plants as the European red mite, is the brown mite (Bryobia, prcetiosm). 

 The eggs of this species are of a deep red, with a yellowish tinge in 

 many cases, but differ from those of the European red mite in the 

 absence of the polar-stalk and ribbed surface. The brown mites 

 (Fig. 13, 8) are of a dull red or greenish colour, lack the spine-like 

 hairs on the back, are decidedly flattened, and have the front pair of 

 legs abnormally long. 



The common red spider (Tetranychus t&larius) is a species of mite 

 frequently met with on a wide range of plants too numerous to mention 

 here; in Xew Zealand it frequently injures violet, hop, currant, willow, 

 and many weeds. This mite is to be found in all stages practically all 

 the year round ; during the spring it is mostly found on weeds and such 

 cultivated plants as strawberry and violet. It is a web-spinning species., 

 and the minute yellowish-red eggs are to be found scattered amonor a 

 fine web attached to the lower surface of leaves as a rule. The adult 

 mite (Fig. 13, 9) is very active; it is somewhat larger than the two 

 foregoing species, and of a yellowish-green colour, with a pair of con- 

 spicuous dark spots on the back. Though this mite can be held in check 

 by the application of lime-sulphur sprays, advantage should be taken of 

 thorough cultivation during the dormant season, since the mite hiber- 

 nates on weeds and among dead leaves and in the soil. 



A mite very often met with by bulb growers is the bulb-mite 

 (Rhizoglyphus Jiyo&cinihi) , now found in most parts of the world. 

 Although this mite may possibly be able to attack practically all tuber? 

 or bulbs, it is commonly found infesting narcissus, hyacinth, tulip, 

 crocus, and Easter lily; it is especially abundant in bulbs with loose 

 scales, and has been found to be capable of attacking healthy tissue. 

 The life-history of this species is complicated at times by the develop- 

 ment of additional stages; one of these the hypopus is of particular 

 interest, as it shows more activity than the others, and attaches itself 

 to the bodies of insects, and is so transported. The mite develops from 

 egg to adult within a period of nine days under favourable conditions, 

 or as long as six weeks at other times. All stages of the bulb-mite 

 occur at the same time in infested bulbs, which become soft and rotten. 

 The adult mites (Fig. 13, 10) are smooth, yellowish- white, tinged with 

 pink, and have legs and mouth-parts reddish. Symptoms of their 



68 



