4 CIRCULAR 516, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



on the lower surf ace ; but it injures the upper surface, causing a marked 

 dwarfing and an upward curling (fig. 1, A, B). The mites swarm 

 onto the young flower buds and by feeding on the j uices of the young, 

 developing rays prevent or greatly retard their development, leaving 

 the flowers an entire loss (fig. 2). 



Figure 2. — Gerbera flowers with rays decolorized and malformed by feeding of 



the broad mite. 



The cyclamen mite is able to work down into the crown among the 

 dense pubescence on the young leaves, where it feeds on the lower leaf 

 surface, particularly along the veins. Injury usually consists of small 

 bronzed areas along the midrib or of spots between the lateral veins 



Figure 3. — Two gerbera flowers with rays injured by feeding of the cyclamen 

 mite compared with normal flower on right. 



which are visible on the lower surface but not noticeable from above. 

 Such injury causes the leaves to roll slightly downward and thus 

 affords further protection to the mites as the leaves reach maturity. 

 The injury from both species is similar in nature, but that caused 



