123 
HE PHYTOPTI AND OTHER INJURIOUS PLANT MITES.* 
By H. Garman. 
'he injuries to plants by mites are commonly underestimated, 
es are so small that their presence is often not perceived until 
injury has been done, and we sometimes look for the cause only 
find the empty skins left by our minute enemies. The fact 
t injuries from this source usually give the plants the appear- 
je of being diseased, while there are none of the ordinary 
fcks of their having been attacked by insects, has led to some 
)ute as to the part mites take in bringing about the diseased 
iearance. The testimony of the more intelligent gardeners and 
ticulturists, both of Europe and the United States, and of those 
) have given the subject special study, should bear a good deal 
veight, and upon its authority mites are not only injurious to 
fits, but in some cases do “enormous” damage. Plant-feeding 
13S have long been known in Europe as committing depredations 
some of the most useful garden and hot-house plants. In all, 
,)ml hundred plants have been enumerated which are subject to 
t r injuries. In the United States, also, the same or similar species 
mites attack some of our valuable garden plants and trees, 
y many of our native plants are also infested; and when the 
es and the nature of their work are better known, I have little 
bt that we shall find as many injurious species at least as occur 
Europe, and that loss from supposed blight or killing by frost 
in many cases be traced to the mites. 
f damage done by mites in Europe, we have an abundance of 
ence. The linden is badly injured some years on the continent 
"he red spider, one of the spinning mites, which swarms upon 
leaves. The same or a related species is very injurious in the 
houses about Paris; and another, according to an English ento- 
| ogist, “causes enormous damage, in dry seasons, to the hop 
j’S.” The currant, pear, peach, vine, rose, and many others of 
'most valued trees and shrubs, we are told, are badly damaged 
• imes. 
| -- 
The present is merely preliminary to a more extended paper on the plant mites, 
h the writer hopes to prepare. I wish hereto acknowledge my obligations to Prof. 
Forbes for his kindness in translating Briosi’s article on the Phytoptus of the Vine 
e, and in securing for my use many of the papers on Phytopti and their cecidii. 
H 
