Divisi
Broad mite
Polyphagotarsonemus latus · Mite
Photo: David Riley, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org · CC BY 3.0
Broad mite (Polyphagotarsonemus latus) is a mite so tiny you cannot see it with your eyes — far smaller than a grain of sugar. It lives on the youngest leaves and growing tips of pepper, chilli, tomato, cotton and citrus, and as it feeds it injects a poison in its spit that twists and hardens new growth. It breeds explosively in warm, humid weather and rides from plant to plant on your hands, your tools, the wind, and on whiteflies.
Merle Shepard, Gerald R.Carner, and P.A.C Ooi, Insects and their Natural Enemies Associated with Vegetables and Soybean in Southeast Asia, Bugwood.org · CC BY 3.0 US 
David Riley, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org · CC BY 3.0
Why it matters
Broad mite can take up to half your crop (50%) on peppers, chillies and tomatoes, because it kills the growing point where all your new leaves, flowers and fruit come from. The hardest part is that you never see the mite — it is far too small — and by the time the leaves look wrong, the mites have already moved on to the next fresh shoot. Left alone, it stops the plant setting fruit and scars the fruit it does set, so catching the first curled, bronzed leaf is everything.
When to act
Treat at the first sign of downward-curled, bronzed young leaves or distorted growing tips, since the mites are too small to see and symptoms appear before damage is obvious.
This guidance is general, compiled from published agronomic references including FAO and CABI. Thresholds and timing shift with your crop, your variety and the season.
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The full broad mite field guide
- Identify it
- Scout for it
- Control it
15 field-guide sections in the app
The full guide to broad mite — every symptom to check, how and when to walk your field looking for it, and the controls that actually work, ranked. Built into your crop plan, so you are told to look before it costs you a harvest.
Crops it affects
Frequently asked questions
How do I identify broad mite?
The damage comes first — that's what you'll actually see. The youngest leaves at the growing tip curl downward, go stiff and brittle, and the underside turns a shiny bronze or copper colour, as if lightly scorched or oiled. The growing tip bunches up tight and stops growing — like a little witches' broom of stunted, deformed leaves.
When should I take action against broad mite?
Treat at the first sign of downward-curled, bronzed young leaves or distorted growing tips, since the mites are too small to see and symptoms appear before damage is obvious.
How do I control broad mite?
Prevent it — start clean. Plant only clean, healthy transplants (inspect the growing tips before you buy or move seedlings) — this is the single most important step, since most outbreaks arrive on infested seedlings. Keep your hands and tools clean when moving between plants, and control whiteflies, which carry the mite from plant to plant.
Which crops does broad mite affect?
Among the crops covered here: Cotton, Hot pepper, Sweet pepper, Tomato.
Catch it before it costs you a harvest
Divisi builds scouting into your crop plan — it tells you when to walk your field, what to look for at that stage, and what to do when you find it. Free for farmers, works offline.
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