Flax spidermite - Tetranychus moutensis
By N A Martin (2017)
Classification
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Acari
Trombidiformes
Prostigmata
Tetranychoidea
Tetranychidae
Tetranychus moutensis Manson, 1970
Common names
Flax Spidermite, New Zealand flax spidermite
Biostatus and distribution
This endemic spidermite was first found on leaves New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax (Hemerocallidaceae), in 1949 at Paiaka by Dr FJ Newhook. It was later rediscovered in 1969 in a flax plantation on the Moutoa Estate, near Shannon in Southern North Island. This led to its formal description and naming in 1970. It has since been found in Auckland and probably occurs throughout New Zealand. It occurs on both species of flax plants in city gardens and parks as well as native ecosystems.
Conservation status: Probably widespread, not threatened.
Life stages and annual cycle
Life stages of Tetranychus mites. Creator: Crop & Food Research. © based on figure 21 in Crop & Food Research Broadsheet 112. [Image: 2HRR]
These mites are very small. Adult female mites are 0.6-0.8 mm long and are longer than wide. Adult males are slightly smaller and have a pointed end to their abdomen. Adult mite bodies have large lateral dark areas and a brownish green background colour. The four pairs of legs are whitish or tinted orange. Adult female mites lay pale orange spherical eggs (0.143-0.169 mm diameter) on the underside of flax leaves. The larva that hatches from an egg looks like a tiny adult, but only has three pairs of legs and lacks the reddish colour and black spots. The mite larva moults (changes skin) into a nymph which has four pairs of legs like the adult. The first nymphal stage moults into a second nymph. Both nymphal stages have lateral black spots. The last juvenile stage moults into an adult mite. Adult males mate with newly emerged adult females.
Feeding
The mites have pointed mouth parts that puncture the surface cells of flax leaves. They suck the contents of the cells. The black areas in the abdomen are part of their gut where the plant cell contents are digested.
Walking and web spinning
The mite uses its legs for walking. As they walk they produce a web from their abdomen which is attached to the leaf surface. When a dense colony forms the surface of the leaf becomes covered by webbing.
Dispersal to new leaves and new plants
When a dense colony develops or a plant leaf is no longer suitable, mites may walk to other parts of a leaf or to new leaves of the plant or adjacent plants. Spidermites are also dispersed by wind. Mated female mites will climb to the top of the plant produce a strand of silk and stand waiting for a gust of wind to take them away. The mites form new colonies on the underside of flax leaves. New colonies are often formed where there is some shelter, such as a moulted insect skin.
Female flax spidermite, Tetranychus moutensis (Acari: Tetranychidae) on leaf of New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax (Hemerocallidaceae) with red spherical eggs and white moulted skins of juvenile mites. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2HS2]
Male flax spidermite, Tetranychus moutensis (Acari: Tetranychidae) on leaf of New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax (Hemerocallidaceae): note the pointed end of the abdomen and one black eye spot. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2HSC]
Eggs, larvae and nymphs of flax spidermites, Tetranychus moutensis (Acari: Tetranychidae) on leaf of New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax (Hemerocallidaceae). Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2HS3]
Eggs, larvae, nymphs and moulted skins of flax spidermites, Tetranychus moutensis (Acari: Tetranychidae) on leaf of New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax (Hemerocallidaceae). Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2HS7]
Colony of flax spidermites, Tetranychus moutensis (Acari: Tetranychidae): note the oval silvery body of a mite that is about to moult. Creator: Darren Snaith. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2HSH]
Juvenile flax spidermite, Tetranychus moutensis (Acari: Tetranychidae) on a leaf of New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax (Hemerocallidaceae). Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2HSA]
Flax spidermites, Tetranychus moutensis (Acari: Tetranychidae) in webbing formed by the colony on a leaf of New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax (Hemerocallidaceae Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2HS9]
Colony of flax spidermites, Tetranychus moutensis (Acari: Tetranychidae) on a leaf of New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax (Hemerocallidaceae). Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2HSK]
Colony of flax spidermites, Tetranychus moutensis (Acari: Tetranychidae) formed around passion vine hopper moulted skins on a leaf of New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax (Hemerocallidaceae). Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2HRY]
Colony of flax spidermites, Tetranychus moutensis (Acari: Tetranychidae) around scale insects on a leaf of New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax (Hemerocallidaceae). Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2HRU]
Colony of flax spidermites, Tetranychus moutensis (Acari: Tetranychidae) on a leaf of New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax (Hemerocallidaceae). Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2HRW]
Recognition
This mite requires special procedures and taxonomic knowledge to identify specimens. However, it is the only species of spidermite known to live on flax, Phormium species, so it can be recognised by its presence in colonies of the mites on its host plants. Mite feeding creates pale areas on the underside of leaves, while dense colonies appear red due to high numbers of eggs.
New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax (Hemerocallidaceae) leaf with feeding damage from a colony of flax spidermites, Tetranychus moutensis (Acari: Tetranychidae). Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2HRS]
Colony of flax spidermites, Tetranychus moutensis (Acari: Tetranychidae) formed around scale insects on a leaf of New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax (Hemerocallidaceae). Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2HRZ]
Eggs, juveniles and adult flax spidermites, Tetranychus moutensis (Acari: Tetranychidae) on a leaf of New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax (Hemerocallidaceae). Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2HS1]
Colony of flax spidermites, Tetranychus moutensis (Acari: Tetranychidae) on a leaf of New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax (Hemerocallidaceae). Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2HS4]
Adult female and male (right) flax spidermites, Tetranychus moutensis (Acari: Tetranychidae) on webbing formed by the colony on a leaf of New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax (Hemerocallidaceae). Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2HS8]
Adult female flax spidermite, Tetranychus moutensis (Acari: Tetranychidae) showing dorsal body hairs. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2HSB]
Natural enemies
Predators
At least two kinds of predators have been found feeding on flax spidermites, ladybirds and predatory mites. It is likely that they are also fed on by predatory fly larvae and adults and nymphs of predatory sucking bugs (Hemiptera).
The name of only one of the predatory mites is known. Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) is the commonest predator of flax spidermites around Auckland. This predatory mite comes from Southern Europe and was imported into New Zealand to assist control of two-spotted mite, Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae), a pest of greenhouse and outdoor crops. Adult female Phytoseiulus persimilis are bright red and larger than flax spidermites. They lay larger oval red eggs. It's larvae, nymphs and adult males are also red.
Several species of spidermite feeding ladybirds, Stethorus (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), are present in New Zealand. The name of those that eat flax spidermites are not yet known. The adults are tiny and black. Oval eggs, white, tan or reddish are laid in mite colonies. The larvae may be white, white with dark spots or dark grey. The pupae are black.
Red adult females and large red oval eggs of a predatory mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseildae) that feeds on flax spidermites, Tetranychus moutensis (Acari: Tetranychidae). Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2HSF]
Large red oval eggs of a predatory mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseildae) that feeds on flax spidermites, Tetranychus moutensis (Acari: Tetranychidae). Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2HSD]
Oval, brown egg of a ladybird (Stethorus sp. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), predator of flax spidermites, Tetranychus moutensis (Acari: Tetranychidae). Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2HSE]
Young larva of a ladybird, (Stethorus sp. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), predator of flax spidermites, Tetranychus moutensis (Acari: Tetranychidae). Creator: Darren Snaith. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2HSI]
Pupa of ladybird, Stethorus sp. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) with cocoon of a mite eating gall fly on the underside of a rose leaf. © All rights reserved. [Image: 2HRQ]
Adult spidermite ladybird, Stethorus sp. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). © All rights reserved. [Image: 2HRP]
Scientific Name | Common Name | Classification | Enemy Type | Reliability Index | Biostatus |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot, 1957 | (Mite) | Acari: Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae | predator | 10 | adventive |
Stethorus sp. | Spidermite ladybird (Beetle) | Coleoptera: Coccinellidae | predator | 7 | unknown |
Host plants
Flax spidermites are found on both species of native flax, Phormium. Colonies of mites form where there is shelter on the underside of leaves. The mites have pointed mouth parts that puncture the surface cells of flax leaves. They suck the contents of the cells. Feeding removes the green cell contents and old and active mite colonies can be recognised by the pale colour of the leaf in and around mite colonies. The mites also cover the surface of the leaf with silk webbing.
Colony of flax spidermites, Tetranychus moutensis (Acari: Tetranychidae) on a leaf of New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax (Hemerocallidaceae). Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Nicholas A. Martin. [Image: 2HSJ]
Colony of flax spidermites, Tetranychus moutensis (Acari: Tetranychidae) by a scale insect on a leaf of New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax (Hemerocallidaceae). Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2HRT]
Part of a colony of flax spidermites, Tetranychus moutensis (Acari: Tetranychidae) on a leaf of New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax (Hemerocallidaceae). Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2HRV]
Colony of flax spidermites, Tetranychus moutensis (Acari: Tetranychidae) on a leaf of New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax (Hemerocallidaceae). Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2HRX]
Juvenile flax spidermites, Tetranychus moutensis (Acari: Tetranychidae) by insect skin on a leaf of New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax (Hemerocallidaceae): note the pale areas of leaf where mites have been feeding. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2HS6]
Common Name(s) | Scientific Name | Family | Reliability Index | Biostatus |
---|---|---|---|---|
Coastal flax, Mountain flax, Kōrari-tuauru, Wharariki | Phormium cookianum Le Jolis | Hemerocallidaceae | 9 | endemic |
Flax, Lowland flax, New Zealand flax, Swamp flax, Harakeke, Harareke, Kōrari | Phormium tenax J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. | Hemerocallidaceae | 10 | endemic |
Control
Occasionally large colonies of flax spidermite develop on the underside of flax leaves, especially on plants in modified environments such as gardens and parks. These colonies do not appear to weaken plants. Predatory mites and tiny ladybirds will control populations.
Additional information
Flax spidermite irritation to flax workers
This species of mite was rediscovered in 1969 after workers cutting New Zealand flax for processing for fibre complained of 'itching' on the face, neck, and hands. They said it was due to the mites that occurred in large numbers on the underside of leaves. Skin scrapings taken from the affected areas showed that mites were present. During cutting and handling of mite-infested flax, the mites had become squashed and smeared on the exposed skin causing considerable 'itching' to susceptible people. In some instances, medical treatment was necessary.
Biological control
Predators from other countries have been imported and released into New Zealand to control pests of crops and other valued plants. Up to the 1980s, the primary concern when selecting a predator to import was its likely effectiveness within New Zealand. Since the mid-1970s there has been increasing concern about the potential impact of any imported organism on New Zealand native organisms and valued flora and fauna. A predator can impact not only directly on native herbivores, but also on native predators by competing with them for food. Today legislation requires that the benefits of any imported organism, including predators, outweigh any potential harm to native or valued organisms.
The predatory mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae), is from southern Europe. It was originally discovered in in the late 1950s in Chile as a very effective predator of two-spotted mite, Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae), that damages greenhouse and outdoor crops. Since the 1960s it has been used for control of two-spotted mite in greenhouses as part of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programmes for those crops. It was imported into New Zealand in 1967 for that purpose. After it was discovered that it existed outdoors in Southern Europe, an outdoor strain of the predator was imported into New Zealand in 1977. This predator is now known to feed on native spidermites, such as the flax spidermite, and on gorse mite, Tetranychus lintearius Dufour, 1832, which was imported for biological control of gorse. It would be difficult to import a predator such as Phytoseiulus persimilis under today's laws where the benefits have to clearly outweigh risks to native and valued fauna.
In addition to the deliberate importation and release of predators and parasites, they can accidentally arrive and establish in New Zealand. Two of the named species of spidermite ladybirds, Stethorus species (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), are endemic, while one is an Australian species.
Information sources
Cumber RA. 1954. Injury to Phormium caused by insects, mites, and molluscs. New Zealand Journal of Science and Technology. 36 A ( 1): 60-74.
Manson DCM. 1970. The spider mite family Tetranychidae in New Zealand. V. Tetranychus (Tetranychus) moutensis a new species of spider mite from flax (Phorium tenax Forst.). New Zealand Journal of Science. 13: 323-327.
Plant-SyNZ: Invertebrate herbivore-host plant association database. plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz/
Thomas WP, Walker JTS. 1989. Tetranychus urticae Koch, two-spotted mite (Acari: Tetranychidae). Pp. 245-250. In: Cameron PJ, Hill RL, Bain J, Thomas WP (eds). A review of biological control of invertebrate pests and weeds in New Zealand 1874-1987. CAB International, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, UK.
Acknowledgements
The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited (Plant & Food Research) for permission to use photographs.
Other images
Red adult females and large red oval eggs of a predatory mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseildae) that feeds on flax spidermites, Tetranychus moutensis (Acari: Tetranychidae). Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2HSG]
Update history
1 December 2018. NA Martin. Changed symbol used for apostrophes.