Pests
 
Bulb mites Pests main menu
  Frequent pests in bulbous plants
 

Bulb mites can cause a lot of damage in the bulbgrowing industry. In particular during the multiplication of bulbs and their culture. Thanks to the predatory mite Hypoaspis aculeifer an effective biological control is recently possible.

 
  Biology - Bulb mites (Rhizoglyphus robini)
 

Bulb mite (Rhizoglyphus robini) is a highly frequent pest in bulbous plants. It is a small and slowly moving mite. It is a brown coploured mite growing to 0.3 to 0.6 mm in length with a spherical shape and brown coloured legs and jaws. The development rate depends on the temperature. At 16°C, it takes ca. 40 days to develop from egg to egg and only 12 days at 27°C.

 

 

  Damage
  Damage to the bulb can be direct as well as indirect. While eating, the mite makes little holes in the bulb which can cause malformation and growth inhibition. Furthermore, these damages are the ideal breeding ground for harmful bacteria and fungi.
The mites prefer to live in moist soil and between scutes.
  Beneficials
  Hypoaspis aculeifer
 
The predatory mite Hypoaspis aculeifer is an effective biological control agent against bulb mite.
 

 

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