Broad insect pest resources including Apps are outlined in the Agronomists Toolkit. Select below for pest-specific information.

Redlegged earth mite

Constraint – Redlegged earth mite

Appearance

Newly hatched red legged earth mites (RLEM) are pink/orange with six pink legs
Adult mites are completely black with eight red legs and are about 1mm long
RLEM tend to feed in large groups and are the most destrucutve seedling pest of canola

Symptoms

The mouth-parts rasp the surface of the leaf to expose the cell contents which are eaten
A silvery or bleached area develops on the leaf
Damage generally occurs in autumn-winter

Damage

Damage is most serious on seedling plants that may wilt and die from loss of sap
Damage is most severe when seedling growth is slowed by cool, wet or dry conditions

Control

Chemical control options are the most commonly used method of control, however they are only effective against adult mites, and do not kill eggs. Seed treatment, clean fallowing, crop rotations, cultivation, hot stubble burns, and close grazing of pastures by stock in spring can also reduce earth mite numbers. Redlegged earth mites are also preyed upon by natural predators.