Insects of Southern Australian Broadacre Farming Systems - Grains ...
Insects of Southern Australian Broadacre Farming Systems - Grains ...
Insects of Southern Australian Broadacre Farming Systems - Grains ...
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Acarina: Penthaleidae<br />
Redlegged earth mite - RLEM (Halotydeus destructor)<br />
Distinguishing characteristics/description<br />
adult<br />
10 mm 20 30<br />
and 0.6 mm wide<br />
Eight red-orange legs<br />
Globular shaped,<br />
velvet black body<br />
Newly-hatched<br />
RLEM larvae are<br />
pinkish-orange<br />
with six legs<br />
Usually found in groups<br />
(up to 30 individuals)<br />
in pasture in pasture<br />
Damage symptom:<br />
silvering leaves<br />
(similar to frost<br />
damage)<br />
Newly-hatched redlegged earth mite (RLEM) larvae are<br />
only 0.2 mm long and are generally not visible to the<br />
untrained eye. In the following three nymphal stages,<br />
mites have eight legs and resemble adults, but are<br />
smaller and sexually undeveloped.<br />
Confused with/similar to<br />
Other mite pests, in particular blue oat mites and the<br />
Balaustium mite, are sometimes confused with RLEM<br />
in the field. Unlike other species that tend to feed<br />
singularly, RLEM generally feed in large groups <strong>of</strong> up to<br />
30 individuals.<br />
SECTION 4 COMMON Pest, Beneficial AND EXOTIC Species<br />
73<br />
<strong>Insects</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Southern</strong> <strong>Australian</strong> <strong>Broadacre</strong> <strong>Farming</strong> <strong>Systems</strong> Identification Manual and Education Resource © 2012
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