Eriophyidae

Calacarus carinatus

What is Camellia Tea Mite?

Camellia Tea Mite (AKA purple tea mite or ribbed tea mite) is an introduced pest, first spotted in NZ in 1959.

Technically, mites aren't insects; they're arachnids, so they're related to scorpions, spiders and ticks. Mites are tiny creatures; this species can only be seen with a powerful hand lens or a microscope. Accordingly it's the damage they cause that you'll see. Mites have piercing and sucking mouthparts to feed on leaves.

Mites breed rapidly and infestations may build up quickly.

Symptoms

The effects of camellia tea mite can be spotted when a bronze or purple discolouration develops on the older foliage. 

Usually, leaves develop discolouration down the central midrib at first. Left unchecked, bronzing covers the entire leaf, with poor growth and reduced flowering as a result. Camellia Tea Mites occur on both upper and lower surfaces of leaves, and the leaves may have a ‘dusty’ appearance from mites cast-off skins.

When serious infestations occur, leaves may curl, turn brown, dry out and fall off.

Plants impacted

  • Camellia
  • Tea

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