Brown wheat mite infestations are building in local wheat fields. Producers with winter wheat for harvest should scout fields for the presence of the brown wheat mite. This pest is present in several area fields and its populations have reached a critical point. I examined a field in Southern Terry County which appeared to be droughty, however had abundant moisture; upon examining the leaves of wheat I could easily see numerous mites moving as I knelt down. This mite is about the size of a period at the end of this sentence and brownish in coloration. With a hand lens, one can clearly see this mite has front legs which are distinctively longer than the other three pair of legs. This mite is common in warm weather and under drought conditions. Like other mites these pests feed by piercing and sucking fluids from the plant leaves, leaving a yellow stippling of the leaves. Their damage will resemble drought stress in appearance. Economic thresholds are not well developed for this pest, however at current wheat prices, treatment may be economical. Adaquate irrigation/rainfall will be necessary for the field to compensate for mite damage after a chemical treatment. The following table provides a partial listing of products labeled for brown wheat mite control.

A partial listing of miticides for management of brown wheat mite.

Always read and follow all pesticide label directions.

Brown wheat mite (image courtesy of forestryimages.org)