Broad mite: how to recognise and treat it

Pest

Symptoms

New leaves are twisted, hardened and distorted, with bronzed undersides; the mites are too small to see without magnification.
Leaf edges pucker and turn downward because the leaves cannot expand normally.
Growing tips and buds are killed and new growth is stunted — easily mistaken for disease or herbicide damage.
On peppers the fruit becomes conspicuously scarred; untreated plants can lose the whole crop.

Remove and destroy heavily infested plants, taking care not to carry mites to nearby plants on hands or clothes.
Spray insecticidal soap or horticultural oil with thorough coverage of young growth and leaf undersides; repeat, because they work only on contact.
Sulphur sprays are moderately effective when applied regularly; follow the label.
Release predatory mites (Neoseiulus cucumeris, N. californicus or Amblyseius swirskii) before the population is high.

Miticides that move into the leaf, such as abamectin, spiromesifen or fenpyroximate, work best; use only a product whose label lists broad mite, and make two applications 7–10 days apart.
Many products sold for spider mites do not control broad mites — check the label before buying.

Reference information, not a guarantee. Read and follow the label of any product: dose, safety and the days to wait before harvest.

Inspect new plants closely, especially leaves near the growing tips, and discard infested ones early.
Handle healthy plants before infested ones, since mites spread on hands and clothing.
Control whiteflies, which carry broad mites from plant to plant.
Where broad mites occurred before, release predatory mites at planting.

Figures checked against these sources.