Bryobia mite

Bryobia mites are an important pest of clovers, canola, wheat and lupins. Often called the ‘clover mite’, bryobia mites are less than 1 mm long with a fawn-orange coloured body and orange legs. In the field they are often misidentified as the redlegged earth mite. Bryobia mites can be distinguished by their long forelegs which are 1.5 times their body length. Unlike most other earth mite species, bryobia mites are most active in warm conditions in autumn, spring and summer. These mites are generally found in low numbers and are unlikely to be problematic over the winter period.