Wheat curl mite

Mites are extremely small (<0.3 mm in length), have a cigar shaped cream coloured body and are wingless. They have only two pairs of legs located at the front of their body and can only be seen with the aid of a microscope. The mite is the primary vector for wheat streak mosaic virus, which is acquired by mites after they feed on infected plant material. Mites primarily feed on wheat, but are also found on barley and triticale. There have many alternative hosts including wild oats, barley grass, annual ryegrass, small burr grass and cocksfoot.