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Reports of predatory red velvet mites serve as a timely reminder to look out for beneficials in cropping systems
Where have they been reported?
Red velvet mites have been reported south east of Parks in the NSW Central West Slopes & Plains, and within canola crops near Temora in the NSW Riverina.
About red velvet mites
Red velvet mites belong to the family Trombidiidae. There are many species of red velvet mites, however, all have the same bright red colour and often a velvety appearance due to a covering of short stout hairs on their body. The adults are relatively large, often more than 3 mm in length; nymphs look similar to adults but are smaller. Interestingly, while red velvet mite nymphs and adults are predatory and will feed on small invertebrates living in the soil, the larval stage is parasitic on many different arthropods, including aphids.
Red velvet mites are highly visible due to their bright colour and relatively large size. However, they often go unnoticed because they spend most of their time burrowed in the upper soil particles or beneath the soil surface litter.
Red velvet mites are thought to predate on redlegged earth mites, blue oat mites and lucerne flea.
Beneficial predatory red velvet mite (Source: cesar)
Sources of field report of red velvet mites
Allan Edis – Agronomist, Landmark (NSW Riverina)
Twitter sources:
Adam Pearce (@Adspearce)
What is PestFacts?
PestFacts south-eastern keeps growers and advisers informed about invertebrate pests and beneficials in broadacre crops and pastures during the winter-cropping season in Victoria and southern New South Wales.
PestFacts south-eastern is run through IPMforGrains: Best Practice Insect Pest Management, a project delivered by the National Pest Information Network (cesar, DPIRD, QDAF, NSW DPI, and SARDI). This project aims to provide grain growers and advisors with information on invertebrate grain pest occurrence and equip industry with the knowledge needed to implement integrated pest management practices. This initiative is a GRDC investment and includes in-kind contributions from all project partner organisations.
We need your reports
PestFacts is produced on an ʻas-needsʼ basis and relies upon pest observations and field reports from our subscribers. If you have recently observed invertebrate pests (or beneficial species) in broadacre crops, please contact us to report your observations.
Agricultural invertebrate identification
If you are a grower or agronomist in Victoria or NSW working with broadacre crops or pastures, we can assist you with identifying invertebrates found on farms at no cost. Please contact us for identification help.
PestFacts map
PestFacts map is an interactive tool that allows users to search and view historical pest reports across Victoria and NSW. The map is updated with each issue of PestFacts to include new reports.
How to acknowledge PestFacts?
With appropriate acknowledgement, cesar grants permission to reproduce information taken directly from PestFacts. To cite PestFacts: “PestFacts south-eastern (<<enter date published>>). cesar pty ltd.”
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