Stunted, twisted, or brittle new leaves and flower buds, sometimes with a grayish, hairy texture; unlike spider mites, no webbing is produced and damage is concentrated in the newest growth.
Cause & development
A well-documented pest of African Violet and other Saintpaulia relatives. EPPO code TARSPA.
Favorable conditions
•High humidity combined with crowded plantings
•New plants introduced without a quarantine period
Management
1Isolate and discard severely affected plants — mites are very hard to eliminate once established
2Avoid taking cuttings from affected plants
3Keep new plants quarantined and inspected before adding them to a collection