Stigmaeopsis (Schizotetranychus) longus
Pest description and damage Bamboo mites have a flattened body that is a straw- to greenish-yellow color with small blackish green spots. First impression is that leaves are under attack by a leafminer or virus. The mite feeding on the plant cell contents leaves a distinct damage pattern of long rectangular yellow patches visible on both sides of the leaf. Preferred bamboo hosts for this mite include the genera Sasa, Indocalamus, Phyllostachys, and Pleioblastus.
Biology and life cycle These mites form colonies on the underside of the leaves and live under a densely woven web. Generally, the mites remain under the web to feed and lay eggs, but leave to defecate in black fecal piles slightly removed from the nest. Adults and nymphs sometimes are found outside the webbing, particularly as they begin to form new nests. Multiple males and females are found in the web nests, and often many webbed nests form alongside each other running down the underside of the bamboo leaves. There are many generations per year.
For biology, life history, monitoring and management
See "Spider mite" in:
Management-chemical control
See Table 1 in: