First Report of Broad Mite (Acari: Tarsonemidae) on Commercial Strawberry in Florida.

During the past 2 strawberry-growing seasons in Florida (Oct to Mar in 2015-2016 and in 2016-2017), broad mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks), was found on the upper sides of young strawberry leaves and on fruit. Damage symptoms were similar to those reported from other affected crops: leaf curl, browning and yellowing of leaf tissue and bronzing of ripening fruit, but less than 1% of plants in surveyed fields appeared to be affected. Broad mites were found in 1 field in 2015-2016 but in at least 5 fields in 2016-2017, indicating a possible increase in their potential to affect strawberry. Small areas of a field treated with Oberon 2 SC (spiromesifen) were sampled for broad mites. Post-application counts were generally lower than preapplication counts, although there was a high degree of intra-plant variability in counts. Future efforts should be directed at monitoring broad mite populations and their influence in strawberry and implementing management practices, if necessary, that have been effective in other crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]