Hemp Russet Mite
Aculops cannabicola
This record describes Aculops cannabicola (species). Recorded family: Eriophyidae. Recorded order: Trombidiformes.
Identification and Appearance
Page creation based on the identification of these images by John McPartland, a leading authority on pests and diseases of Cannabis. Probably an introduced species, along with its food plant.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Trombidiformes
- Suborder
- Prostigmata
- Superfamily
- Eriophyoidea
- Family
- Eriophyidae (Gall mites)
- Genus
- Aculops
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Canabis
About Mites: the wider group
Order-level background for Trombidiformes, the group containing Aculops cannabicola. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Trombidiformes includes ~26,000 described species of mites including velvet mites, chiggers, and spider mites. Spider mites (Tetranychidae) are among the most destructive agricultural pests worldwide.
Ecological role of the group
Velvet mites are important soil predators. Chigger larvae are parasitic on vertebrates and can cause intense itching (trombidiosis). Some mite species are used as biological control agents against pest mites in agriculture.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Spider mites cause billions of dollars in crop damage globally, affecting over 1,100 plant species. The two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) has developed resistance to more pesticides than any other arthropod.
Recorded sources for this group: USDA, agricultural pest management research. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Hemp Russet Mite (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Harsi S. Parker; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset