Lychee Erinose Mite
Aceria litchii
A microscopic eriophyid mite that is a serious pest of lychee, causing velvety hairy galls called erinea to form on the new growth. Heavy infestations distort leaves, flowers, and fruit and can sharply cut fruit production.
🔎 How to spot it
Like other eriophyid mites it is tubular and very small, about one hundred fifty micrometers long with two pairs of legs, far too small to see without magnification. Its presence is recognized instead by the erinea: patches of dense hairs on the leaves that start white or transparent and later turn amber and then reddish brown. Distorted and curled new leaves with felty undersides are the field sign.
🥀 Damage it causes
The mites infest the immature growth and the leaf reacts by forming erinea, which begin as white to silvery felt and cause the leaves to distort and curl, then darken to amber and brown as they age. Erinea can also develop on petioles, stems, flower panicles, buds, and fruit, reducing flowering and fruit set. Severe infestations have caused large yield losses where the pest is established.
🛡️ Prevent it
Pruning is the most important practice, removing and destroying infested flushes to take out the mites and reduce spread, since the galls cannot be cured once formed. Start with clean planting material and inspect the new growth regularly. Removing infested shoots before each new flush is the backbone of management.
🧯 If it is already here
Miticides are used together with pruning, but they are prophylactic, meaning they protect new growth before infestation and do not kill mites once the erineum is established, so timing to the new flush is essential. Sulfur is the main product permitted for this purpose in Florida. Combining timed pruning with protective sprays on the new growth is the standard approach.
💡 Good to know
The lychee erinose mite develops from egg to adult in about two weeks and is highly specific to lychee; longan planted beside infested lychee has not developed symptoms. It is an invasive pest that was detected in Florida in 2018. Because it is invisible to the eye, the velvety erineum patches are how growers find it.
🌱 Plants it attacks
3 plants in the library can be attacked by this pest
For educational and informational purposes only. Pest control advice is general guidance drawn from university cooperative extension sources; always identify a pest positively and read and follow the label on any product before use, especially around food crops, children, and pets.