Author: Raul Villanueva
Planning Unit: Entomology
Major Program: Hemp
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
Hemp russet mite (HRM) is a serious pest of indoor hemp production. Detection of this mite usually occurs when the populations are high, and the damage is irreversible. This eriophyid mite is not visible with naked eyes neither using a 10X magnifier lens. After laboratory and field studies, Villanueva’s program determined that HRM population can be accurately estimated through pictures of basal and middle sections of the central hemp leaflet using a portable handheld stereo microscope. This method can be used by growers and researchers. In fact, some growers are already using this technique to detect HRM, and some research groups are applying it in their studies. This is a non-destructive, easy to use technique that not only reduce the time and fatigue caused by the long hours necessary to count all mites on one leaf, but it also allows us to postpone counting mites without worries of plant tissue deterioration, mite losses or death. A peer-reviewed manuscript on description and validation of this methodology was published on the Journal of Economic Entomology: https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toad004
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