Leaf Curls in Jasmine

Broad Mites

• Broad mites are microscopic pests from the arachnid family. Even if you have them feeding on your jasmine, you aren't likely to see them without a hand lens or microscope. They are translucent with four pairs of legs. The final pair of legs on the female is elongated and hairlike, while the final pair of legs on the male ends in a grasping claw.

Life Cycle and Habits

• Females lay eggs on leaf surfaces or on undersides of leaves. Larvae hatch within two or three days. They immediately begin feeding and grow through their entire life cycle within eight to 13 days. Females lay between 35 and 75 eggs in their lifetime. Broad mites thrive when temperatures are between 70 and 80 degrees.

Damage

• Using piercing mouthparts, the broad mite sucks sap from leaves, stems, and buds. New growth can be killed or stunted while older leaves begin to curl downward. Mites feeding in developing buds can cause flowers to be deformed or can cause buds to fail to open entirely. Infested leaves generally become bronze or have a purplish tint to them.

Control

• Trim heavily infested stems and clean up any debris that has fallen to the ground. Broad mites are easy to spread on hands, gardening tools, in infested dirt or on clothing so treat infested jasmine as a quarantined plant and clean anything that it comes in contact with. For small jasmine used as a houseplant you can dip it in water held at temperature of between 109 to 120 degrees F, according to the University of Minnesota Extension. Miticides are available to control broad mites, contact your county extension office for miticide recommendations.