Aculops cannabicola

Hemp russet mite

Hemp russet mites on leaf
Hemp russet mites on leaf

General

The hemp russet mite (Aculops cannabicola) belongs to the family Eriophyidae (gall and rust mites). It does not produce galls but lives freely (vagrant) on hemp/cannabis plants. Aculops cannabicola is host specific to hemp/cannabis (Cannabis sativa). It cannot survive on other plants.

Life cycle and appearance of Hemp russet mite

All life stages of the hemp russet mite are extremely small and difficult to observe. They are elongated (torpedo-shaped), soft and segmented. The body appears to be divided into two parts: the head with the mouthparts, and the rest of the body. All mobile stages have only two pairs of legs, whereas other mite groups have four pairs.

The hemp russet mite has four life stages: egg, two nymphal stages and adult. The nymphal stages are sometimes also called larva (1st stage) and nymph (2nd stage). The eggs are approximately 0.05 mm in diameter and adults are around 0.2 mm long. Nymphs and adults look very similar.