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The family Tarsonemidae includes saprophagous (feed on decaying material), phytophagous, fungivorous and insectivorous mite species (Lindquist 1986; Ochoa et al. 1991). The family\'s diversity is centered in tropical and subtropical regions. Most tarsonemid mites are very small, pale in color, often with black or greenish spotting. Due to their rapid dispersal ability, field recognition, collection and control of these mites is sometimes difficult (Ochoa et al. 1991).

Polyphagotarsonemus latus, the broad mite, is one of the most important plant-feeding species in this family. The broad mite is an important pest of citrus, tomato, and pepper. The damage it causes increases both labor and control costs (Ochoa & Lindeman 1988; Peña et al. 2003). Females are the most important dispersal stage and they use other insects like aphids, thrips and whiteflies for their transportation to different areas and host plants (Peña et al. 2003). The earliest documented observation of this behavior was by Smith (1935). Recently, Flechtmann et al. (1990) and Walter (1999) have captured images of this amazing example of phoresy.

Another interesting behavioral trait is exhibited by P. latus males. Using leg IV along with a specialized caudal attachment organ, adult male mites carry around inactive larval females. This is hypothesized to be a form of precopulatory mate-guarding whereby males are ensure access to reproductive females by holding on to one until the female reaches sexual maturity.

The Systematic Entomology Laboratory and the Electron Microscopy Unit, USDA-ARS, in collaboration with the University of Florida are studying the morphology and ecology of the broad mite on citrus and papaya. Information on the biology and ecology of this pest is extensive, but use of a new technique in low temperature scanning electron microscopy is providing important new data relevant to understanding the behavior of this species.

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