This is a minute pest with an enormous name. It is a pest of several genera as well as cyclamen and the symptoms can often be seen on Impatiens (Busy Lizzie), where the shoot tips become blackened and distorted, and the meristem rapidly dies. In cyclamen the symptoms follow a similar pattern, with deformed and discoloured growth. Flowers fail to develop properly with the flower stem twisted and the petals puckered.

The pest itself is a white to brown mite, 0.25 mm. long, too small to see with the unaided eye (which allows a keen-eyed observer to separate two-spotted mite damage as the latter can be seen on the leaves). It has four pairs of legs and is shaped a little like a honey-brown coloured, waxy football. Males of the species are much smaller than the females and are very rare - most reproduction is parthenogenic. The females lay their elliptical eggs, which are about 0.1mm long, either singly or in clusters on buds, leaves and flowers. After a few days, the larva emerge. They are about 0.2mm long, are whitish and have three pairs of legs whcih have microscopic claws and suction cups. After feeding for some days the larva become engorged and immobile, before moulting and emerging as adults. The entire life cycle takes about 5 days.

Under heated glasshouse conditions this pest can be found at any time of year with a complete life-cycle taking around two weeks. In cold glass infestation is only likely during summer and in either situation it is infected material brought on to site that usually causes an outbreak. The mites spread by crawling from one plant to another, and bearing their size in mind, the rate of dispersal is obviously slow.

Control is primarily achieved by thorough investigation of all new plants brought into a collection or nursery, always remembering that other plants can be infested as well as cyclamen. However, once an outbreak has been noticed remedial action becomes more difficult. The use of biological control has yet to become effective, although it is known that another type of mite (Typhlodromids) are predatory on cyclamen mite outside. The professional can turn to chemical control using three main active ingredients: endosulfan or mixtures of dicofol and tetradifon are used as high volume sprays in two applications at 28-day intervals. Alternatively, aldicarb can be used after potting and being granular is distributed over the compost surface. I should add a warning here that endosulfan and aldicarb are both highly toxic and as such are classified as Part II substances under the Control of Pesticides Regulations. This means that their use is strictly governed and neither may be used by amateurs under any circumstances. Unfortunately, there are no effective chemicals available to the amateur and the only solution I have been able to find is to use hot water treatment. This consists of immersing the entire plant in water at 46ºC (11 5ºF) for seven minutes, where the temperature and time are critical. This must be a last resort, however, and rigorous prevention can avoid this situation. Cyclamen mite can be kept at acceptable levels after infestation is observed by using high volume sprays of pirimiphos-methyl. Although not providing total control this chemical will prevent further spread.