Pest Profile

Many times the infested plants do not die, but become stunted and produce little forage or grain. Damage on young plants is more severe than on large, healthy plants.

Winter grain mites have a dark brown to almost black body with conspicuous reddish-orange legs. Their front legs are longer than the others, but not as pronounced as on the brown wheat mite. They also have two tarsal claws on the end of each leg.