Update to “Applying Field Bindweed Gall Mites”

In case you haven’t read about Applying Bindweed Gall Mites then first read this blog post to understand why we are excited! Just click the button…

Also, you might want to check out this blog post on Organic Control of Field Bindweed that got this interest in Bindweed Gall Mites started. Just click the button….

Observations on Bindweed Gall Mites: Field Updates and Future Plans

If you had a chance to read my previous post about applying Bindweed Gall Mites in July, the picture above will make more sense! This marked area, indicated by the flag, is where we scattered pieces of field bindweed infested with Bindweed Gall Mites sourced from the insectary in Colorado. Following the application in July, we endured one of the hottest and driest August months on record, leading us to assume that the mites had perished. While the bindweed in this area appeared dead due to the drought, we knew from experience that field bindweed rarely succumbs to such conditions.

In September, the weather shifted with some much-needed rain. The field bindweed plants sprang back to life, looking healthy once again. Unfortunately, our initial assumption was that while the bindweed survived, the Bindweed Gall Mites did not.

Fast forward to Monday, December 9th. After receiving a call from Carl Pepper the previous Friday urging me to visit the field, I was met with a surprising sight. The flag in the photo marks where the mites were introduced back in July. Surrounding the flag is a somewhat circular pattern of dead or dying bindweed, while outside this area the bindweed appears alive and healthy. To the left edge of the photo, some bindweed remains slightly green, but below and beyond the flag the plants look unmistakably dead. This circular pattern extends outward, as highlighted by the line drawn across the photo.

One might argue that this is merely a drought-affected patch. However, we placed a second batch of Bindweed Gall Mites in another area of the field, and a similar circular pattern has emerged there as well. These mites are so tiny that they are invisible to the naked eye, but in the lab, Dr. Kyle Slusher, an Extension Entomologist in our office, identified galls on collected bindweed plants under magnification.

Future Plans for Bindweed Gall Mites

Our immediate hope is to see the affected areas of bindweed continue to decline. While we don’t expect the mites to eradicate the bindweed entirely, a balance is desirable to ensure the mites’ survival. Looking ahead:

• Field Monitoring: We’ll continue observing the affected areas to assess long-term impacts.
• Laboratory Work: Dr. Slusher plans to conduct further studies on the mites in a controlled lab environment.
• Farmers’ Interest: Several local farmers have expressed interest in this biological control method and plan to collect infested bindweed from this field to introduce on their farms.
• Suitability for Dry Climates: The mites’ preference for hot and dry conditions aligns well with the West Texas climate, making this an intriguing and potentially effective solution for bindweed management in the region.

This project represents a promising step in biological pest control for field bindweed, and we’re excited to see how this progresses both in the field and through collaboration with area farmers. A big thanks to Carl Pepper for allowing us to experiment with this novel insect and to continue monitoring progress!