Bermudagrass Mites: Identification and Treatment
Bermudagrass mites are invisible to the naked eye, but their damage is unmistakable. Learn to spot the "witches’ broom" pattern and how we treat it.
Pest profile
What Are Bermudagrass Mites?
Bermudagrass mites are microscopic pests that can’t be seen with the naked eye. They feed inside leaf sheaths and cause bermudagrass to produce dense, distorted rosettes of short, bunched leaves called "witches’ brooms." The damage is purely cosmetic at first, but heavy infestations thin the turf and open the door for weeds. These mites are specific to bermudagrass and don’t affect other turf types.
Identification
How to Identify Bermudagrass Mites
Mites are microscopic (under 1/100 inch) and cannot be seen without magnification
Identified by damage symptoms rather than visual sighting of the pest
Affected bermudagrass produces tight rosettes of shortened, bunched internodes ("witches’ brooms")
Leaf sheaths appear swollen and tufted, with abnormally short growth
Infested areas have a distinctive rough, clumpy texture compared to normal smooth bermuda
Damage signs
How Bermudagrass Mites Damage Your Lawn
Damage Signs
Dense tufts or rosettes of shortened, distorted leaves that stand out from normal growth
Affected areas have a rough, clumpy appearance — bermuda loses its smooth, carpet-like texture
Internodes shorten dramatically, creating a bunched, compressed growth pattern
Severe infestations thin the turf as distorted growth weakens the plant and opens gaps for weeds
Detection Methods
Look for clusters of abnormally shortened, bunched bermudagrass growth that resemble small rosettes or tufts. This "witches’ broom" pattern is the primary indicator.
Compare the texture of suspect areas to healthy bermuda nearby. Mite-infested turf has a rough, clumpy appearance instead of the normal smooth, dense surface.
Peel back leaf sheaths in affected areas and look for swollen, tightly packed growth at the nodes.
If you suspect bermudagrass mites, bring a sample to your county extension office — they can confirm with a microscope since the mites themselves are invisible to the naked eye.
Treatment
How We Treat Bermudagrass Mites
Bermudagrass mites are difficult to control because they live inside leaf sheaths where contact insecticides have limited reach. We use miticide applications timed to catch mites during movement between sheaths. Severely infested areas may benefit from scalp-mowing to remove distorted growth followed by fertilization to encourage healthy regrowth. Multiple treatments are typically needed because the sheaths protect mites from a single application.
Urgency level
Emergency or Routine Treatment?
Bermudagrass mite damage is cosmetic and gradual. It’s not going to kill your lawn, but it will make it look rough and thin over time. This is a routine treatment issue. The challenge is that mites are hard to control and may require multiple applications because they’re protected inside the leaf sheaths.
Affected grasses
Grass Types Vulnerable to Bermudagrass Mites
Why Attaboy
Professional Bermudagrass Mites Treatment from Attaboy
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Bermudagrass Mites
Why does my bermuda have clumpy, bunched-up growth?
That rosette or "witches’ broom" pattern is the signature of bermudagrass mites. The mites are microscopic, so you identify them by the damage pattern, not by seeing the pest itself.
Can bermudagrass mites spread to my zoysia or centipede?
No. Bermudagrass mites are specific to bermudagrass. They won’t infest zoysia, centipede, St. Augustine, or any other turf type.
Why are bermudagrass mites hard to control?
They live inside leaf sheaths, which shields them from contact insecticides. Treatment has to be timed to catch mites when they’re exposed, and multiple applications are usually needed.
Will my bermuda recover from mite damage?
Yes. Once mites are controlled, bermuda regrows healthy tissue. Scalp-mowing the damaged rosettes and fertilizing speeds up recovery by removing distorted growth and encouraging fresh, clean shoots.
Related pests
Other Pests Active in the Same Season
Take action
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