Coneflower Rosette Mite

Participants in this week's OGIA/OSU Extension Greater Cincinnati Diagnostic Walkabout observed the trifecta of coneflower issues in a mass planting. They included Aster Yellows (phytoplasma disease), Coneflower Rosette Mite (eriophyid), and Sunflower Head-Clipping Weevil.

Coneflowers are showing symptoms of three problems: tufted growth from the coneflower rosette mite; distorted flowers and growth from ash yellows; and dangling flower heads from the sunflower headclipping weevil. With the exception of ash yellows, none of these problems represent a serious threat to coneflowers.

Tufted flower parts that rise rosette-like from coneflower cones are symptoms of an eriophyid mite (family Eriophyidae) that has yet to be taxonomically categorized, so it has no scientific name or approved common name. However, the mite is generally referred to as the Coneflower Rosette Mite based on the damage that it causes to coneflowers.

Coneflowers (Echinacea spp., family Asteraceae) have long been a popular perennial favored for use in naturalized areas and mass plantings in landscapes because of their attractiveness to pollinators of all sorts. However, coneflowers may suffer from two problems that will only get worse next season unless they are properly managed.

Tufted flower parts that rise rosette-like from coneflower cones are produced by the Coneflower Rosette Mite.   The mite is an eriophyid (family Eriophyidae) that has yet to be taxonomically categorized, so it has no scientific name or approved common name.  However, the mite is generally referred to as the Coneflower Rosette Mite based on the damage that it causes to coneflowers.

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