Fuchsia gall mite only attacks fuchsia plants. It is a microscopic, sap-sucking mite – less than a quarter of a millimetre long – that causes extensive distortion and galling of fuchsia shoots, leaves and flowers.
As it is so tiny, fuchsia gall mite is easily blown from plant to plant by winds and may even be carried around by insects.
As it needs warm conditions, it is worse on fuchsias grown indoors in greenhouses and conservatories and during hot summers.
It probably doesn’t survive temperatures below 5C (41F), so outdoors it is less of a problem on hardy fuchsias, as cold winters should kill it.
Fuchsia gall mites overwinter on and around buds, but can remain active during the winter on indoor fuchsias if kept in warm conditions.
Its lifecycle takes less than one month to complete, so several generations occur from spring to autumn.