Although it is primarily distributed in tropical and subtropical climes, in the hot and dry Arava in is found in greenhouses.
Broad mites are nearly transparent.
This phoresy in P. latus is unusual and is very important means of dispersal. Broad mites are attracted to all tested species of whiteflies, although levels of attraction vary with species. Attachment level to thrips and aphids was negligible. Studies on the broad mite in the Arava were started in the autumn of 1999. Surveys were made during the summer months to try and discover where these mites lived and survived the hot dry summers during which time greenhouses are free of plants.