While at this site, you can follow the link to the University of Texas to learn about the research there on phorid flies and fire ants. An exotic species introduced from Eruasia, field bindweed has been ranked as one of the top five weeds targeted for biological control in Texas. The Bindweed gall mite, Aceria malherbae , was introduced by USDA-ARS into Texas from Greece, France and Italy in 1989 for control of field bindweed. This mite is now established near Amarillo. Dr. Jerry Michels, Research Entomologist with Texas Agricultural Experiment Station at Amarillo, is developing methods for redistribution of this mite and is measuring the impact of mite feeding on bindweed density.
Mites feed along the midrib, causing the leaves to fold or twist upward to form the gall.
When stem buds are attacked, they fail to elongate and form compact clusters of stunted leaves. Under laboratory conditions, gall mites reduce plant growth and flowering. The impact on bindweed under field conditions is uncertain at this time. Bindweed gall mites are almost microscopic in size and wormlike in shape. Adults are yellow-white and together with the immature stages are found within the leaf galls.