Steneotarsonemus spinki the temperate climate of the United States, the area of southwest Louisiana has a sub-tropical climate with both high temperature and high humidity. Panicle rice mites thrive under both of these conditions and may cause substantial economic losses when found in association with "Burkholderia glumae" (bacterial panicle blight) and "Sarocladium oryzae" (sheath rot) pathogens. These pathogens are both present in southwest Louisiana. Panicle rice mites are pests of commercial rice ("Oryza sativa"), and completes its development on the invasive plant "Oryza latifolia". Feeding takes place behind the leaf sheath. The feeding lesion can be detected by cinnamon to chocolate-brown discoloration
Elasmopalpus brown anterior and distal margins. The larvae feed on a wide range of plants but prefer grasses. Recorded host plants include a number of economically important plants such as "Phaseolus vulgaris", "Beta vulgaris", "Brassica oleracea" var. "capitata", "Cucumis melo", "Cyperus esculentus", "Zea mays", "Vigna unguiculata", "Phaseolus lunatus", "Avena sativa", "Pisum sativum", "Arachis hypogaea", "Capsicum annuum", "Oryza sativa", "Secale cereale", "Sorghum bicolor", "Glycine max", "Sorghum sudanense", "Saccharum officinarum", "Ipomoea batatas", "Lycopersicon esculentum", "Brassica rapa" and "Triticum aestivum". They tunnel into the crown of their host plant, severely weakening large plants and often killing young seedlings. They spin silken tubes near the