The tomato red spider mite (Tetranychus evansi) feeds on a wide range of plants in the Solanaceae family.
In large groups, they can mummify plants, wrapping them up in silk webbing, and will feed on the plant until it dies. Known hosts include tomatoes, potatoes, kumara, eggplants, beans, ornamental plants such as roses and orchids and weeds such as shepherd's purse, cleavers, and fat hen.
It was discovered in Auckland in late May 2020. Growers can put biosecurity measures in place, such as the systems required by Plant Pass, to reduce the chances of the mite getting into their plants.