Gorse spider mite

The gorse spider mite was introduced into New Zealand as a biological control agent for gorse.  The tiny red mites spin silk webs that look a bit like spiders webs, so the webbing is often mistaken for that of nursery web spiders.  The mites don't often reach large enough populations that the webbing is as conspicuous as it is here, but the mite have established widely on gorse in New Zealand, and can be damaging to the plant.

This photograph was taken along the new Curry track in the Purple Peak Curry Reserve.  This newly established reserve is adjacent to Hinewai, on Banks Peninsula, where manager Hugh Wilson is establishing native forest through an understory of gorse.  Gorse acts as a nurse crop for the native species.  The biocontrol agents are useful, though, in reducing the competitiveness of gorse to make it easier for the native species to grow.

There is a wider view in 'extras'.  This didn't show the mites very well when I uploaded it first.