Most mite species causing damage to important crops worldwide are included in the families Eriophyidae, Tetranychidae, Tenuipalpidae and Tarsonemidae. In order to reduce economic losses caused by mite pests, there is a need for establishing management approaches aimed at keeping population levels under the economic damage threshold. In Latin America, conventional pesticides have become an indispensable tool in controlling pests economically, rapidly and effectively. However, extensive use of pesticides may lead to a number of undesirable side effects including the development of pesticide resistance and resurgence of primary and secondary pest outbreaks. They can also exert adverse effects on non-target organisms and contribute to environmental pollution. Thus, interest in alternative control methods including the use of botanical pesticides for crop protection is increasing. Many researchers are developing alternative plant extracts as pesticides to control mites. As botanical pesticides (powders and ethanolic or aqueous extracts) derived from different plant species have proven effective in pest control at low costs, and with low risk to humans and the environment, their usage as a control method for pest mite population management has increased worldwide. In this paper, we review selected scientific works involving the use of plant extracts to manage phytophagous mites in tropical crops in South America.