By John Wise
Mites can be significant pests of fruit crops. There are many miticides available for control of European red mites (ERM), twospotted spider mites (TSSM), cyclamen mites (CM) and rust mites (RM), as well as apple and pear rust mites, pear blister mites, plum nursery mites and blueberry bud mites. However, according to Michigan State University Extension, their performance characteristics are not all alike.
The following table is designed to summarize several key variables that can help you determine which miticides are optimal for your integrated pest management program.
Miticides to use on fruit crops to target certain mite pests. |
|---|
Compound | Fruit crop | Mites | Life stage target | Seasonal timing | Residual control |
|---|
Superior, Stylet Oils | All fruit crops | ERM, RM | Egg/larvae | Early (pre-bloom) | 2-6 weeks |
Lime-Sulfur | Pome, stone, blueberry | RM² | Motiles* | Early (delayed-dormant) | 2-6 weeks |
Dimilin | Pear | RM | Motiles* | Early (pre-bloom) | 2-6 weeks |
Savey | Pome, stone | ERM | Egg/larvae | Early*** | 8-12 weeks |
Pone, stone, caneberry, strawberry | TSSM | Egg/larvae | Mid (or threshold)** | 6-8 weeks) |
Onager | Stone fruits | TSSM | Egg/larvae | Mid (or threshold)** | 6-8 weeks |
Apollo | Pome, cherry, peach | ERM | Egg/larvae | Early*** | 8-12 weeks |
TSSM | Egg/larvae | Mid (or threshold) | 6-8 weeks |
Agri-Mek, ABBA | Pome, stone, grape | ERM, RM | Motiles* | Early**** | 8-12 weeks |
Pome, stone, strawberry, grape | TSSM | Motiles* | Mid (or threshold) | 6-8 weeks |
ABBA | Pome, plum, grape, strawberry | ERM, RM | Motiles* | Early**** | 8-12 weeks |
TSSM | Motiles* | Mid (or threshold) | 6-8 weeks |
Agri-Flex | Pome, grape | ERM, RM | Motiles* | Early**** | 8-12 weeks |
Gladiator | Pome, stone, grape | ERM, RM | Motiles* | Early**** | 8-12 weeks |
TSSM | Motiles* | Mid (or threshold) | 6-8 weeks |
Zeal | Pome, stone fruits | ERM | Egg/larvae | Early (or threshold)** | 8-10 weeks |
Pome, stone, strawberry, grape | TSSM | Egg/larvae | Mid (or threshold)** | 6-8 weeks |
Envidor | Pome, plum, grape | ERM | Egg, motiles* | Early (or threshold)** | 8-10 weeks |
Stone fruits | TSSM | Egg, motiles* | Mid (or threshold) | 6-8 weeks |
Nexter | Pome, stone1, grape | ERM, RM | Motiles* | Mid (or threshold)** | 6-8 weeks |
TSSM | Motiles* | Mid (or threshold)** | 6-8 weeks |
Portal | Pome | ERM, RM | Motiles* | Mid (or threshold)** | 6-8 weeks |
TSSM | Motiles* | Mid (or threshold) | 6-8 weeks |
Nealta | Pome, grape | ERM | Motiles* | Mid (or threshold)** | 6-8 weeks |
TSSM | Motiles* | Mid (or threshold) | 6-8 weeks |
Magister | Cherries | TSSM | Eggs, motiles* | Mid (or threshold) | 3-5 weeks |
Kanemite | Pome | ERM | Motiles* | Mid (or threshold)** | 6-8 weeks |
Pome, strawberry | TSSM | Motiles* | Mid (or threshold) | 6-8 weeks |
Acramite, Banter | Pome, peach, plum | ERM | Motiles* | Mid (or threshold)** | 6-8 weeks |
Pome, peach, plum, grape, strawberry | TSSM | Motiles* | Mid (or threshold) | 6-8 weeks |
Danitol | Apple, grape | ERM | Motiles* | Mid (or threshold)** | 4-6 weeks |
Apple, grape, strawberry | TSSM | Motiles* | Mid (or threshold) | 4-6 weeks |
Brigade | Pear | ERM | Motiles* | Mid (or threshold)** | 4-6 weeks |
Pear, grape, strawberry, caneberry | TSSM | Motiles* | Mid (or threshold) | 4-6 weeks |
Hero | Blueberry, caneberry, strawberry | TSSM | Motiles* | Mid (or threshold)** | 4-6 weeks |
Oberon | Strawberry | TSSM | Eggs, motiles* | Mid (or threshold) | 4-6 weeks |
Vendex | Pome, stone | ERM | Motiles* | Mid (or threshold)** | 4-6 weeks |
Pome, stone, grape, caneberry, strawberry | TSSM | Motiles* | Mid (or threshold) | 4-6 weeks |
Endosulfan | Strawberry | CM | Motiles* | Mid (or threshold)** | 2-6 weeks |
Sulforix | Pear, blueberry | RM2 | Motiles* | Late (post-harvest) | 2-6 weeks |
* Motile forms include mite larvae, nymph and adult stages.
** Optimally used petal fall through August when mites reach threshold.
*** Optimally used pre-bloom through first cover.
**** Optimally used petal fall through second cover.
1 300 day pre-harvest interval (PHI) for cherry.
2 Including pear blister mite.
Drs. Wise, Isaacs and Gut’s work is funded in part by MSU‘s AgBioResearch.