Insect Note #A-1 (Revised)

Dated 7/78
Placed on the Web 4/95 by the Department of Entomology, NCSU

Integrated Mite Control on Apple

Four requirements for initiating and maintaining an integrated control program in North Carolina apple orchards are:

1. A knowledge of the habits and appearance of plant- feeding mites (ERM [Panonychus ulmi (Koch)], Two spotted spider mite [Tetranychus urticae (Koch)]).
   
2. The presence of predators in the orchard. This can be determined only by careful examination of the orchard.
   
3. Careful examination of the relative numbers of predators and plant-feeding mites, particularly during periods when rapid population changes are occurring.
   
4. A knowledge of what materials to use, how to use them, and what materials not to use in order to conserve predators.

Logical Steps

1. Appearance and habits of mites and insects
   
2. Leaf injury and the need to spray
   
3. Predator-prey relationship
   
4. Sampling mite populations
   
5. Weather conditions
   
6. Spray schedule for integrated control of mites

The Need to Spray

Research has shown that on the average, if only 0.3 predaceous mite [Neoseiulus fallacis (Garman)] is found per 6 plant-feeding mites or 1 predaceous mite per 18 plant-feeding mites, no injury should result. At least 25 or more black lady beetles [Stethorus punctum (Le Conte)] (beetles and/or larvae) found on 5 trees (5 minute examinations per tree) are needed in order to keep plant-feeding mites in check.

How do you determine what your predator-prey ratio is? You take samples.

To obtain estimates of a mite population on a tree, you should collect at least 6 leaves while walking around the tree and count the total mites (both plant feeding and predaceous) on the 6 leaves. Ten trees from a 4-acre block should be sampled. The total mite count should give you the ratio of plant-feeding mites to predaceous mites. Mite populations should be sampled at 5- to 7-day intervals.

To obtain estimates of Stethorus punctum, one should examine 5 trees, allowing 5 minute examinations per tree.

Integrated Mite Control

• May save dollars
  
• Lessen chance for miticide resistance to sprays
  
• Efficient management decision (the selective sprays only when needed)
  
• Lessen environmental disruption and pollution

• May suffer some damage, especially the first few years
  
• Need to sample trees and determine predator-prey ratio

                        Selective Miticides
                                             _______________
                                                100 gal.
                                             _______________
1.  Dormant oil, superior type 70 second         2 gal
2.  Omite 30WP                                   1 lb
3.  Vendex 50WP                                  3/8 lb
                                                                        

                           TOXICITY OF SOME PESTICIDES TO CERTAIN
                           PLANT-FEEDING MITES AND MITE PREDATORS*
                            (0 = nontoxic; XXX = extremely toxic)

________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                       Pests                            Predators
                                _____________________    _______________________________________
                                                                                      Black Lady
                    Rate/100    European      Apple       Z. mali and        A.         Beetle      

   Chemical         Gallons     Red Mite    Rust Mite    A. fleschneri    fallacis    S. punctum
________________________________________________________________________________________________

Fungicides

Benlate 50W           6 oz          XX          ?              XXX             XXX         0
Captan 50W            2 lb          0           0               0               0          0
Cyprex 65W            « lb          0           0               0               0          0
Dikar 80W             2 lb          XX         XXX              XX              X          0
Karathane 4LC         3 oz          XX         XXX              XX              X          0
Polyram 80W           2 lb          0           XX              0               0          0
Wettable Sulfur       2 lb          0          XXX             XXX              XX         XX

Insecticides

Dimethoate 2.67E    12 oz           X           X               0               X          X
Guthion 50W          « lb           0           X               0               0          X
Imidan 50W           1 lb           0           X               0               X          XX
Lannate 90SP         « lb           XX          ?               ?              XXX        XXX
Phosphamidon 8E      2 oz           0           0               0               0          XX
Sevin 50W            2 lb           0          XXX             XXX             XXX        XXX
Systox 6EC           4 pt           XX          X               0               XX         XX

Miticides

Acaralate 2EC        4 lb           XX         XXX             XXX             XXX         0
Carzol 92SP          « lb          XXX         XXX             XXX              XX         X
Kelthane 35W        1« lb           XX         XXX             XXX             XXX         0
Morestan 25W         « lb          XXX         XXX             XXX              XX         0
Omite 30W            1 lb           XX          XX              XX              0          0
Vendex 50W           6 oz          XXX         XXX             XXX              0          0
________________________________________________________________________________________________
*Results from North Carolina, Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania field and laboratory research.
  X = Moderately toxic
 XX = Highly toxic
XXX = Extremely toxic
  0 = Nontoxic, or nearly so
  ? = No information