European Red Mite

family: tetranychidae
species: panonychus spp.
common names: citrus red mite, panonychus citri, and european red mite, panonychus ulmi
antennae characters: none
hosts: plants
natural enemies: predaceous mites, amblyseius fallacis
pesticides used: oil-based miticide
notes:

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Insect Identification Sheet No. 25 1977 European Red Mite Panonychus ulmi (Koch) The European red mite is a major pest of orchards and is found in all tree-fruit areas of Canada. It attacks most fruit trees, but is most injurious to plums, pears, apples, sour cherries and peaches.

Injury:

Tree injury is caused by the pest feeding on the plant juices in the leaves. If the infestation is light, the foliage becomes speckled — if it is heavy, the leaves become yellowish or bronzed. A very severe attack will result in early dropping of leaves, retarded wood growth, weakened fruit buds, and reduced
size and quality of fruit.

Life Cycle:

The European red mite overwinters in the egg stage on the bark of the trunk, branches and twigs of trees. Egg color, initially ranging from pearly to pink, later changes to dark red. Hatching begins about the time European plums are in full bloom and apple blossom buds are showing pink, and the young mites move to the leaves to begin feeding. They reach maturity in 1 - 1 1/2 weeks and, after mating, the females of this first generation lay their eggs on the leaves. The adult female is carmine in color, elliptical in outline and has four rows of long, curved bristles down the back, each borne on a whitish tubercle. The adult female measures only 0.3 mm (1 1/2 in.) long,- the male is slightly smaller. There may be six to seven generations each year, depending on the temperature. Hot, dry weather favors rapid multiplication of this pest. Mite generations overlap and all stages of the pest may be found on the trees at any time during the summer.

Pest Management:

Consult your provincial Agriculture Department for recommendations.