With the weather heating up, it is important for growers to start looking for mites in their orchards as early as late May or early June. Once established, the pest can be difficult to eliminate, so quick and effective treatment before populations skyrocket is the best way to minimize potential damage.
"Pacific spider mites are particularly difficult to control, developing a new generation as quickly as every seven days," says Darin Allred, Technical Services Manager for UPL. "That means almond and walnut growers and pest control advisers must scout often and apply miticides at or below treatment thresholds to reduce their damage potential."
To address mite issues, growers should be checking their fields at least once per week throughout the summer — especially in areas that may be experiencing water stress or dust. Signs of mites include leaf stippling or webbing earlier in the summer, and growers can see mite eggs under the leaves as the season progresses.
When monitoring for mite activity, growers should be sure to note any predator mites and beneficial insects that may be present. Western predatory mites and sixspotted thrips will help control mite populations naturally and are the preferred way to "treat" the crop. However, if there aren't enough predators to keep mites at bay, a miticide may be required.
It's best to treat for mites as soon as possible to minimize potential damage. VIGILANT® Miticide (IRAC 20D) and ACRAMITE® Miticide (IRAC 20D) provide quick knockdown and long residual protection against spider mites at all life stages. In addition, they are easy on beneficial insects and predator mites, which make them ideal for integrated pest management programs. Both VIGILANT and ACRAMITE can be applied at the first sign of pests with no need to wait until they reach threshold levels.
KANEMITE® Miticide (IRAC 20B) offers exceptional control of key mites in almonds and walnuts. This powerful miticide delivers rapid knockdown and long-lasting residual activity on two-spotted, Willamette and Pacific spider mites while going easy on predator mites and beneficials. Additionally, its unique active ingredient, acequinocyl, makes KANEMITE an idea member of your resistance management program.
OMITE® Miticide (IRAC 12C) offers swift relief from mites in almonds and walnuts. Using its unique active ingredient and fuming action, OMITE provides fast and powerful knockdown of European red and two-spotted spider mites at all life stages while allowing for great coverage everywhere these pests like to hide. OMITE is also rainfast for lasting control and is an excellent rescue treatment throughout the year.
No matter how growers choose to control Pacific or other spider mite populations, it's important to catch the issue as early as possible and stay on top of it. Grower action now will help prevent damage and protect yields this year and reduce the number of overwintering female spider mites which may potentially damage crops next season. For more information on how to protect your almonds from mites, contact your local sales representative.
