Mites at hull split by UC Davis IPM
Pacific spider mite by UC Davis IPM
pirate bugs. This led to late season infestations of mites with nothing to slow them down. That is why you should closely monitor the population of mites. If the population stays put in a few localized trees, the predator population is keeping pace and naturally maintaining the mites. There is always an economic threshold that needs to be kept in mind, and with the rapidity of mite generation multiplication— sometimes as quickly as one week—miticide applications will be necessary. The main things to keep in mind when consulting with your PCA are: 1. What is the correct product to use ? 2. How long will it be effective ? 3. Can it be mixed with other products in your pest control program ? 4. What is the pre-harvest interval ?
to the shell. Both situations can lead to off grades at harvest time. However, the lasting impact comes the following year. If mites go untreated and defoliate trees, that orchard is going to have less stored carbohydrates going into the next season. In some cases, those orchards may try to push new blooms after harvest because the mites have imposed such havoc on the trees’ natural cycle. The reduction in stored carbohydrates can lead to poor bloom, reduction in bloom, and lack of terminal growth. Although small, mites can swing a big stick when it comes to the health of your orchard. The three main takeaways from this article are to do the following: 1. Monitor mite populations early and focus your attention on population control. 2. Make an application when you know mite predators are no longer controlling the issue. 3. If you are trying to decide if you should control mites or not, and webs are starting to cover your orchard, remember the lasting impacts defoliation can and will have on your orchard. Or, you can look on the bright side and have the haunted house at your orchard for Halloween this year!
5. What is the cost ?
So, what impact can mites have on your orchard other than making it look like it belongs in a Halloween store ? Mites harm the orchard not just during an infestation, but they leave lasting impacts after they are gone. In an orchard with a heavy infestation that includes dense webbing, defoliation of the tree is likely. If the defoliation occurs before hull split, the tree may not have enough energy to complete the development of the nuts. Defoliation during, or just after hull split, can lead to the hull re-adhering itself
Trent Voss, Lead Regional Manager, Blue Diamond Member Relations
Sixspotted thrip by UC Davis IPM
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MAY–JUNE 2025
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