Includes
Big-beaked plum mite (Diptacus gigantorhynchus)
Plum rust mite (Aculus fockeui)
Pest description and crop damage These adult mites are four-legged and wedge-shaped. They are variable in color, being yellow or pinkish-white or purple. The adults are minute and are barely seen with the naked eye when placed against a black background. Immature mites are similar in structure to adults, but smaller and white. The mites feed on the surface of the leaf with piercing-sucking mouthparts, sucking fluids from individual plant cells. Mature plum foliage may be curled upward or dwarfed. The lower surfaces of the leaves become brown or bronze and scurfy. Feeding on younger leaves causes development of small yellow spots on the leaves, followed by leaf "shotholing". The impact of this feeding on vigor and yield is uncertain. Nevertheless, they are rarely a significant pest and seldom cause damage to prunes west of the Cascades.
Biology and life history These mites overwinter as an adult female under bud scales. As the buds expand, they leave the buds, scatter over the expanding foliage, and feed for several days before laying eggs. A complete generation requires six to 22 days, and generations are produced continuously in summer. As foliage hardens or degrades, adult females prepare to overwinter and emerge in the following spring.
Pest monitoring Observe the leaves for signs of feeding and use a hand lens of at least 20X power to check for the mites.
Management-biological control
Phytoseiid predator mites in the family Phytosiidae can keep mites under control when broad-spectrum insecticide applications are avoided. Rust mites are a significant food source for these predator mites, so early season damage from this mite is tolerated. Hot, dry weather and the probable hardening off of leaves that this causes also reduce mite numbers.
Management-chemical control: HOME USE
Dormant-season spray
- horticultural mineral oil-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
Growing-season spray
- sulfur-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
Management-chemical control: COMMERCIAL USE
Dormant to delayed-dormant spray
- horticultural mineral oil (rates vary; check product label)-Use oil at the highest concentration only in the dormant period. REI varies; check product label. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
Spring and summer sprays
- abamectin (Abamex) at 2.5 to 5 fl oz/100 gal (10 to 20 fl oz/A). REI 12 hr. PHI 21 days. Apply when mites first appear. Do not exceed two applications of abamectin products per season.
- elemental sulfur (rates vary; check product label)-REI 24 hr. No PHI listed. Some formulations OMRI-listed for organic use.
- pyridaben (Nexter) at 10.67 oz/A. REI 12 hr. PHI 7 days. Do not exceed two applications per season.
- spirodiclofen (Envidor 2SC) at 18 fl oz/A. REI 12 hr. PHI 7 days. Limited to one application per season.