Pacific Northwest Insect Management Handbook

Field and silage corn-Mite

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Tetranychus unknown
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection

Tetranychus spp.

Pest description and crop damage Tiny eight-legged animals that feed on the lower surface of leaves. They cause yellowing and silvering of plants. They may cause early maturity and reduced quality. Usually they do not cause economic damage.

Management-chemical control

  • bifenthrin (Brigade 2EC) Group 3A insecticide/miticide at 0.08 to 0.1 lb ai/A (5.12 to 6.4 fl oz/A). PHI 30 days for grain harvest, grazing, or cutting for feed. REI 12 hr. Do not apply more than 0.3 lb ai/A per season.
  • bifenthrin/chlorantraniliprole (Elevest) at 0.134 to 0.167 lb ai/A. REI 12 hr. PHI 30 days. No more than three applications per year. Do not apply more than a total of 0.2 lb ai/A of chlorantraniliprole and 0.3 lb ai/A of bifenthrin per year. Group 3A and 28. Coverage is essential for control of this pest. Under heavy outbreak conditions, tank mixing with another product that is labeled for this pest is recommended for control. Pyrethroid resistance is common for mites.
  • bifenthrin/zeta-cypermethrin (Hero, Hero EW) Group 3A insecticide at 0.1 lb ai/A. PHI 30 days grain and stover; 60 days forage. REI 12 hr. Do not graze for 30 days after treatment. 0.099 lb/A zeta-cypermethrin and 0.398 lb/A bifenthrin per year..
  • Burkholderia spp. (Venerate XC) bioinsecticide at 2 to 4 quarts/A. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • Chromobacterium subtsugae (Grandevo) bioinsecticide at 0.6 to 0.9 lb ai/A per 100 gal (2 to 3 lb ai/A). PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • dimethoate (Dimethoate 400 EC) Group 1B insecticide/miticide at 0.33 to 0.5 lb ai/A (0.6 to 1.0 pint/A). PHI 14 days forage; 28 days grain. REI 48 hr. Do not exceed 0.5 lb ai/A per season. Do not use during pollen shed.
  • etoxazole (Zeal SC) at 0.045 to 0.135 lb ai/A. PHI 21 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 14 days. Limit 2 treatments per year. Do not exceed 0.27 lb ai/A per season.
  • hexythiazox (Onager) at 0.078 to 0.188 lb ai/A. PHI 30 days. REI 12 hr. One treatment per year.
  • phorate (Thimet 20G) at 0.056 to 0.075 lb ai/1,000 row ft, broadcast or banded but not in-furrow. PHI 30 days graze or forage. REI 48 hr. Limit 1 application per season.
  • propargite (Comite) at 1.64 to 2.46 lb ai/A. PHI 30 days. REI 13 days. Apply when corn leaves are dry. Use a minimum of 5 gallons spray solution per acre. One treatment per year.
  • propyleneglycol monolaurate (Acaritouch) at 12 to 25 oz/100 gal of formulated product. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr.
  • spiromesifen (Oberon 2SC) at 0.09 to 0.25 lb ai/A. PHI 5 days for green forage and silage; 30 days for grain or stover. REI 12 hr. Apply with a minimum of 10 gallons by ground or 5 gallons by air. Limit 2 treatments per year. Do not exceed 0.27 lb ai/A per season. See label for chemigation.
  • sulfur at 6 to 15 lb ai/A for spider mite suppression. REI 24 hr.

Kaur, N. (Ed.). 2024 Pacific Northwest Insect Management Handbook.
© Oregon State University.

Use pesticides safely!

  • Wear protective clothing and safety devices as recommended on the label. Bathe or shower after each use.
  • Read the pesticide label—even if you’ve used the pesticide before. Follow closely the instructions on the label (and any other directions you have).
  • Be cautious when you apply pesticides. Know your legal responsibility as a pesticide applicator. You may be liable for injury or damage resulting from pesticide use.

Trade-name products and services are mentioned as illustrations only. This does not mean that the participating Extension Services endorse these products and services or that they intend to discriminate against products and services not mentioned.