This presentation was delivered to farmers at the Alabama Fruit & Vegetable Growers Conference & Tradeshow in Auburn University, Alabama (USA), on

1. Spider Mite Control in Vegetables
Dr. Ayanava Majumdar (Dr. A)
Ext. Entomologist
115 Extension Hall
Auburn, AL 36849
Tel: (251) 331-8416
bugdoctor@auburn.edu
AFVGA Conference, Feb. 9, 2013

2. References
• Jon Traunfeld. 2013. Top Vegetable pests – spider mite. Univ. of Maryland
Extension.
• Godfrey, L. D. 2011. Spider mites. University of California – Statewide IPM
Program, Pubication 7405.
• Fasulo, T. R. 2009. Twospotted spider mites. Univ. of Florida – IFAS Publication
EENY-150. http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/orn/twospotted_mite.htm
• Zalom et al. 2011. UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Tomato. University
of California ANR Publication 3470.
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r783400111.html
• Schuster, D. Tomato russet mite. Univ. of Florida – IFAS Publication.
http://ipm.ifas.ufl.edu/resources/success_stories/T&PGuide/pdfs/Chapter4/
Russet_Mite.pdf
• Peter Jentsch. Mite Management Using Reduced Risk Pest Management
Programs and Biological Control. Cornell University.
http://hudsonvf.cce.cornell.edu/scouting%20reports/scouting%20data/Mite
%20Management%20Using%20Reduced%20Risk%20Pest%20Management%2
0Programs%20and%20Biological%20Control.pdf

3. Basic information
• Very common problem
in AL
• 1/20 inch long
• Mites are not insects
• Related to spiders &
ticks
• Spin webs – live in
colonies
• Immature stages have 6
legs
• Overwinter as mated
females

4. Life cycle
• Life cycle completed <1 wk (5
to 20 d)
• Like hot dry weather
• Eggs are small oval (look like
dust particles, underside of
leaves), 3 d to hatch
• Eggs change to larva (6 legs)
• Larva change to nymphs (8
legs) – two stages
• 5 to 10 generations common

5. Identification & Scouting
Twospotted spider mite (TSM):
• Carry a 10X hand lens
• Females are larger than males
• Oval adults, eggs glued to webbing
• Underside of leaves & leaf tips
• Wide host range Twospotted spider mite
Tetranychus urticae
Tomato russet mite (TRM):
• Smaller than TSM
• Carry a 14X hand lens
• Adults are elongate
• Infestation starts from lower leaves
• Leave edges, stems, fruits (small)
Tomato russet mite
• Solanaceous host plants Acilops lycopersici

6. Crop damage
TSM: TRM:
– Leaf drying – Greasy bronzing
– Extensive webbing (russet color)
– Sudden dry out
– Slight bronzing (lower leaves)

7. Spider mite management
CULTURAL PRACTICES:
• Start clean: Get healthy transplants
• Avoid planting in hot dry conditions
• Avoid mowing or blowing dust on to crops
• Avoid water stress on plants

8. Spider mite management
ALTERNATIVE MITICIDES:
• Layton et al. (2011): 2 applications of insecticidal oil,
insecticidal soap or neem oil provided good TSM
control
• OMRI approved: Grandevo (extracted from
Chromobacterium subtsugae) – 2 treatments on
strawberry provided 63 to 80% mite suppression

9. Spider mite management
CAUTION: Many synthetic pyrethroids can flare up spider mites by
removing predatory mites and other beneficial insects.
Abamectin (AgriMek, 8-16 fl oz/acre):
• Good rescue insecticide.
• Contains synthetic abamectin and provides long-term
residual control of TSM.
• Do not apply more than two sequential applications of
abamectin.
• PHI on tomatoes is 7 days.

10. Spider mite management
Bifenazate (Acramite, 0.75-1 lb/acre):
• MOA: GABA agonist
• Contact poison against motile stage of TSM
• Has some ovicidal action (kills eggs)
• Reduced toxicity to predaceous mites and
beneficial arthropods.
• Do not make more than one application per
season.
• PHI on tomatoes is 3 days.

11. Spider mite management
Fenpyroximate (Portal, 2 pts/acre):
• Mitochondrial electron transport inhibitor
(METI), blocking cellular respiration
• Stops mite feeding & egg laying, 7 day to kill
• Good late season rescue insecticide
• Limit to one application per year
• Softer on predatory mites
• Complete coverage essential

12. Spider mite management
Etoxazole (Zeal, 2 to 3 oz/acre):
• Good contact miticide but not labeled on
many crops
• Kills eggs and stops molting of immatures
• Has translaminar movement
• Could take several days to act

13. Spider mite management
Spiromesifen (Oberon, 7 to 8.5 fl oz):
• Mitochondrial electron transport inhibitor
(METI), blocking cellular respiration
• Kills motile mite but slow acting

14. Efficacy of PORTAL for Spider Mite Control 2012
(fenpyroximate 5%)
84
73
35
Untreated check
17 Portal 32 oz + NIS
9 7
1 3 Acramite + NIS
0
20 Sept (mite buildup 4 Oct. (mite control) 12 Oct. (mite control)
with pyrethroids)
7 DAT 17 DAT
Crop was tomatoes. Location: Chilton REC, Clanton, AL. Treatment dates: 26 July (Mustang Max) & 9 Aug.
(Warrior) to buildup mites. Portal treatment date was 24 Sept.
Numbers indicate spider mites on 40 plants/treatment (10 plants/plot). Excessive rains prevented a steady
pressure of mites.

15. Mite control in high tunnel
Location: Brannon Farm, Addison, AL, 2012
Crop: Tomato
Pest: Two-spotted spider mite
Treatment: Insecticide rotation in high tunnel tomatoes. Suffoil –X has paraffinic oil. Acramite has
bifenazate. Entire rows treated with untreated plants at the two ends.
Observation: Mites per 20 leaflets on each observation date.
12
Mixed approach
10 to prevent
9.6
8.2
miticide overuse
7.8
8
6.5
6 Treated crop
Untreated Ch. (tunnel ends)
Suffoil-X @ 4
1Ga/100Ga water
Acramite 50WP 2
1.9
@ 1lb/A
0
Obs. 1 (July 6) Obs. 2 (July 15) Obs. 3 (July 23)

16. Efficacy of BRIGADE, SUFFOIL-X, JMS STYLEY-OIL for Spider
Mite Control 2012
56
Reduction in mites with JMS Stylet-Oil & Suffoil-X
is good but action could be slow!
45
35 34
32
27 Untreated check
23 26
Suffoil-X (0.01%)
18 JMS Stylet-Oil (3 qt)
14 17
11 12 Bifenthrin 5 oz/A
27 Sept. 3 Oct. 12 Oct. 19 Oct.
Crop was tomatoes. Location: Chilton REC, Clanton, AL. Numbers indicate spider mites on 40 tomato plants.

17. Organic Approved Insecticides

18. Alabama Vegetable Extension IPM Website
www.aces.edu/go/87

19. Join Vegetable IPM on Facebook!
Advantages: Live updates, interact with
researchers, videos and photos, IPM contest

20. The IPM Communicator
(A FREE electronic newsletter)
To signup: Email bugdoctor@auburn.edu
Or sign up today on the sheet provided!

21. References used
• Jon Traunfeld. 2013. Top Vegetable pests – spider mite. Univ. of Maryland
Extension.
• Godfrey, L. D. 2011. Spider mites. University of California – Statewide IPM
Program, Pubication 7405.
• Fasulo, T. R. 2009. Twospotted spider mites. Univ. of Florida – IFAS Publication
EENY-150. http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/orn/twospotted_mite.htm
• Zalom et al. 2011. UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Tomato. University
of California ANR Publication 3470.
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r783400111.html
• Schuster, D. Tomato russet mite. Univ. of Florida – IFAS Publication.
http://ipm.ifas.ufl.edu/resources/success_stories/T&PGuide/pdfs/Chapter4/
Russet_Mite.pdf
• Peter Jentsch. Mite Management Using Reduced Risk Pest Management
Programs and Biological Control. Cornell University.
http://hudsonvf.cce.cornell.edu/scouting%20reports/scouting%20data/Mite
%20Management%20Using%20Reduced%20Risk%20Pest%20Management%2
0Programs%20and%20Biological%20Control.pdf