The document discusses spider mite control in vegetables, providing identification, life cycle, and damage caused by the two-spotted spider mite and tomato russet mite. It outlines cultural practices and various miticides, including their application rates and effectiveness, while cautioning about the impact of certain synthetic pesticides on beneficial insects. It emphasizes the importance of monitoring and managing spider mite populations through integrated pest management strategies.

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!
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researchers, videos and photos, IPM contest

20. The IPM Communicator
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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