EUROPEAN RED MITE

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Title: EUROPEAN RED MITE
Description: LATIN NAME: Panonychus ulmi (Koch) LIFE CYCLE: Overwinter on host as eggs that hatch at the pink bud stage of apple. Six or seven generations produced per year. MONITORING: Examine fruit spurs in spring for eggs, and leaves during the summer, for active stages. Sampling plants and leaf brushing services are available for most areas to determine mite numbers. HOSTS: Fruit trees. COMMENTS: Feeding damage causes bronzing of apple foliage, and browning of pear foliage. The round eggs are bright red to brownish-red in colour with a small slender “stem” on the upper side. Hatched eggs that are clear, can be confused with spider mite eggs save for the exit hole in the shell. BODY LENGTH: Adult - 0.3 mm; Mature nymph - 0.25 mm.