How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

DESCRIPTION OF THE PEST

The brown mite occasionally occurs on pears and it may be the dominant mite on unsprayed trees early in the growing season. Like European red mites, brown mites overwinter in the egg stage. Eggs are red and spherical but do not have a stipe rising from the top. Newly hatched brown mites have six legs and are bright red. After they molt for the first time, they turn brown, develop eight legs, and resemble the adult, only smaller. Adult brown mites are dark reddish brown, and the first pair of legs is longer than the other three pairs.

DAMAGE

Brown mite is a very minor pest in pear. Its feeding on foliage can produce a stippled appearance much like that caused by leafhopper feeding. Usually leaves do not turn brown or defoliate. If populations are heavy, stippled areas merge and the leaf takes on a pale look. Because brown mites spend most of the day on the wood of spurs and twigs, leaves closest to these parts are most heavily damaged. Feeding by brown mites is rarely severe enough to affect the fruit growth.

MANAGEMENT

Brown mites are usually the first mites to appear in spring. Dormant treatments of oil should keep them below damaging levels. Low levels in early spring are considered beneficial as a food source for mite predators. Additional treatments are seldom needed.

Biological Control
Biological control of brown mite is not as effective as it is for European red mite and webspinning spider mites. Predators include brown lacewings, green lacewings, minute pirate bugs, sixspotted thrips, and the spider mite destroyer lady beetle.

Organically Acceptable Methods
Biological control and approved oil sprays are organically acceptable methods.

Monitoring and Treatment Decisions
Monitoring guidelines have not been established for brown mite. Brown mite is best controlled in the dormant season or early foliage season. In-season sprays are rarely justified.

Common name		Amount to use**		R.E.I.+	P.H.I.+
(trade name)		(conc.)	(dilute)	(hours)	(days)
The following materials are listed in order of usefulness in an IPM program, taking into account impact on natural enemies and honey bees. When choosing a pesticide, also consider information relating to environmental impact.
DORMANT
A.	NARROW RANGE OIL#	8 gal	2 gal	4	0
	...OR...
	DORMANT FLOWABLE EMULSION	6–8 gal	2–3 gal	4	0
	...OR...
	DORMANT PLUS	6–8 gal	3–4 gal	4	0
	MODE OF ACTION: Contact including smothering and barrier effects.
	COMMENTS: Control improves the closer eggs are to hatching. For narrow range oil, check with your certifier to determine which products are organically acceptable.
FINGER BUD TO PETAL FALL
A.	NARROW RANGE OIL#	4 gal	1 gal	4	0
	MODE OF ACTION: Contact including smothering and barrier effects.
	COMMENTS: Check with your certifier to determine which products are organically acceptable.
B.	ABAMECTIN*
	(AgriMek) 0.15 EC	10-20 fl oz	2.5-5 fl oz	12	28
	MODE OF ACTION: An avermectin (Group 6)1 insecticide.
	...PLUS...
	NARROW RANGE OIL	0.25%	minimum 1 gal	4	0
	MODE OF ACTION: Contact including smothering and barrier effects.
PETAL FALL TO HARVEST
A.	NARROW RANGE OIL#	4 gal	1 gal	4	0
	MODE OF ACTION: Contact including smothering and barrier effects.
	COMMENTS: Check with your certifier to determine which products are organically acceptable.
** Dilute rate is the rate per 100 gal water; use 400 gal solution/acre. Apply concentrate in 80-100 gal water/acre, or less if the label allows. + Restricted entry interval (R.E.I.) is the number of hours (unless otherwise noted) from treatment until the treated area can be safely entered without protective clothing. Preharvest interval (P.H.I.) is the number of days from treatment until the harvest may take place. In some cases the R.E.I. exceeds the P.H.I. The longer of these two intervals is the minimum time that must elapse before harvest may take place. * Permit required from county agricultural commissioner for purchase or use. # Acceptable for organically grown produce. 1 Alternating pesticides with different modes of action is important in preventing the development of resistance. Rotate chemicals with those that have a different mode-of-action Group number, and do not use products with the same mode-of-action Group number more than twice per season. For example, the organophosphates have a Group number of 1B; chemicals with a 1B Group number should be alternated with chemicals that have a Group number other than 1B. Group numbers are assigned by IRAC (Insecticide Resistance Action Committee). For additional information, see their Web site at http://www.irac-online.org/.

PUBLICATION

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Pear
UC ANR Publication 3455
Insects and Mites
L. G. Varela, UC IPM Program, UC Cooperative Extension Sonoma Co.
R. B. Elkins, UC Cooperative Extension Lake Co.
R. A. Van Steenwyk, Insect Biology, UC Berkeley
C. Ingels, UC Cooperative Extension Sacramento Co.
Acknowledgment for contributions to the insects and mites section:
C. Pickel, UC IPM Program, UC Cooperative Extension Sutter/Yuba counties
P. W. Weddle, Weddle, Hansen & Associates
P. Chevalier, United Ag Products, Ukiah; B. Knispel, United Ag Products, Kelseyville
T. Lidyoff, Purity Products, Healdsburg; G. McCosker, AgroTech, Kelseyville
B. Oldham, Ag Unlimited, Ukiah
D. Smith, Western Farm Service, Walnut Grove
J. Sisevich, AgroTech, Kelseyville
B. Zoller, The Pear Doctor, Inc., Kelseyville

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