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European red mitefruit tree pest

European red mite is a harmful insect in an apple orchard during spring. When the buds come out all green, the red mite starts to give damage and makes a leaf distortion. It is considered that there is less damage in farms where they use the predator of European red mite, phytoseiidae and feltiella acarisuga. European red mite can harm badly in a long spell of dry weather.

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European red mite adult † backside of apple leaf

European red mite
Acarina leaf mite

  • Scientific name: Panonychus ulmi (Koch)
  • English name: European red mite
  • Size: the body length of a female adult is 0.4mm and male adult is 0.3mm
  • Hosts: pear, apple, peach and other 100 types of species
  • Distribution: Global

The body length of a female adult is around 0.4mm. Its body is long and dark red. You can see white spots on its body and across the line on the backside. European red mite's hair which is on back side is long and thick. The male adult's body length is around 0.3mm small. Its eggs are red and knurled.

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European red mite (taken with a microscope)

European red mite generates 8 to 10 times a year. It stays over the coldest season as a fertilized female adult in the bark of a tree, weeds or fallen leaves on the ground. If the density of wintering is high, you can find European red mites easily when you trim branches. Generally, it is on the weeds from April to May but if you spray herbicide or cut the weeds, it will move to apple trees.

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European red mite (taken with a microscope)
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a damaged bud by European red mites
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European red mite on a peer leafalat

In the beginning, the density increases from the center of stem or branches and slowly disperse to the outside tree. Wintering European red mite adults start to show up from late September. It climbs a tree and moves to the bark of a tree or it falls down with a dead leaf on the ground. Some of them move to flower cups. The winged European red mites live on the back side of a leaf. When the insects are grown up, it lives on both sides.


Translated by Sunyoung Cho

Other articles by Deogkee ParkInterviewed on : 2016.05.01 22:38

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