In this section:
Bryobia Mite
Bryobia rubrioculus
Affected
Pears and to a lesser extent stone fruit.
Description
Eggs are small, globular and dark bright red in colour. Newly hatched mites are red but turn to a green colour when the mite starts feeding. Adult mites are 0.6-0.8 mm long and vary in colour from brownish green to reddish brown. The eight legs are orange with the front legs being approximately twice the length of other legs.
Where and when to look
Eggs are readily detected in the dormant period. Eggs are laid in masses on rough surfaces, including junctions of limbs, rough bark on spurs and on leaf scars. Look for active stages early in the growing season, from the green tip stage. Bryobia mite is favoured by hot dry conditions. Bryobia mite infestation is more common on weaker trees.
Damage
Bryobia mites feed on the upper surfaces of the leaf by piercing cells and sucking out the contents. This feeding on young leaves shows up as whitish grey spots which results in a stippled appearance when the leaves grow. Attack on newly emerged leaves can result in discoloured leaves which fail to grow.
Control
Winter oil applications will provide control by killing over-wintering eggs. A thorough penetrating spray of winter oil during the dormant period is essential for good control. Do not apply more than one winter oil spray per year. A summer oil application closer to budswell may be applied if the winter oil spray is missed.
If active mites are detected when shoots are emerging in spring, a number of miticides are registered for bryobia mite control.
