Apple rust mite

Insect

Apple rust mite

Aculus schlechtendali (Nalepa)

Acari: Eriophyidae

Distribution: Most fruit-growing states and provinces in eastern North America.

Photos

Adults are brownish-yellow and invisible to the naked eye.

Adults are brownish-yellow and invisible to the naked eye. Mid-Atlantic Orchard Monitoring Guide
A

The vermiform adult has two pairs of legs at the front of its body (A). Brownish yellow in color, they are invisible to the naked eye, requiring a minimum magnification of 15X to be observed.

  • Crops Affected: apples

    Damage

    Attacks apple mainly. Yellowish brown leaf discoloration occurs under very populated conditions (hundreds per leaf), sometimes accompanied by silvery-white blotches (B). Browning of the lower surface and drying out of the leaves occur as well (C; healthy foliage on left; damaged leaves, right). May occasionally russet fruit.

    Management

    Preserve mite predators. Monitor populations on leaves during the summer with a 15X magnifying glass. Miticides can be used if populations are very high (greater than 200–500 per leaf), but lower numbers are valuable as prey for predator mites.

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