Miticides used in controlling mites in fruit

There are many options available for mite control in fruit crops.

Mite feeding injury on peach leaves
Mite feeding injury on peach leaves. Photo by Mark Longstroth, MSU Extension.

Mites can be significant pests of fruit crops. There are many miticides available for control of European red mites (ERM), twospotted spider mites (TSSM), cyclamen mites (CM) and rust mites (RM), as well as apple and pear rust mites, pear blister mite, plum nursery mite, blueberry bud mite, but according to Michigan State University Extension, their performance characteristics are not all alike.

The following table is designed to summarize several key variables that can help you determine which miticides are optimal for your integrated pest management program.

Compound

Fruit crop

Mites

Life stage target

Seasonal timing

Residual control

Superior, Stylet Oils

All fruit crops

ERM, RM

egg/larvae

Early (pre-bloom)

2-6 weeks

Lime-Sulfur

pome, stone,blueberry

RM3

motiles*

Early (delayed-dormant)

2-6 weeks

Dimilin

Pear

RM

Motiles*

Early (pre-bloom)

2-6 weeks

Onager Optek

Pome and stone fruits

ERM

Egg/larvae

Early***

8-12 weeks

Pome, stone, grape

TSSM

Egg/larvae

Mid (or threshold)**

6-8 weeks

Apollo

Pome, cherry, peach

ERM

Egg/larvae

Early***

8-12 weeks

TSSM

Egg/larvae

Mid (or threshold)

6-8 weeks

Agri-Mek, ABBA

Pome, stone, grape

ERM, RM

Motiles*

Early****

8-12 weeks

Pome, stone, strawberry, grape

TSSM

Motiles*

Mid (or threshold)

6-8 weeks

Minecto Pro

Pome, stone

ERM, RM

Motiles*

Early****

8-12 weeks

Pome, stone

TSSM

Motiles*

Mid (or threshold)

6-8 weeks

ABBA

Pome, plum, grape, strawberry

ERM, RM

Motiles*

Early****

8-12 weeks

TSSM

Motiles*

Mid (or threshold)

6-8 weeks

Agri-Flex

Pome, grape

ERM, RM

Motiles*

Early****

8-12 weeks

Gladiator

Pome, stone, grape

ERM, RM

Motiles*

Early****

8-12 weeks

TSSM

Motiles*

Mid (or threshold)

6-8 weeks

Zeal

Pome, stone fruits

ERM

Egg/larvae

Early (or threshold)**

8-10 weeks

Pome, stone, strawberry, grape

TSSM

Egg/larvae

Mid (or threshold)**

6-8 weeks

Envidor

Pome, plum, grape

ERM

Egg, motiles*

Early (or threshold)**

8-10 weeks

Stone fruits

TSSM

Egg, motiles*

Mid (or threshold)

6-8 weeks

Nexter

Pome, stone1, grape

ERM, RM

Motiles*

Mid (or threshold)**

6-8 weeks

TSSM

Motiles*

Mid (or threshold)**

6-8 weeks

Portal

Pome

ERM, RM

Motiles*

Mid (or threshold)**

6-8 weeks

TSSM

Motiles*

Mid (or threshold)

6-8 weeks

Nealta

Pome, grape, stone fruits

ERM

Motiles*

Mid (or threshold)**

6-8 weeks

TSSM

Motiles*

Mid (or threshold)

6-8 weeks

Magister

Pome and stone fruits, blueberry, caneberry, grapes

TSSM, ERM, RM

Eggs, Motiles*

Mid (or threshold)

4-6 weeks

Kanemite

Pome fruits

ERM

Motiles*

Mid (or threshold)**

6-8 weeks

Pome, strawberry, blueberry, stone fruits

TSSM

Motiles*

Mid (or threshold)

6-8 weeks

Acramite ,

Banter

Pome, peach, plum

ERM

Motiles*

Mid (or threshold)**

6-8 weeks

Pome, peach, plum, grape, strawberry

TSSM

Motiles*

Mid (or threshold)

6-8 weeks

Danitol

Apple, grape

ERM

Motiles*

Mid (or threshold)**

4-6 weeks

Apple, grape, strawberry

TSSM

Motiles*

Mid (or threshold)

4-6 weeks

Brigade

Pear

ERM

Motiles*

Mid (or threshold)**

4-6 weeks

Pear, grape, strawberry, caneberry

TSSM

Motiles*

Mid (or threshold)

4-6 weeks

Hero

Blueberry, caneberry, strawberry

TSSM

Motiles*

Mid (or threshold)**

4-6 weeks

Oberon

Strawberry

TSSM

Eggs, motiles*

Mid (or threshold)

4-6 weeks

Vendex

Pome, stone

ERM

Motiles*

Mid (or threshold)**

4-6 weeks

Pome, stone, grape, caneberry, strawberry

TSSM

Motiles*

Mid (or threshold)

4-6 weeks

Spear-T

Pome, blueberry,

Stone fruits

ERM

TSSM

Motiles*

Mid (or threshold)**

2-6 weeks

Sil-Matrix

Fruit crops

ERM, RM, TSSM

Motiles*

Early or Mid (with multiple applications)

2-6 weeks

Venerate

Stone fruits, grape

TSSM

Motiles*

Early or Mid (or threshold)**

2-6 weeks

Sulforix

Pear, blueberry

RM2

Motiles*

Late (post-harvest)

2-6 weeks

* Motile forms include mite larvae, nymph and adult stages.
** Optimally used petal fall through August when mites reach threshold.
*** Optimally used pre-bloom through first cover.
**** Optimally used petal fall through second cover.
1 300-day PHI (preharvest interval) for cherry
2 Including pear blister mite

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