Mites

Abstract

Time of concern European red mite European red mites (Fig. 1) overwinter as fertilized eggs (Fig. 2). Egg hatch is closely correlated with bud development and first occurs when apples buds are in the tight cluster stage; hatch is more than 50 percent complete at the pink stage, and virtually 100 percent complete by the end of bloom. The first summer eggs can, as a rule, be found at petal fall or at latest by fruit set. There are four to nine generations of European red mite a year, depending on the locality and length of the growing season. Environmental factors such as diminishing food supply, temperature and photoperiod trigger winter egg production from midto late August, but this may continue until late September.