CYCLAMEN MITE, PHYTONEMUS PALLIDUS (BANKS), AND OTHER TARSONEMID MITES IN STRAWBERRIES

Cyclamen mites, Phytonemus pallidus (Banks), from infested fields near Watsonville, CA, served as the source for this study. Infested strawberry leaflets were dipped into solutions of candidate acaricides plus a surfactant or a water and surfactant control. Individual adult females from these treated leaflets were immediately transferred to strawberry leaf discs placed on moistened filter paper in Petri dish containers, and examined for survival after 24 and 48 hours. In 2005, acaricides evaluated included bifenezate, abamectin, fenpyroximate, dicofol, acequinocyl, milbemectin, spiromesefen and etoxizole. In 2006, acaricides evaluated included fenpropathrin, fenpyroximate, acequinocyl, and two organically-approved products containing essential oils, Ecotrol and GC Mite. ANOVA results indicated significant (P<0.05) treatment differences for both the 2005 and 2006 studies, and results are presented. Two other Tarsonemid species, Tarsonemus setifer Ewing and Tarsonemus confusus Ewing, were found on strawberry plants. No damage symptoms were found on infested plants. Femur IV of cyclamen mite males possess a flange that distinguish them from the Tarsonemus species males, and their behavior and distribution differ as well.