European red mite - integrated mite control

Integrated mite control (IMC) of European red mite combines the use of predatory mites, resistant to orchard chemicals, with the use of selective miticides more toxic to European red mite than the predators. IMC was introduced to New Zealand pipfruit orchards in the 1970s. The most important predator was Typhlodromus pyri which had developed resistance to organophosphate (OP) insecticides. It was able to provide biological control of European red mite in the presence of OP sprays, and could be assisted by timed sprays of selective miticides such as Peropal^®, Torque^® and summer oil. These were only applied at the most effective times and when spray thresholds were exceeded, as shown by monitoring. Although OP resistance in T. pyri is less important than it was due to the introduction of new selective insecticides, integrated mite control continues to this day as an important part of integrated fruit production.

Several other OP-resistant predator species were successfully introduced to New Zealand to assist T. pyri in integrated mite control for European red mite:

Galendromus occidentalis is particularly important in Central Otago. Although it feeds primarily on twospotted spider mite, this species is also an important predator of European red mite.
Neoseiulus fallacis established in New Zealand but is now found only occasionally in orchards.
Phytoseiulus persimilis was introduced for twospotted spider mite control but also feeds on European red mite.

Care is required in the choice of pesticides for compatibility with the predatory mites used in IMC.