POMEWEST
T. pyri for European red mite control BY ALISON MATHEWS RESEARCH SCIENTIST, DPIRD
3 THIS work is part of a project that seeks to improve natural control of pest mites in deciduous fruit tree orchards in WA.
W
estern Australian apple orchardists should soon have another option for the management of European red mite as the result of research being undertaken by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). European red mite, Panonychus ulmi, was first recorded in WA apple orchards in 2005 and is now present in all WA’s major pome fruit growing regions.
A 2015 survey of deciduous fruit tree orchards across the State found that Typhlodromus pyri, the main species of predatory mite for European red mite control in eastern Australia, and overseas, was absent from WA. This presented an opportunity to improve natural control of pest mites in WA orchards.
The timing of the onset of pest mite populations can vary each season as can the level of control provided by beneficial insects and mites. Regular monitoring can tell orchardists when mites are a risk of reaching damaging levels and if natural control agents are present in sufficient abundance to prevent economic damage from pest mites.
After several attempts over a number of seasons, T. pyri were successfully collected from orchards in the Eastern States in the 2019/20 season. These mites are now being held in a biological control production facility in South Australia, where numbers are being bulked up with the plan to import and release them directly into European red mite-infested orchards in WA during the 2020/21 season.
If monitoring shows that miticides are needed DPIRD recommends products from different activity groups be alternated to preserve their usefulness. Pest mites have a reputation for developing resistance. This reinforces the advantages of regular monitoring, ensuring miticides are only used when required.
orchards in WA.
The project team thanks orchardists in the Perth Hills, Donnybrook, Capel, Nannup and Manjimup/Pemberton regions for their cooperation and collaboration in conducting monitoring.
This project on the use of T.pyri for European red mite control The establishment and effect of T. has been co-funded by DPIRD pyri on European red and the Agricultural mite will be monitored at release sites. If they Produce Commission’s European red mite, was Pomewest and successfully establish, this predatory mite can first recorded in WA Stonefruit subthen be introduced to other apple orchards in 2005. committees. European red mite infested This work is part of a project that seeks to improve natural control of pest mites in deciduous fruit tree orchards in WA through increasing the range of species of predatory mites that are present. In the decade since it was first discovered in WA, European red mite has become the dominant pest mite in apple orchards in the Manjimup/ Pemberton area. This may be attributed to its preference for cooler climates and also the reasonably successful natural control of the other key mite pest, two-spotted mite. This pest is better managed now primarily due to the existing suite of predatory mite species, unfortunately the predators of two-spotted mite are not as efficient in controlling European red mite. Mites are consistent seasonal pests in deciduous fruit tree orchards in WA.
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WA Grower SPRING 2020
MORE INFORMATION • C ontact Alison Mathews, (08) 9777 0122, alison.mathews@dpird.wa.gov.au, agric.wa.gov.au. • DPIRD website: agric.wa.gov.au search ‘European red mite’ • Australian Apple and Pear IPDM extension site at extensionaus.com.au/ ozapplepearipdm
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
