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.

Western 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 The timing of the onset of pest mite orchards across the State found that populations can vary each season as can Typhlodromus pyri, the main species the level of control provided by beneficial of predatory mite for European red insects and mites. Regular monitoring mite control in eastern Australia, and can tell orchardists when mites are a overseas, was absent from WA. This risk of reaching damaging levels and presented an opportunity to improve if natural control agents are present natural control of pest mites in in sufficient abundance to prevent WA orchards. economic damage from pest mites. After several attempts over a number If monitoring shows that miticides are of seasons, T. pyri were successfully needed DPIRD recommends products collected from orchards in the Eastern from different activity groups be States in the 2019/20 season. These alternated to preserve their usefulness. mites are now being held in a biological Pest mites have a reputation for control production facility in South developing resistance. This reinforces Australia, where numbers are being the advantages of regular monitoring, bulked up with the plan to import and ensuring miticides are only used release them directly into European red when required. mite-infested orchards in WA during the 2020/21 season. The establishment and effect of T. pyri on European red mite will be monitored This project on the use of T.pyri for European red mite control has been co-funded by DPIRD and the Agricultural at release sites. If they successfully establish, this predatory mite can then be introduced to other European red mite infested European red mite, was first recorded in WA apple orchards in 2005. Produce Commission’s Pomewest and Stonefruit subcommittees. orchards in WA. The project team thanks 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. orchardists in the Perth Hills, Donnybrook, Capel, Nannup and Manjimup/Pemberton regions for their cooperation and collaboration in conducting monitoring. 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.

MORE INFORMATION

• Contact 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/

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