MITES ON CONIFERS
Oligonychus ununguis (Acarina: Tetranychus)
DESCRIPTION
SYMPTOMS
Mites including the Spruce Spider Mite (oligougchus
Needles will become mottled in color. This will progress
into needle discoloration and in severe infestations,
needle loss.
ananguis) infest a variety of conifer species,
including pines, spruce, hemlocks, arborvitaes and
others. The mites pierce and suck nutrients from
TREATMENT
conifer needles. Because spider mites are so tiny,
A properly timed application of ACE-jet can significantly
reduce or eliminate the existing population of mites on
the tree. ACE-jet moves quickly and easily throughout
the tree and provides rapid control.
the easiest way to diagnose infestation is to take a
twig sample from your conifer and beat it against a
white piece of paper; the spider mites will appear
as moving brown specks on the paper. Spider mites
create webbing at the base of needles and branches.
Eco-Mite Plus™ is also an available option for treating
Mites on conifers. It’s an EPA 25(b) botanical product
that’s used as a spray. Eco-Mite Plus provides excellent
control of Mites on conifers as well as landscape or
nursery plantings.
PHOTOS
A: Shows adult spider mites on spruce.
B, C, D: Shows the symptoms of mite infestation
on spruce. Note the webbing in photo C.
Photo A taken by: Rayanne Lehman, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture,
Bugwood.org
Photo B taken by: USDA Forest Service - Region 4 - Intermountain Archive, USDA
A
B
Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Photos C, and D taken by John A. Weidhass, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
State University, www.forestryimages.org.
C
D
MITES ON CONIFERS
World Class Formulations
WHEN TO TREAT
ACE-jet or Eco-Mite Plus should be applied at the first
sign of mite feeding. Since spider mites prefer hot and
dry conditions, infestation usually becomes severe in the
summer. Monitor environmental conditions during the
summer months: during periods of summer stress, inspect
trees for building mite infestations, which are particularly
injurious to conifers. During hot weather, treatments
should be made early in the morning, which is the coolest
part of the day. If the soil is dry, water the tree thoroughly.
ACE-jet moves rapidly into foliage for effective and quick
mite control.
Generally, the best seasons for injection are fall and
For treatment of mites on conifers use ACE-jet
and Eco-Mite Plus™.
ACE-jet is a fast acting, broad spectrum pesticide
effective against caterpillars, aphids, leafminers, scale,
adelgids, thrips, boring beetles and spider mites.
ACE-jet will also produce a beneficial
health response in the tree as it
metabolizes into utilizable elements
phosphorous and sulfur.
Eco-Mite Plus™ is a contact
miticide and insecticide,
derived from botanical
plant oils and extracts.
spring, as uptake occurs when trees are transpiring. The
environmental conditions that favor uptake are adequate
soil moisture and relatively high humidity. Soil temperature
should be above 40°F for trunk injection. Hot weather or
dry soil conditions will result in a reduced rate of uptake, so
trees should be watered if applications occur when the soil
is extremely dry. If treating trees in the summer, it is best
Our products can
be purchased at your
local Arborjet distributor.
For a distributor near
you visit
arborjet.com/distributor
to inject in the morning for the quickest uptake. Tree health
will affect treatment efficacy, so assess tree health prior
to treating. For example, a declining tree (>50% canopy
QUIK-jet Injection
Tree I.V. Injection
dieback) is a poor candidate for treatment.
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER TREATMENT
ACE-jet injectable insecticide will quickly kill the mites
present. However, ACE-jet and Eco-Mite Plus have limited
residual value and may require more than one application to
protect against reinfestation.
Arborjet Delivery Systems
Arborjet’s delivery systems are designed to be fast, affordable and effective. Contact us today to determine the
right system for your needs. To find a distributor near you, go to www.arborjet.com.
QUIK-jet Kit
TREE I.V. 2-Pack Kit
QUIK-jet Pro Kit
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