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| Spruce spider mite - Oligonychus ununguis | ||||||
| IPM scouting in woody landscape plants > spruce spider mite | ||||||
| This mite overwinters in the egg stage on buds and needles. It is active during cooler weather in spring and fall. Nymphs are present in spring as saucer
magnolia or Norway maple begins to bloom. Look for active spruce mite infestations in the fall as goldenrod is blooming. Hosts for spruce spider mite include fir, pine, yew, arborvitae, juniper and Douglas-fir. The size of the mites is less than 0.5 mm. Damage: Look for stippled needles, especially on older growth. Mites will be visible with a 10x hand lens. Old eggshells will be clear; viable eggs are red. Young nymphs are red, turning dark green as they mature. Webbing may be present. Management: Sampling mite populations by shaking an infested branch over white paper will help to estimate populations. Low numbers may be controlled by predatory mites (see “natural enemies” page 104) if they are present. If miticides are needed, select specific miticides that spare predators. |
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| This information was developed from A Pocket IPM Scouting Guide for Woody Landscape Plants by Diane Brown-Rytlewski. Purchase this in a pocket-sized guide for reference in the orchard from MSU Extension (publication E-2839). |
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