8 Farmers’ Bulletin 1257. 
to those of the larva. The average length of the nymphal stages is 
about 3 days. 
The adult mite.—The adult is eight-legged and the color is rusty- 
red, because of the internal structures occurring on each side of the 
body. The eyes are crimson. The body and legs are covered with 
minute hairs. The male is about one one-hundredth inch in length 
and the female about one-eightieth inch. In this stage the mites are 
very active, mating and extensively feeding on the foliage. The num- 
ber of generations of the red spider varies with the seasonal climatic 
conditions. In years of little rain during the spring and early fall 
the red spiders become in evidence more quickly than when rains 
occur in early spring and early fall. Rain is the factor which in- 
fluences their reduction more than any other. Intermittent rain fre- 
quently recurring during the red-spider season also interferes greatly 
with the regularity of the generations. Activity of the red spider 
usually commences during the latter part of August and ceases the 
first part of April, giving an active season of about 240 days. The 
duration of the life cycle based on averages is 14.2 days. This would 
give 17 generations for Florida, if no interruptions due to climatic 
conditions occurred, or if no other factors interfered with the normal 
activities of the mites in the field. The length of the generations, 
however, varies greatly with the climatic conditions. During dry, 
hot weather the females deposit eggs in great numbers and the growth 
and molting of the spiders take place rapidly. During colder 
weather apparently days are passed without any eggs being laid and 
growth of the immature individuals is much retarded. Although the 
life cycle is longer during January and February, the climatic condi- 
tions do not interfere and the mites reproduce freely. During May, 
June, and July, and sometimes in August, depending on the weather, 
the mites are very scarce, but are present on the trees, though barely 
maintaining their existence. 
CONTROL. 
When the mites are present on the trees in considerable numbers 
and the foliage is still green the grower should start immediately 
to apply control measures. He should not wait until the attacked 
foliage becomes noticeably brown and begins to drop. By applying 
either dust sulphur with a dusting machine, or lime-sulphur solu- 
tion at the rate of 1 gallon of the concentrate to 60 gallons of water, 
the grower will secure satisfactory results. With lime-sulphur solu- 
tion a strength of 1 gallon of the concentrate to 75 gallons of water 
is advisable during winters if the temperature is above the normal, 
and if the trees do not attain a thoroughly dormant condition. 
