CYCLAMEN MITE ■ A PEST OF STRAWBERRIES 



What l3 This Pest ; It is a tiny mite, practically invisible to the naked eye, 

 much smaller than the common red spider or 2-spotted mite. It occurs on 

 many different plants both in the greenhouse and outside. It sucks juices 

 from the plant tissues. 



Symptoms of Injury ; Heavy infestations result in severe dwarfing and stunting. 

 Early symptoms are a vnrinkled, deformed appearance of the new leaves. The 

 plants appear dense or crowded and the leaflets are held vertical rather 

 than horizontal because of the shorter stems. Finally some of the inner 

 leaves are killed outright. Crops are greatly reduced, worthless or lost 

 altogether. 



Seasonal Development and Habits ; Adult females overwinter in crevices between 



the bases of leaf stems. Become active in spring but all active stages avoid 

 light and require a high humidity. They remain in unopened leaves in plant 

 crowns or between parts of leaves or flCTjers . Eggs, nearly as large as the 

 females, are laid singly but as many as 3 each day for several days. Eggs 

 hatch into larvae which feed, enter a "pupal" stage and then become adults. 

 At 70O F an entire generation requires only about 14 days. Just a few females 

 on a plant when it is set can result in a heavy infestation before the season 

 ends or before fruiting. 



How Introduced Into a Field ; Cycleimen mites get into a field most commonly on 

 infested planting stock . Some infestations can be traced to movement from 

 nearby infested plants or weeds. 



How Are They Spread ; (1) By migration from mother to daughter plants or adjacent 



ones, (2) carried by birds and insects, (3) wind-borne, (4) carried by workers 

 in the fields. 



Some Important Points Related to Control of Cyclamen Mite 



Mites are in Protected Spots ; A majority of the populatioix. remains within crown 

 in unfolded leaflets or other parts and inside sheaths at base of stems. 

 Hard to reach with a spray. Impossible to reach with dusts. Low-gallonage 

 sprays are not effective. 



Many Common Miticides do not Kill Cyclamen Mite ; Allen and associates in Cal- 

 ifornia tested over 50 chemicals 1952-56. Found only 3 to be really effec- 

 tive; endrin (available but cannot be used during bearing year except after 

 harvest); isodrin (not on the market); Thiodan (available but caimot be used 

 during bearing year except before bloom or after harvest) . Kelthane is only 

 fair in single applications but can be used after bloom during fruit bearing 

 year. 



None of the organic phosphates (parathion, malathion, etc.) or the systemics 

 (demeton, etc.) give effective control and in fact their use may result in 

 more trouble. 



