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while having little or no effect on TSM. Further Dr. Rick Weires in New 

 York has found that miticides differ to the extent that they provide control 

 of the two mite species. For example, Kelthane*, in one test, had little 

 effect on TSM while its effect or ERM is excellent in many cases. The net 

 result may be that TSM are free to expand and fill an ecological niche 

 vacated by the control of "resident" ERM populations. 



An interesting finding was the presence of numerous TSM in the carmine 

 (bright red-orange) phase in the calyx of Red Delicious apples at the HRC. 

 The observed mites were found during the course of a harvest survey, and 

 were all adults (TSM overwinter as adults) and were associated with substan- 

 tial silken webbing. TSM in the carmine phase have been commonly observed 

 in Ontario and New York in the past, but this is our first observation of 

 such colored forms in Massachusetts. Positive identification of this insect 

 was confirmed by personnel at Beltsville, Maryland to eliminate the possi- 

 bility that these mites were the McDaniel spider mite, a pest of tree fruits 

 on the West Coast but not known to exist in the Northeast. 



Whatever the cause of observed TSM outbreaks, mite control is clearly 

 not getting any easier, particularly when one considers apparent (and docu- 

 mented in certain areas) resistance of ERM to certain miticides. Ors. 

 Reissig and Weires in New York report preliminary suggestions that some 

 insecticide/mite interaction exist, whereby spraying of certain pesticides 

 may actually enhance mite population increases directly (not indirectly, as 

 by killing predators ) . 



Experience in 1984 reinforces our belief that multiple application of 

 low rates of miticide early in the season (PF-2nd cover) in problem blocks, 

 particularly when combined with thorough oiling, may provide excellent, 

 season-long mite control. 



Leafminers (LM) were only occasionally a problem in Massachusetts, with 

 most growers achieving excellent LM control using endosulfan, oxamyl , metho- 

 myl or pyrethroid insecticides. In one instance, for example, methomyl 

 applied to ?nd generation LM sap-feeding mines (<10% of mines in tissue 

 feeding stages) above our provisional ETL resulted in greater than 94% kill, 

 and completely arrested that generation. 



Red visual traps for LM monitoring were again useful. Trap captures 

 of overwintering generation LM indicated no need to treat for LM in 5 of 6 

 monitored blocks. In 3 cases, grower use of pyrethroids in the remaining 

 orchard blocks was unnecessary. Growers are urged to rely on LM monitoring 

 to determine the need for treatment so as to avoid unnecessary use of 

 phyrethroids. 



Outbreaks of other pests such as white apple leafhopper and wooly apple 

 aphid were noted at a few scattered sites. A noteworthy observation was 

 detection of noticeable amounts of fruit injury at the H.R.C., caused by 

 Eye-spotted budmoth (ESB), Injury from ESB normally consists of 2-3 

 "stings" resembling those caused by small codling moth larvae and typically 

 hidden under a leaf webbed with silken threads to the side of fruit. (ESB 

 is in the same entomological "family" as codling moth - the Olethreutidae. 

 However, ESB larvae are quite distinct in appearance, with a shiny dark 

 brown head and thoracic shield with a dull, reddish-brown body). 



