Peach Silver Mite
Beginner
This pest affects:
 |
 |
>
Scientific Name
Aculus cornutus (Banks)
Identification
Immatures
- Similar in shape to the adult except smaller
- Larva: white to translucent
- Nymph: yellow and is 0.1 mm long
Adults
- Two pairs of legs at the front and a cylindrical, ringed abdomen
- Female is about 0.2 mm long, slightly larger than the male
- Pale yellow color when newly emerged; turn brownish yellow or tan with age
Damage
- On young leaves, yellow pinpoint spotting and chlorosis along the veins, with an upward lengthwise folding of the leaf margin
- In severe infestations, spots coalesce resulting in leaves with a mottled appearance
- Prolonged summer feeding on mature leaves results in a silvery or reflective appearance that develops late in the season just before leaf drop
Often Confused With
Mild N deficiency - no mites present; initial symptoms on older leaves
Early ERM damage - reddish adults with 8 legs
Period of Activity
Injury is not usually noticed until mid- to late summer when heavily infested leaves take on a silvery appearance.
Scouting Notes
With the aid of a hand lens, begin inspecting leaves for PSM at bud break and continue throughout the summer.
Threshold
None established but very high populations (more than 200 per leaf) can usually be tolerated.
Advanced
This pest affects:
|
|
>
Scientific Name
Aculus cornutus (Banks)
Identification
Immatures
- Similar in shape to the adult except smaller
- Larva: white to translucent
- Nymph: yellow and is 0.1 mm long
Adults
- Two pairs of legs at the front and a cylindrical, ringed abdomen
- Female is about 0.2 mm long, slightly larger than the male
- Pale yellow color when newly emerged; turn brownish yellow or tan with age
Damage
- On young leaves, yellow pinpoint spotting and chlorosis along the veins, with an upward lengthwise folding of the leaf margin
- In severe infestations, spots coalesce resulting in leaves with a mottled appearance
- Prolonged summer feeding on mature leaves results in a silvery or reflective appearance that develops late in the season just before leaf drop
Often Confused With
Mild N deficiency - no mites present; initial symptoms on older leaves
Early ERM damage - reddish adults with 8 legs
Biology
Peach silver mite is primarily found on peach and nectarine, but also occasionally attacks plum and prune. Silver mite activity is extremely site specific. High populations of 200 to 300 per leaf can cause leaves to turn a silvery green and may adversely affect fruit quality. Females overwinter on the tree in the buds and bud scales. Early in the spring, mites will invade the tender growing tips to feed. Feeding and reproduction, resulting in numerous generations, occurs on the leaf undersurface until hibernating females are again produced in the fall. Populations will be drastically reduced during hot, dry periods.
Period of Activity
Injury is not usually noticed until mid- to late summer when heavily infested leaves take on a silvery appearance.
Scouting Notes
With the aid of a hand lens, begin inspecting leaves for PSM at bud break and continue throughout the summer.
Threshold
None established but very high populations (more than 200 per leaf) can usually be tolerated.
Management Notes
Peach silver mite seldom causes injury severe enough to impact tree health or fruit yield or quality. A low to moderate population is considered advantageous to provide an alternative food source for mite predators when primary prey species may be scarce.
Some information included above excerted from;
