Skip to main content

Southern Red Mite

Southern Red Mite (Oligonychus ilicis)

GDD Window (base 50): 7-91

Overview:

  • Overwinters as red eggs on host plant leaf undersides
  • Eggs hatch into pale, six-legged larvae
  • Two nymph stages, protonymph and deutonymph, each have eight legs and become progressively darker incolor and larger. 
  • Adult mites are ½ mm long, oval, and purplish or reddish in color, with eight legs
  • Multiple generations each year, population densities peak during cooler months and with periods of high humidity
  • Feeding occurs on undersides of leaves
  • Foliage becomes bronzed or stippled and even distorted
  • Host plants: Ericaceaea and Aquifoliaceae families
    • Broad-leaved evergreens

Management:

Cultural Practices:
  • Natural predatorsIphiseiodes zuluagaiEuseius citrifolius, and Amblyseius herbicolus
  • Reduce plant stress
  • Syringing, or spraying infested foliage with a heavy water stream, may help to dislodge the mites and reduce infestation severity.  
Materials:
  • Contact insecticides: 
    • Avermectins [6]: Abamectin 
    • Pyrethroids [3]: –thrins, Tau-fluvalinate  
    • METI acaricides and insecticides [21A]: Fenazaquin 
    • Spinosyns [5]: Spinosad
  • Systemic insecticides: 
    • Tetronics [23]: Spirotetramat
    • Organophosphates [1B]: Malathion, Acephate 
  • Considerations:
    • Pyrethroids and carbamates will harm beneficial predators if present.
Biorationals:
  • MGI [10A]: Hexythiazox
  • MGI [10B]: Etoxazole
  • Beauveria bassiana  
  • Chromobacterium subtsugae  
  • Metarhizium anisopliae (robertii)
  • Horticultural oil
    • Test for phytotoxicity before spraying the whole plant. 
Photo: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Photo: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Cooperative Extension

 

Disclaimer – Materials do not cover all possible control scenarios and are intended for licensed professionals. Tradenames do not imply endorsement and are used as examples. You must strictly follow the label for each compound prior to use. Rutgers is not responsible form is used materials or damages thereof. The label is the law. Labels will provide detailed information on use and restrictions. Additionally, application intervals, compatibility, surfactant use, PHI, PPE, important and other key information is described in detail. Always discuss treatments with your local agents. Note: Neonicotinoids can only be legally applied in commercial agriculture settings by licensed applicators. Guidelines and recommendations made in this presentation are specific to the state of New Jersey.