How to fight a strawberry mite? - briefly
Apply a registered miticide according to label rates and repeat applications at recommended intervals, while eliminating heavily infested foliage and keeping the canopy open for air circulation. Rotate strawberries with non‑host crops and maintain clean, weed‑free beds to suppress mite resurgence.
How to fight a strawberry mite? - in detail
Effective control of the strawberry spider mite requires an integrated approach that combines observation, cultural practices, biological agents, and, when necessary, targeted chemicals.
Begin with regular scouting. Examine the undersides of leaves weekly, looking for stippled discoloration, fine webbing, and tiny moving specks. When population density exceeds 5 mites per leaf, initiate treatment.
Cultural measures reduce habitat suitability:
- Remove weeds and plant debris that shelter mites.
- Space plants 30‑45 cm apart to improve airflow and lower humidity.
- Irrigate early in the day with a strong jet of water to dislodge mites; repeat every 7–10 days during outbreaks.
- Rotate strawberries with non‑host crops such as beans or brassicas for at least two seasons.
Biological control agents provide long‑term suppression:
- Release predatory mites (e.g., Phytoseiulus persimilis or Neoseiulus californicus) at a rate of 10–15 kg per hectare.
- Encourage native predators by planting nectar‑producing borders (e.g., alyssum, sweet alyssum).
- Apply entomopathogenic fungi such as Beauveria bassiana according to label instructions; repeat applications at 7‑day intervals.
When mite numbers remain high despite the above, selective acaricides may be applied. Choose products with low toxicity to beneficial insects, such as sulfur, neem oil, or spirodiclofen. Follow these guidelines:
- Apply at the lowest effective concentration.
- Observe a pre‑harvest interval of at least 3 days for sulfur and 5 days for synthetic acaricides.
- Rotate chemistries with different modes of action to prevent resistance.
Record each intervention, noting date, product, rate, and observed mite counts. This data enables adjustment of tactics and documentation of efficacy over time.