What is a tick on currants? - briefly
A tick on currants is a microscopic eriophyid mite that feeds on young shoots and leaves, creating silvery or brown stippling and stunted growth. Infestations are identified by the presence of tiny, moving specks and can be managed with acaricides or cultural controls.
What is a tick on currants? - in detail
A tick that appears on currant bushes is an arachnid parasite belonging to the family Ixodidae. Adult specimens attach to the stems or leaves, insert their mouthparts, and ingest plant sap. The feeding process creates small, pale lesions that may coalesce into larger necrotic areas, reducing photosynthetic capacity and fruit quality.
Biology
- Two‑stage development: larva and adult. Larvae hatch from eggs laid in the soil, remain on the ground for several weeks, then climb onto low vegetation to locate a host.
- Females lay thousands of eggs after engorgement; the cycle repeats annually in temperate climates.
- Activity peaks in spring and early summer, coinciding with the most vulnerable growth phases of the plant.
Symptoms on the host
- Minute, circular discolorations (1–3 mm) around feeding sites.
- Wilting of affected shoots, especially under heavy infestation.
- Premature fruit drop and diminished sugar content when ticks feed on developing berries.
Economic impact
- Yield loss up to 30 % in heavily infested orchards.
- Increased labor for manual removal and post‑harvest sorting.
- Potential for secondary infections by opportunistic fungi entering feeding wounds.
Management strategies
- Cultural control: remove plant debris, keep the orchard floor free of leaf litter, and rotate crops to disrupt the soil‑borne stage.
- Biological agents: introduce predatory mites (e.g., Phytoseiulus persimilis) that prey on tick larvae.
- Chemical options: apply acaricides containing abamectin or spirodiclofen before the first signs of activity; repeat according to label intervals.
- Monitoring: place sticky traps at canopy level to assess population density and time interventions precisely.
Prevention focuses on maintaining a clean orchard environment, selecting resistant cultivars, and implementing a regular scouting program to detect early infestations before damage escalates.