Gall mite and it treatment

Gall mites, despite their small size, are a serious threat to plants. They belong to the numerous superfamily of four-legged ticks, consisting of more than 4,000 species.

Description of the pest

Adults have a worm-like body covered with thin rings. The length of mites is 0.1-0.3 mm, the color is yellow, white-pink or red. The pest has two pairs of legs located near the head. Eyes and respiratory organs are absent.

Gall mites go through 4 stages of development: egg, first-generation nymph, second-generation nymph, and adult. Females can be oviparous or viviparous. Males do not always participate in reproduction. Only males emerge from unfertilized eggs, when females are fertilized, adults of both sexes emerge from the eggs.

At each stage of development, the pest goes through a small resting stage. Head mites feed on the cell sap of plants.

In just one season, several generations of the pest develop. Generations appear in the summer, which ensure reproduction throughout the growing season. Their life is spent in the mother's hall.

Individuals from late populations are adapted to adverse winter conditions. After the winter, they start their harmful activity when the weather is warm (15–17°C).

What does the affected plant look like

According to the nature of damage, pests are divided into 5 types:

• leaves
• stem
• budding
• root
• fruity

At the feeding site, the gall mite pierces the membranes of plant cells, absorbs their contents and secretes its saliva. In response to damage, the formation of additional tissues begins.

In places of a tick bite, swellings appear - calluses. Their coloring may be initially light green or red. Later, the galls darken and merge into brown ugly growths.

Due to the destruction of tissues on plants, leaves, shoots, flowers, and fruits are deformed. The color of the leaves changes, the abnormal development of the shoots begins, drying and falling of the ovaries.

Viruses and bacteria easily penetrate damaged areas. Head mites contribute to the spread of mosaic and terry on various crops.

Pests are omnivorous and parasitize apple, pear, plum, peach, hawthorn, thorn, rowan, ivy, elm, maple, aspen and other plants.

Mites treatmemt

Chemical and biological agents

The fight against gall mites is complicated, because many species live secretly and not all drugs work on them. In addition, ticks quickly adapt to poison. It is important to start processing plants not from the moment signs of damage appear, but during the emergence of pests before the beginning of their reproduction.

A popular method is spraying during bud break. For this, colloidal sulfur, systemic acaricides, insecticides based on pyrethroids are used. To fix the result, on average, 2-3 treatments are carried out. Spraying is also carried out during the period of blackening of galls - at this moment ticks come out of shelter.

• Actellik

The dosage for the treatment of young plants and with a small number of pests is 2 ml per 2 liters of water. In severe infection, 2 ml ampoule is dissolved in 1 liter of water. Re-processing is carried out after 5-7 days.

• Envidor

Contact insectoacaricide in the form of an emulsion that destroys the pest at all stages of development. It is resistant to adverse weather conditions, as it has good adhesion to leaves.

On each culture, this drug is used only once per season, therefore, in the fight against mites, it is alternated with other chemicals. Dosage: 2-3 ml per 5 liters of water.

• Oberon

Special insectoacaricide against mites. It penetrates deeply into plant tissues, but does not spread through blood vessels. Destroys eggs, nymphs and adults. To prepare a solution, 3 ml of the agent is added to 10 liters of water.

• Imexab™

A product of biological origin. The composition includes a complex of natural avermectins produced by the soil fungus Streptomyces avermitilis. Effective against all types of mites. Application rate is 10 g / 10 l of water. Due to the specificity of the gall mite, it is recommended to add the adjuvant Izomax™ 2ml/10l to the tank solution, which contributes to the rapid penetration of the active substance into the plant and evenly covers the vegetative part.

• Vermitec

Product belongs to the chemical group of avermectins, which is a product of the vital activity of Streptomyces avermitilis fungi. Dosage against these pests: 10 ml per 8-10 liters of water.

In general, the key to success in the fight against the head mite is preventive measures that will reduce the chances of its development and help save plants and crops.