Vermont's Apple IPM Team is cooperating in a project led by Cornell University to establish populations of the predator mite, Typholdromus pyri, as a biological control for the European red mite. The Cornell University project outlines the current and proposed mite control situation as follows. European red mite is a serious pest in northeastern apple orchards. This mite feeds on apple leaves, potentially reducing apple crop yield and quality. A new collaborative project throughout the northeast aims to shift mite management to maximize use of biological mite control.
Biological control is feasible, less costly, and reduces health or environmental risks.
Up until this point biological control of mites in most northeast apple orchards has not been reliable. We believe this problem can be solved by introducing and establishing a highly effective predator, Typholdromus pyri, into these apple plantings. If successful, this project will lead to a large reduction in pesticides used in apples in the northeast, and result in a lowcost, environmentally benign, and sustainable mite management system. Experiments and experience in commercial orchards have shown that once established, T. pyri can completely eliminate the need for miticides. In this project T. pyri have been introduced into 33 apple orchards located in seven states throughout the northeast.