Spider mite outbreaks are commonly due to hot, dry conditions, particularly in drought-stressed corn. Manage spider mite problems by preserving beneficial Insects and mites. Base treatment decisions on mite species present in fields.
Spider mites can be serious corn pests in Colorado, especially during hot, dry years.
They feed on the undersides of leaves, eventually killing the leaf and leaving it with a scorched or burned appearance. In his mite research at Rocky Ford, Frank Schweissing observed grain losses ranging from 6 to 48 percent, with an 18-year average of 21 percent. Banks grass mite traditionally has been a corn pest throughout Colorado, while TSM is a recent problem in certain corn-growing areas of the state. Both BGM and TSM overwinter as orange-yellow females. Some eggs may be laid during prolonged warm spells.