Integrated Pest Management

Budmite
ACARINA: Eriophyles sheldoni

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Identification

Photo

 

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Microscopic, small arthropods.

Too small to see, but damage to blossoms is an indication of the presence of budmite.

Separate from insects

Photo

 

Top Check Your Diagnosis Data Sheet Natural Enemies Management
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    LIFE CYCLE   ECONOMIC THRESHOLD
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Data Sheet

Damage Symptoms

Feeds on the citrus buds leading to malformation of leaves, blossoms and fruit

LOOK FOR A COMBINATION OF DAMAGE

on fruit

PHOTO

on leaves

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on blossom

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on twigs

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1. On Fruit

Feeding damage

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  • flattened like a pumpkin

  • grooves on the cheeks of the fruit.

  • Enlarged protrusions of navel end.

  • Lemons have fingerlike protuberances

Infested trees have reduced growth and less fruit

2. On Leaves

Feeding damage

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  • small, malformed, irregular indentations

When the malformation on leaves are visible, the damage has been done

3. On Blossoms

Feeding damage

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  • calyx, pistels and stamens are thickened and malformed.

  • Blossom leaves are twisted and condensed

Damage to the buds starts at the initiation of new leaves, usually in winter

4. On Twigs

Feeding damage

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  • weakened, shortened, twisted

Infested trees have reduced growth and less fruit

Life Cycle

Drawing of life cycle

EGGS

Eggs are spherical

  

IMMATURE STAGES

Nymphs resemble the adult only smaller

 

ADULT

Worm-like / banana shaped budmite

Color is white to pale yellow

 

Life cycle of female = 11 days

Duration of a generation is dependant on temperature

 

 

Seasonal Cycle in Vaalharts

Present throughout the year, but mites not visible, look for symptoms

Budmite moves from the old growth to new shoots and buds

Graph

Highest visible damage to trees, blossoms and flush manifests in spring

Dispersed by nursery material, birds, wind and seeds

Buds move continually up and outwards. But are found in shady parts of the tree and fruit

Most infested parts of the citrus tree is the upper northern side

Temperatures of above 43°C can kill budmite. Cold temperature decrease their metabolic rate, thus they grow slower.

Multivoltine: up to twenty generations per year

 

Top Check Your Diagnosis Data Sheet Natural Enemies Management
    DAMAGE SYMPTOMS   MONITOR
    LIFE CYCLE   ECONOMIC THRESHOLD
    SEASONAL CYCLE   CONTROL OPTIONS
        CHECK POINTS

 

Natural Enemies

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No natural emenies???

 

Top Check Your Diagnosis Data Sheet Natural Enemies Management
    DAMAGE SYMPTOMS   MONITOR
    LIFE CYCLE   ECONOMIC THRESHOLD
    SEASONAL CYCLE   CONTROL OPTIONS
        CHECK POINTS

Management

 
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