New Miticide Approved
in California for Outdoor Use

 

Spider mites suck the chlorophyll from leaves which results in fine white spots or stipples on the leaves. Heavy feeding causes yellowing, browning and eventual death of the leaves.

Spider mites are very tiny plant pests that are related to spiders. These arachnids have four pairs of legs, no antennae and a single, oval body region. They feed only on plants. Some spider mite species produce webbing that covers the leaves and stems when populations are high. The tiny spider mites can be detected by taking a piece of white paper or cardboard and striking some plant foliage with it. The mites can be seen walking slowly on the paper. If ten or more mites per sample are common, controls may be needed. These can include syringing with water, quarantine and inspection, predators such as lacewings or lady beetles, predatory mites, soft pesticides such as insecticidal oils and soaps, or miticides. Spider mites are usually not killed by regular insecticides.

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Spider mite colors may be reddish or light green with two dark spots. They are about the size of a period on the page, with tiny mouthparts that are modified for piercing individual plant cells and removing the contents.

TetraSan can control mites without them coming into direct contact with the spray residue. Its unique translaminar movement allows the product to penetrate through the upper surface of the leaf and be ingested by mites feeding on the underside of the plant.

“The translaminar action makes application more convenient,” says David Frye, Valent Professional Products market manager. “It is hard to get good underleaf spray coverage on many outdoor plants, but Tetrasan can control spider mites even if the product isn’t sprayed on the undersides of the leaves.”

It also provides growers with extended residual activity to control spider mites for up to five weeks. This gives growers the same spider mite control with fewer applications. Selective to mites, it does not harm most beneficial insects.

Because of the spider mite’s short lifespan, resistance to commonly used insecticides can become a problem for growers. However, Tetrasan is a new chemical class and its unique mode of action makes it a great resistance management tool. The product can be rotated with all currently registered miticides to decrease the risk of resistant spider mite species. A molting inhibitor, TetraSan affects spider mites at all life stages. It stops the development of eggs and larvae while sterilizing the adults, and is most effective when applied to plants with low mite populations. If mite pressure on the plant is high, a second application can be made as soon as 14 days after initial treatment or the product can be tank mixed with an adulticide.

For more information go to www.valentpro.com