THE INFLUENCE OF SPRAY PROGRAMS ON THE FAUNA OF APPLE ORCHARDS IN NOVA SCOTIA: XIX. APPLE RUST MITE, VASATES SCHLECHTENDALI, A FOOD SOURCE FOR PREDATORS

Abstract

AbstractMaintenance of predacious arthropods in apple orchards requires both the judicious use of chemical sprays and the presence of adequate food supplies. When the common food source, the European red mite, Panonychus ulmi (Koch), is depleted by either a selective chemical, such as Animert V-101, or by excessive activity of the predators, the apple rust mite, Vasates schlechtendali (Nal.), if present, provides an alternate food. This enables survival of sufficient numbers of predators to prevent resurgence of the red mite within the same season.