1. Insect
  2. Vegetable Crops
  3. Vegetable Crops
  4. Hosts and Pests of Vegetable Crops

Melon (Cantaloupe, muskmelon, and watermelon)-Spider mite

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Image related to Melon (Cantaloupe, muskmelon, and watermelon)-Spider mite
Tetranychus unknown
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection

Tetranychus spp.

Pest description, crop damage and life history

See:

Common Pests of Vegetable Crops

Management-chemical control: HOME USE

  • azadirachtin (neem oil)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • bifenthrin (often as a mix wth zeta-cypermethrin).
  • horticultural oil Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • insecticidal soap-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • plant-derived essential oils (clove, cottonseed, garlic etc.)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • sulfur (as a mix with pyrethrins)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.

Management-chemical control: COMMERCIAL USE

  • abamectin (Agri-Mek SC, Epi-Mek) at 0.009 to 0.019 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Do not make more than two sequential applications or exceed 0.056 lb ai/A per season.
  • acequinocyl (Shuttle O) at 0.3 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Limit 2 treatments. Retreatment interval 21 days. Do not exceed 0.6 lb ai/A per year.
  • bifenazate (Acramite 50WS) at 0.375 to 0.5 lb ai/A. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed one treatment.
  • bifenthrin (Brigade 2EC) at 0.08 to 0.1 lb ai/A. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.3 lb ai/A per season. Do not make more than two applications after bloom. Retreatment interval 7 days.
  • bifenthrin/Avermectin (Athena) at 0.091 to 0.116 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Limit 2 treatments after bloom. Do not exceed 0.056 lb ai/A avermectin or 0.3 lb ai/A bifenthrin per year.
  • bifenthrin/zeta-cypermethrin (Hero EW) at 0.1 lb ai/A. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.4 lb ai/A per season.
  • borate complex (Prev-Am Ultra) apply at 0.4% solution. Spray to complete coverage. REI 12 hr. OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • etoxazole (Zeal) at 0.09 to 0.135 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Limit 1 treatment per season.
  • fenpropathrin (Danitol 2.4EC) at 0.2 to 0.3 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 24 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.8 lb ai/A per season. An adjuvant improves control.
  • fenpyroximate (Fujimite) at 1.25 lb ai/A. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Limit 2 treatments per crop. Do not exceed 2.5 lb ai/A per season.
  • insecticidal soap (M-Pede) at 1 to 2% solution. Potassium salts of fatty acids. See label for gal/A. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr.
  • Isaria fumosorosea (PFR-97 20% WDG) Most effective when application is initiated just before or at the first signs that target pests are present. OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • malathion (Fyfanon 8) 1 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Limit 4 treatments for watermelon and 2 treatments for all others. Retreatment interval 7 days.
  • propyleneglycol monolaurate (Acaritouch) at 12 to 25 oz/100 gal of formulated product. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr.
  • spiromesifen (Oberon 2SC) at 0.11 to 0.13 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.4 lb ai/A per season. Retreatment interval 7 days.

Note: Pesticides may injure cucurbits. The possibility of injury is less when foliage is dry at time of application.