How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

DESCRIPTION OF THE PEST

Sixspotted mite is a minor pest on citrus in some coastal growing areas. It is somewhat smaller than the twospotted mite, lemon yellow, and usually has three pairs of black spots. Populations tend to be heaviest in spring and early summer when temperatures are cool and a generation takes 3 to 4 weeks to complete.

DAMAGE

Sixspotted mites feed along the midrib or larger veins on the underside of citrus leaves. They form small colonies and cover themselves with protective webbing. A depression develops where a colony has settled and becomes apparent as a slight bulge on the upper leaf surface. The infested area may turn pale to yellow, and the leaves often become distorted. Leaf drop may occur with few mites present.

MANAGEMENT

These mites are generally kept under control by predaceous mites and sixspotted thrips. In areas protected from Santa Ana winds, this mite may occasionally require treatment.

Common name		Amount to Use	R.E.I.+	P.H.I.+
(trade name)		(type of coverage)**	(hours)	(days)
The following materials are listed in order of usefulness in an IPM program, taking into account efficacy and impact on natural enemies and honey bees. When choosing a pesticide, also consider information relating to environmental impact. Not all registered pesticides are listed. Always read label of product being used.
A.	WETTABLE SULFUR#	45–60 lb/acre (OC or IC)	24	0
	RANGE OF ACTIVITY: Pests: narrow (mites and citrus thrips); Natural enemies: most
	PERSISTENCE: Pests: intermediate; Natural enemies: intermediate
	MODE OF ACTION: Not available
	COMMENTS: For use on all varieties. Apply from Oct. thru May when monitoring indicates a need. Do not apply more than 6 lb/100 gal water. Do not apply during or preceding high temperatures. Do not apply sulfur within 2 months of a previous oil spray, and do not apply oil 60–90 days after a sulfur treatment. Not recommended for use in the San Joaquin Valley.
B.	NARROW RANGE OIL (92% UR)
	(415, 440)	1.2–1.4% (OC or IC)	4	when dry
	. . . or . . .
	NARROW RANGE OIL (99% UR)
	(415, 435, 440, 455)	1.2–1.4% (OC or IC)	4	when dry
	RANGE OF ACTIVITY: Pests: broad (unprotected stages of insects/mites); Natural enemies: most
	PERSISTENCE: Pests: short; Natural enemies: short
	MODE OF ACTION: Contact including smothering and barrier effects.
	COMMENTS: Use highest rate for July or August applications. Narrow range 440 (or higher) spray oil is preferable in the Central Valley during warmer months because of greater persistence, but risk of phytotoxicity increases unless using products with 99% unsulfonated residues (UR). Low-volume may be preferable. Caution: Serious hazards are associated with oil treatments to green lemons because of phytotoxicity after sweating; check label for preharvest interval.
	. . . or . . .
	NARROW RANGE OIL (92 or 99% UR)
	(415)	6–20 gal/acre (LV)	4	when dry
	RANGE OF ACTIVITY: Pests: narrow (citrus red mite) Natural enemies: predatory mites
	PERSISTENCE: Pests: short; Natural enemies: short
	MODE OF ACTION: Contact including smothering and barrier effects.
	COMMENTS: Use highest rate for July or August applications. Low-volume may be preferable. Caution: Serious hazards are associated with oil treatments to green lemons because of phytotoxicity after sweating; check label for preharvest interval.
C.	ACEQUINOCYL
	(Kanemite) 15SC	21–31 oz/acre (OC or IC)	12	7
	RANGE OF ACTIVITY: Pests: narrow (mites); Natural enemies: predatory mites
	PERSISTENCE: Pests: intermediate; Natural enemies: intermediate
	MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 20B
	COMMENTS: For use on oranges, grapefruit, and lemons only. Apply by ground using 100-250 gal water/acre. Do not use less than 100 gal water/acre. Do not apply more than 62 oz/acre/season. Allow a minimum of 21 days between applications.
D.	HEXYTHIAZOX
	(Onager)	12–24 oz/acre (OC or IC)	12	28
	RANGE OF ACTIVITY: Pests: narrow (mites); Natural enemies: predatory mites
	PERSISTENCE: Pests: intermediate; Natural enemies: short to intermediate
	MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 10B
	COMMENTS: Do not apply more than once per year.
E.	PYRIDABEN
	(Nexter) WSB	Label rates (OC or IC)	12	7
	RANGE OF ACTIVITY: Pests: narrow (mites); Natural enemies: predatory mites
	PERSISTENCE: Pests: intermediate; Natural enemies: intermediate
	MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 21
	COMMENTS: When this material was used during April and May in the San Joaquin Valley and thrips were abundant, there was an increase in scarring damage caused by thrips. Do not apply more than twice/year.
F.	SPIRODICLOFEN
	(Envidor) 2SC	see comments	12	7
	RANGE OF ACTIVITY: Pests: narrow (mites); Natural enemies: predatory mites
	PERSISTENCE: Pests: intermediate; Natural enemies: intermediate
	MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 23
	COMMENTS: Make no more than 1 application/crop season. Application rate is 12-20 fl oz/acre (OC or IC) when horticultural spray oil is not used, and 18-20 fl oz/acre (OC or IC) when it is.
G.	FENBUTATIN OXIDE*
	(Vendex) 50WP	0.24–0.5 lb/100 gal (OC or IC)	48	7
		...or...
		3 lb/acre (LV)
	RANGE OF ACTIVITY: Pests: narrow (mites); Natural enemies: predatory mites
	PERSISTENCE: Pests: short; Natural enemies: short
	MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 12B
	COMMENTS: For use on all varieties. This material does not work well in cool weather and requires higher rates during these periods. Do not apply more than 1,600 gal dilute spray/acre or use more than 4 lb/acre/season.
H.	DICOFOL
	(KELTHANE MF) 4EC	0.4 pt/100 gal (OC or IC)	12	7
	RANGE OF ACTIVITY: Pests: narrow (mites); Natural enemies: predatory mites
	PERSISTENCE: Pests: intermediate; Natural enemies: intermediate
	MODE OF ACTION: UNC
	COMMENTS: For use on all varieties. Closed application system required with this material. Can cause secondary outbreaks of citrus red mites. Do not exceed 6 pt/acre.
**	LV - Low-volume uses 20–100 gal water/acre.
	OC - Outside coverage uses 100–250 gal water/acre.
	IC - Intermediate coverage uses 250–600 gal/acre.
+	Restricted entry interval (R.E.I.) is the number of hours (unless otherwise noted) from treatment until the treated area can be safely entered without protective clothing. Preharvest interval (P.H.I.) is the number of days from treatment to harvest. In some cases the REI exceeds the PHI. The longer of two intervals is the minimum time that must elapse before harvest.
#	Acceptable for use on organically grown produce.
*	Permit required from county agricultural commissioner for purchase or use.
1	Rotate chemicals with a different mode-of-action Group number, and do not use products with the same mode-of-action Group number more than twice per season to help prevent the development of resistance. For example, the organophosphates have a Group number of 1B; chemicals with a 1B Group number should be alternated with chemicals that have a Group number other than 1B. Mode of action Group numbers are assigned by IRAC (Insecticide Resistance Action Committee). For additional information, see their Web site at http://www.irac-online.org/.

PUBLICATION

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Citrus
UC ANR Publication 3441
Insects, Mites, and Snails
E. E. Grafton-Cardwell, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier
J. G. Morse, Entomology, UC Riverside
N. V. O‘Connell, UC Cooperative Extension, Tulare County
P. A. Phillips, UC IPM Program, UC Cooperative Extension, Ventura County
C. E. Kallsen, UC Cooperative Extension, Kern County
D. R. Haviland, UC Cooperative Extension, Kern County
Acknowledgments for contributions to Insect, Mites, and Snails:
J. Barcinas, E. S. I., Corona, CA
R. Dunn, Badger Farming County, Exeter, CA
J. Gorden, Pest Management Associates, Exeter, CA
H. Griffiths, E. S. I., Corona, CA
D. Machlitt, Consulting Entomology Services, Moorpark, CA
C. Musgrove, retired entomologist, Riverside, CA
K. Olsen, S & J Ranch, Pinedale, CA
T. Roberts, E. S. I., Corona, CA
J. Stewart, Pest Management Associates, Exeter, CA
P. Washburn, Washburn & Sons Citrus Pest Control, Riverside, CA
K. Godfrey, USDA Biological Control, Sacramento
D. Headrick, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
B. Faber, UC Cooperative Extension, Ventura County
J. Kabashima, UC Cooperative Extension, South Coast Research and Extension Center

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