Control of tarsonemid mite on strawberry: cultural

A number of best practice cultural measures can be implemented to reduce the risk of infection and damage occurring from tarsonemid mites.

This information was last updated in 2018.

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Cultural control measures

Crops of less than one year in age are not usually severely attacked by tarsonemid mite unless the runners/planting material have been substantially infested.

Quarantine

Ideally newly received plants should be quarantined and inspected before planting. Crops should be planted as far away from currently infested fields as possible. Isolation is especially important for nursery crops.

Short term cropping

The older the plant, the more severe the infestation and damage is likely to be. Short term cropping will reduce the risk of serious crop losses.

Removal of infested plant material

In cases where small outbreaks occur on a few plants, the immediate removal of infested plants might at least slow the spread of this pest throughout the field. Subsequently, plants in a radius of two metres around the central area should be removed and destroyed.

Hygiene

Mites have been found living on buried plant material, in cool conditions for up to four weeks, so good hygiene both during and at the end of cropping is essential. Dead and dying material should be removed and destroyed.