Cyclamen mite
Phytonemus pallidus
| Type | Mite |
|---|---|
| When | Spring through fall, starting when temperatures rise above 50°F. |
| Pressure by region | Moderate: Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Pacific Northwest, California |
About
A shiny, pinkish-orange mite only about 0.01 inch (0.25 mm) long, far too small to see without a 20x lens. It hides deep in the folded new leaves at the crown of strawberry plants.
Spotting it
Damage
New leaves come out stunted and crinkled, forming a tight clump in the center of the plant. Flowers wither and die, and berries stay small with the seeds standing out. Heavy infestations can stop a planting from fruiting at all (UC IPM).
How to find it early
Look in March or April for stunted, crinkled leaves at the crown. Pull a few tightly folded new leaves and check them with a 20x lens; treatment guidelines start at one infested leaf in ten.
When
Spring through fall, starting when temperatures rise above 50°F.
Life cycle
Females spend winter in the strawberry crown and start laying again in spring once it is above 50°F; each lays about 90 eggs. In summer young mites mature in about 2 weeks, and the whole life cycle takes under three weeks.
What to do, gentlest first
Start at the top. Sprays are a last step; always read and follow the product label.
Start with clean plants Prevent
Infestations usually start from infested nursery plants, so buy clean stock and look over transplants before planting. Mites also travel on pickers, equipment and picking trays (UC IPM).
Pull infested plants and replant By hand
Remove infested plants as soon as you see symptoms, and avoid keeping a planting for a second year where mites have been a problem (UC IPM).
Predatory mites Natural enemies
Released predatory mites (Neoseiulus californicus) can reach deep into the crowns and control cyclamen mites (NC State, UC IPM).
UC IPM notes Amblyseius cucumeris releases have not worked against this mite.
Garden friends that go after it
Predatory mites
Protect these helpers: skip broad sprays when they're around.
Plants it goes after
Pressure by region
It travels mostly on infested nursery plants, so it can turn up wherever strawberries are grown. The sources found (North Carolina and California) give no regional range, so every rating is an estimate.
| Northeast | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Southeast | Moderate |
| South Central | Low |
| Midwest | Moderate |
| Great Plains | Low |
| Mountain West | Low |
| Southwest | Low |
| Pacific Northwest | Moderate |
| California | Moderate |
| Alaska | Low |
| Hawaii | Low |
Ratings come from extension sources where available; some are estimates, as noted above.
Sources
Planting dates and advice are general guidance; check with your local Cooperative Extension office for your area.