The European red mite is a pest of many crops and ornamentals. It is most commonly a problem on fruit trees like apple, pear, plum, prune and cherry trees, but other hosts include rose, black locust, elm, hawthorn, privet, lilac, chestnut, and alder buckthorn.
In the U.S., it was first recorded in Oregon in 1911 and has since become common throughout the U.S. and Canada. European red mite has a long history of developing resistance to miticides. As a result, there has been much work on biological control, with many instances of success.
When choosing a miticide, in addition to its efficacy, growers should check how selective it is toward beneficial arthropods, especially predatory mites. Use of a selective miticide greatly enhances the chance of establishing biological control, which should be the ultimate aim of any mite control action.
Sources: University of Kentucky Extension, Washington State University
