European Red Mite
Panonychus ulmi (Koch)

Life Cycle: Overwinter on host as eggs that hatch at the pink bud stage of apple. Six or seven generations produced per year.

Monitoring: Examine fruit spurs in spring for eggs, leaves during the summer for active stages. Sampling plans and leaf brushing services are available for most areas to determine mite numbers.

Hosts: Fruit trees.

Comments: Feeding damage causes bronzing of apple foilage, browning of pear foilage. The round eggs are bright red to brownish-red in colour with a small slender "stem" on the upper side. Hatched eggs, that are clear, can be confused with spider mite eggs save for the exit hole in the shell.

Body length: Adult - 0.3mm; Mature nymph - 0.25mm