Field Identification
Eriophyid mite that russets citrus rind and can bronze leaves, downgrading fresh fruit and sometimes causing leaf drop on sensitive varieties. Damage shows as smooth brownish patches on peel, not the raised scale of fungal rust.
Microscopic yellowish wedge-shaped mites wedge under the oil glands of fruit; populations surge in warm, humid weather. Stippling on leaves is finer than spider mite feeding.
How to Deal With It
Organic Control Methods
Horticultural or narrow-range oils are the backbone of soft programs—calendar sprays are discouraged; time to monitoring and weather, avoiding oil before freezing events.
Euseius and other phytoseiids contribute suppression; sulfur can help but may conflict with oils—never tank-mix oil and sulfur.
Maintain tree vigor without excessive nitrogen; hedging that improves spray penetration can help in dense canopies.
Limited utility—monitoring beats brute-force washing.
Sample fruit and leaves monthly with random trees; record peel damage before packout losses.
Let Nature Handle It
Natural Enemies
- Euseius tularensis
- Typhlodromalus peregrinus
- Sixspotted Thrips
Threat Map