MONITORING THE EMERGENCE AND BEHAVIOR OF PEAR RUST MITE (ACARINA, ERIOPHYIDAE) DEUTOGYNES USING STICKY-BAND TRAPS

Deutogynes of pear rust mite, Epitrimerus pyri (Nalepa), emerging from overwintering sites on branches of pear, Pyrus communis L., were captured in the laboratory and field using sticky-band traps. On branches in the laboratory, mite emergence was stimulated by light, and active mites were positively phototactic. Emergence was not affected by bud development. The rate of mite emergence at 15-degrees-C was significantly less than at 20-degrees-C. In the orchard, the same trends of emergence and activity were recorded from traps on fruit spurs and on 2-yr-old branches. In 1991, emergence began slowly in late March, peaked sharply in mid-April, then declined to near zero by early May. The results are discussed in relation to the potential for the development of a predictive model of pear rust mite emergence upon which growers could base the timing of acaricide applications.