European Red Spider Mite
European Red Mite  The European red mite is an introduced pest into North America. They are tiny sap sucking insects, oval in shape. Their tiny, round, red brown eggs(1/200in)/ .015mm across) overwinter on host plants in clusters and hatch from April to June. Susceptible Plants-. It is a pest of nut, pome and stone fruits, as well as some berries, damaging leaves and causing fruit russetting. All active stages of the European red mite injure the foliage by feeding with piercing mouthparts and removing cell contents, including chlorophyll. Moderate to high numbers of mites can cause the leaves to initially turn pale, then bronze as feeding continues. Heavy mite feeding early in the season can reduce tree growth, yield, and also affect fruit bud formation for the following year. Some apple cultivars, such as 'Red Delicious' and 'Braeburn', are especially prone to European red mite buildup and injury.
Life Cycle- European red mites overwinter as eggs laid in roughened bark around the bases of buds and spurs on small branches. During the summer, eggs are laid on the underside of leaves. Egg hatch in the spring is closely correlated with bud development and begins close to the tight cluster stage. During the summer, eggs require 7 to 14 days to hatch. European red mites can have six to eight generations per year, depending on the temperature. Summer generations may develop in as few as 14 days.
Prevention and Control- European red mites are rarely a problem on backyard apple trees. Predatory mites help to maintain the European red mite at non-damaging levels. This mite is considered a secondary pest, as it typically only builds to damaging levels after its natural enemies have been depleted by insecticide applications used to control codling moth or other pests. Minimizing insecticide usage and selecting natural insecticides that are least toxic to beneficial organisms will help to minimize problems with European red mite. Biological Control- "Ladybug Beetles, Hippodamia convergens" , "Phytoseiulus persimilis, Mite Predato" Pesticide Spray- Bonide Insecticidal Soap or SucraShield™ - Insecticide/Miticide is preferred by organic gardreners.
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