1. Insect
  2. Agronomic Crops
  3. Sugar Beet Pests

Sugar beet-Spider mite

  • Twitter logo
  • Facebook logo
Image related to Sugar beet-Spider mite
Tetranychus unknown
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection

Tetranychus spp.

Pest description and crop damage These are a sporadic problem, generally in western Idaho. Spider mite outbreaks are associated with:

  1. Dusty sites; infestations especially begin along field edges adjoining dusty roads and in surface-irrigated fields.
  2. Excessive use of foliar-applied insecticides (especially pyrethroids and organophosphates) directed at aphid or pests other than spider mites, but which also kill mite natural enemies and so allow spider mites to increase without checks.
  3. Hot, dry weather that enhances mite survival and reproduction; short generation times and multiple generations allow explosive increases in spider mite infestation levels.
  4. Weedy fence rows and ditch banks where mites overwinter.

Scouting and thresholds No formal economic thresholds exist for spider mite insecticide treatment decisions.

Management-biological control

  • Beauveria bassiana (BotaniGard ES, Mycotrol ESO - live spores of an insect-killing fungus; various strains)-See label for rates. PHI 0 days. Typically requires 7 to 10 days after first spray to see control. Begin treatment at first appearance of pest. Reapply as necessary. OMRI-listed for organic use.

Management-chemical control

  • azadirachtin-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
    • (Aza-Direct) at 0.0123 to 0.0247 lb ai/A and up to 0.0432 lb ai/A under extremely heavy pest infestation.
    • (Debug Trés) at 0.0375 to 0.1054 lb ai/A.
  • azadirachtin/pyrethrins (Azera, Azera Pro) at 0.0125 to 0.025 lb ai/A, and up to 0.044 lb ai/A under extremely heavy infestation. Dilution in a minimum of 30 gal water per acre is recommended for conventional equipment. May be applied by air at the rate of 0.0125 to 0.025 lb ai/A in a minimum of 25 gal water. Do not repeat more than every 5 to 7 days.
  • canola oil/garlic oil/capsicum oleoresin extract (Captiva Prime)-See label for rates. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • etoxazole (Zeal) at 0.0.9 to 0.135 lb ai/A. PHI 30 days. Treat when mite populations are low.
  • hexythiazox (Onager and Ruger 1EC) at 0.094 to 0.188 lb ai/A. PHI 45 days. Do not make more than one application per calendar year.
  • kaolin (Actimin FE, Surround CF, Surround WP)-For suppression only. Product forms a barrier film that acts as a protectant; apply before infestations develop and continue on a 7- to 14-day schedule for the duration of the infestation. See label for rates. OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • mineral oil (470 Supreme Spray Oil, BioCover, JMS Stylet Oil, SunSpray, and others)-See label for rates. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • naled (Dibrom 8 Emulsive) at 0.94 lb ai/A. REI 48 hr. PHI 2 days. Do not apply more than 4.7 lb ai/A per season.
  • neem oil (NimBioSys, Terraneem EC, and others)-See label for rates. OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • phorate (Thimet 20-G EZ Load, Thimet 20-G Lock'N Load, Thimet 20-G Smartbox)
    • At planting-Apply at 0.68 to 0.9 oz ai/1,000 row ft. PHI 30 days. Drill to side of seed or band over seed. Do not feed tops or silage to dairy cattle. Do not place granules in direct contact with seed. Only one application per cropping season.
    • Postemergence-Apply at 0.975 to 1.5 lb ai/A. PHI 30 days. Apply to foliage when plants are dry. Only one postemergence treatment per season. Do not feed tops or silage to dairy cattle. Do not place granules in direct contact with seed. Only one application per cropping season.
  • potassium salts of fatty acids (Des-X, Kopa, and M-Pede)-See label for rates. PHI 0 days. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • potassium silicate (Sil-Matrix) at 1.5 to 3 lb ai/A. For suppression only. Do not apply more than 21 lb ai/A per season. PHI 0 days. OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • pyrethrins/Beauveria bassiana (BotaniGard Maxx, and Xpectro OD)-See label for rates. Do not reapply for at least 3 days. In case of extreme pest pressure, wait a minimum of 24 hr before reapplying. Do not harvest until spray has dried.
  • soybean oil/garlic oil/capsicum oleoresin extract (Captiva)-See label for rates. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr.
  • sulfur (too many commercial products to list all trade names here)-PHI 0 days. Rates depend on formulation. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.