Although mites don’t have the same pest status as codling moth or pear psylla, they are becoming more difficult to control in some areas because of resistance to pesticides. In recent years, growers have had increasing difficulty controlling rust mites, which used to be low on the list of pests of concern, Dr. John Dunley, entomologist with Washington State University, Wenatchee, reported at the North Central Washington Pear Day. Three species of mites are commonly found in pear orchards in the Pacific Northwest: two-spotted spider mite, McDaniel spider mite, and European rust mite. The importance of the various mites has […]