Rust mites are an alternate prey for predator mites. Orchardists used to tell Dr. Elizabeth Beers that they hadn’t sprayed for mites in 25 years or more. Until recently, growers could rely on integrated mite control, meaning that predatory mites could be relied on to keep pest mites in check. But new orchard practices are changing that. “Last year, there were mites everywhere,” said Beers, an entomologist with Washington State University in Wenatchee. “It seemed like a lot of people had mite problems. We’re seeing a breakdown of integrated mite control.” With restrictions on the use of traditional insecticides, such […]