Developing techniques to manage raspberry leaf and bud mite in tunnel produced raspberry

The raspberry leaf and bud mite (Phyllocoptes gracilis) is becoming a serious pest in protected and semi-protected production in the UK.  Severity of damage is dependent on environmental conditions and variety.  One of the most commonly grown commercial raspberry varieties, Glen Ample, has been shown to be very susceptible.  Damage can be extensive and result in considerable loss of crop quality and yield. Currently, there are few acaricides approved for use in cane fruit which offer control.

This project aimed to identify new control measures which are compatible with IPM and meet the demand for high quality, pesticide residue free fruit. The expected deliverables from this work include:

• An evaluation of available acaricides for their effectiveness at controlling the raspberry leaf and bud mite and their effect on predator species.
• An assessment of the efficacy of predatory phytoseiid mites.
• An investigation into new approaches to managing mites under tunnel production.