The shake and wash technique (samples placed in a jar with alcohol added and
shaken to remove the mites) was effective in removing 100% of the predator mites, and adult
spruce spider mites from Douglas-fir foliage and 98% of the spruce spider mite nymphs.
Eighty-eight percent of the spruce spider mite eggs was removed. This technique was
considered efficient for removal of spruce spider mite and its predators from Douglas-fir
foliage. Sodium hypochlorite (0.84%) added to the alcohol did not increase the number of
spruce spider mites or phytoseiid mites removed from the foliage.
The intracanopy distribution of spruce spider mite and its predator mites was studied
on Douglas-fir Christmas trees in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. When overwintering
spruce spider mite egg densities populations were low (<5 eggs/19 cm of stem), significantly
more eggs were found on the current season's growth. No significant differences were
found between top and bottom halves of the tree or between compass directions.
Differences between current and previous season's growth were not found when egg
densities were high (>40 eggs/19 cm of stem), but significant differences were found
between levels for current season's growth with more eggs found in the upper portion of the
canopy. Quadri-directional differences did not exist with either low or high mite
populations. Sampling tip or basal stem-halves with low overwintering egg populations did
not bias population estimates.
Heavy spring rainfall appeared to reduce mite populations as has been reported
elsewhere by washing them off the tree and causing increased mortality. Spruce spider mite
disperse to the current season's growth shortly after budbreak. Population density rapidly
increased in late May and then abruptly declined in mid-July. / Graduation date: 1991
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/38054 |
| Date | 20 February 1991 |
| Creators | Calkin, James D. |
| Contributors | DeAngelis, Jack, Fisher, Glenn |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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