If you are like many avocado growers, you may have recently noticed small, black mites called Persea mites on the leaves of your avocado trees. These mites can cause significant damage to avocado trees and can be difficult to get rid of. In this article, we will discuss six ways to get rid of Persea mites on avocado trees.
What are Persea Mites?
Persea Mites are a pest that affects avocado trees. They can be found in most avocado-growing areas of California, except for the Central Valley.
They were first introduced into California in the early 1990s and have not been observed on stone fruit trees or fruit since then. They can cause significant damage to avocado trees, so it is important to take steps to get rid of them if they are found.
What does the life cycle of Persea Mites look like?
The life cycle of Persea Mites includes an egg, larva, nymph, and adult. The eggs get laid on the underside of leaves and hatch in about ten days.
The larva mites feed on the leaves for 2-4 weeks before molting into a nymph stage. The nymphs then mature into adults and start to reproduce. There can be up to 5 generations of mites per year.
Female mites lay eggs, which hatch into larvae that grow into nymphs. Once they reach maturity, they become adults.
The life cycle of Persea mites is about 2 to 3 weeks when temperatures average 77° to 63°F. There are six varied stages in the life cycle: egg, larva, protonymph, deutonymph, adult male, and adult female.
What damage do Persea Mites cause?
Persea mite is a mite that feeds on the underside of leaves, causing premature leaf drop and defoliation. This can damage trees and decrease yields.
If the damage is not treated, it can be confused with six spotted mite damage.
Six-spotted mite damage typically appears in the early season and is characterized by small, black spots on the leaves. In contrast, damage caused by Persea mites tends to occur later in the season and results in the browning of the leaves.
Most notably, Persea Mites are damaging to the Hass, Gwen, and a few other varieties of avocado trees. Esther, Pinkerton, and Reed are of intermediate susceptibility. The Bacon, Fuerte, Lamb Hass, and Zutano varieties are much less affected.
What diseases do avocado trees get due to the presence of Pests?
Avocado root rot
Avocado root rot is a fungus that attacks the roots of avocado trees, causing them to rot. The disease can eventually kill the tree.
There are a few things you can do to help prevent avocado root rot, including keeping the area around your tree free of debris and watering regularly.
The best way to prevent this disease is by hot water treatment of seeds and grafting.
Scab
Avocado scab is a fungal disease that affects avocado trees. The fungus that causes the disease can overwinter on debris from infected trees and can also be spread by wind, rain, and insects.
The disease causes lesions on the tree’s leaves and fruit, which can lead to defoliation and loss of fruit. There are several ways to manage avocado scab, including cultural practices, chemical treatments, and biological control agents.
One such pest is the Persea mite, which causes scabs. The symptoms are spots on fruits that turn black and leathery as they mature.
Anthracnose
Anthracnose is a fungal disease of trees caused by the pathogen Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. The disease affects a wide range of plants, including avocado trees.
Symptoms include lesions on leaves and fruit, which can cause defoliation and fruit rot. There is no cure for anthracnose, and it can only be controlled with fungicides.
6 ways to get rid of Persea mites avocado trees
Now that we know the various requisite details about Persea mites on avocado trees, let us get some information about the six ways to get rid of Persea mites on avocado trees.
Spray the Infected Avocado Tree Leaves with a Hose
There are certain methods you can use to get rid of Persea mites on avocado trees. One is to spray the infected leaves with a hose. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully, as you will need to use high power and spray until the mites are eliminated.
This needs to be done pretty much every day until the pests are gone. Be sure to use a strong stream of water so that it reaches all the leaves on the tree.
This will help remove some of the Persea mites and hopefully stop the infection from spreading. You should also make sure to spray the healthy avocado trees surrounding your infected one, as they may be susceptible to infection as well.
Use Insecticidal Soap
Insecticidal soap is a pesticide that can be used to control Persea mites and other soft-bodied pests. It is made up of fatty acids and detergents, which kill the pests by dissolving their outer layer.
It is a contact pesticide, meaning that it must come into direct contact with the pest in order to be effective.
It can be easily sprayed directly onto the leaves of the plant and is effective in large quantities.
Apply an Organic Pesticide
There are a few ways to get rid of Persea mites on avocado trees. One way is to apply an organic pesticide. To make an organic pesticide, mix three teaspoons of dish soap with 1 quarter of water.
Try Essential Oils
Essential oils are a type of oil that is extracted from plants. They have a variety of uses, including in the medical and beauty industries. Some essential oils are effective at killing pests like the Persea mite, making them a great option for getting rid of this pest.
The Persea mite is a common pest for avocado trees and can be eliminated with the use of essential oils. Essential oils can be applied directly to the leaves of the tree or mixed with water and sprayed on.
The oils should be sprayed onto the avocado tree in the morning and evening. This will help to repel the pests and keep them away from your tree.
Dust Your Avocado Tree Leaves
One way to get rid of Persea mites on avocado trees is to dust your avocado tree leaves with a light layer of diatomaceous earth.
Diatomaceous earth is a natural substance that is made up of the fossilized remains of tiny, aquatic creatures called diatoms. When applied to the leaves of an avocado tree, it will kill any Persea mites present and help to protect the tree from future infestations.
Cut Back the Avocado Tree
If you are noticing an infestation of Persea mites on your avocado tree, the best way to get rid of them is to cut back the tree. You can do this by removing leaves or branches, but be careful not to remove too much, or the tree will die.
If you are not comfortable cutting back the avocado tree yourself, you can call a professional to do it for you. Whatever you do, dispose of any material from the tree in the garbage and do not compost it.
How to manage Persea mites on avocado trees?
One of the most effective ways to manage Persea mites on avocado trees is to ensure that the trees are irrigated appropriately. This means watering them enough but not too much and doing so at the right intervals.
A combination of cultural, biological, and chemical controls can be used to suppress this pest. This will reduce the adverse impact of mite feeding and keep the trees healthy.
How to prevent Persea Mites on avocado trees?
There are a few things you can do to help prevent Persea mites on avocado trees. First, inspect the leaves for mites, damage, and natural enemies every 7 to 10 days.
If you see any signs of a mite infestation, take action right away. You can also try spraying your tree with water or using a horticultural oil to help get rid of the mites.
In order to prevent Persea mites from invading avocado trees, it is important to coordinate monitoring and treatment decision-making.
Furthermore, the effect of weather on treatment decision-making should be considered. For example, if it is a dry season, the threshold for treatment would be higher since there would be less rainfall to wash off the pests.
Summary
In conclusion, there are several ways to get rid of Persea mites on avocado trees. All of these methods are safe and environmentally friendly. The best way to prevent the mites from returning is to keep the tree healthy by providing adequate water and fertilizer.