CROP PROTECTION (1986) 5 (1), 12-14

An ecological basis for timing control measures

against the grape vine bud mite Eriophyes vitis
Pgst.

G. B. DENNILL*

Oenological and Viticultural Research Institute, Private Bag X5026, Stellenbosch 7600,
Republic of South Africa

ABSTRACT. Examination of bud mite distribution on shoots for 10 weeks after bud burst showed that
the new season's overwintering buds were colonized one week after bud burst. It is recommended that
acaricide be applied immediately after bud burst when the mites are not protected inside the buds.
Colonization of the new overwintering buds coincided with an annual peak in bud mite reproduction.
Three predacious mite species occurred wherever bud mites were exposed between bud burst and
penetration of the new season's overwintering buds.

Introduction control programme described above was implemented

The grape vine bud mite is one of three strains of the in all of these vineyards, yet unacceptably high levels
species Eriophyes vitis Pgst. (Smith and Stafford, of bud mite damage were found: in all samples, damage
1948). The erinose and leaf-curl strains are exposed on to primordial leaves was common and, in i0 of the
the leaves and are easily controlled (de Klerk and vineyards, damage to primordial inflorescences (lead-
Marais, 1982). The bud-infesting strain, however, is a ing directly to yield loss), was frequent.
serious pest, because these mites inhabit and damage Although for most chemical control programmes it
the overwintering buds where they are protected from is recommended that sprays should be applied in
control measures. During winter the bud mites spring, there is no agreement regarding the precise
penetrate deep into the buds where they encounter and time of acaricide application (Smith and Stafford,
damage the primordial leaves and inflorescences and 1948; Stafford and Kido, 1952; Kido and Stafford,
apical meristems. The damaged parts of these 1955; Smith and Schuster, 1963; de Klerk, 1978;
structures do not grow normally during the next Whitehead, Rust, Pringle and Albertse, 1978). In those
spring and deformities result. The most important publications where certain spraying times have been
symptoms attributed to bud mite are reduction in size recommended (de Klerk, 1978) or found to be rela-
of shoots, bunches and leaves and destruction of over- tively successful (Whitehead et al., 1978), no biological
wintering buds (Smith and Stafford, 1948; Smith and reasons have been provided for the apparent success.
Schuster, 1963). In spring, when the overwintering buds open (i.e. bud
The present study was motivated because farmers burst) and develop into shoots, the bud mites are
and extension officers in the South African viticultural transported passively on the growing structures. At the
regions reported lack of success using the currently nodes of the shoots, new overwintering buds develop.
prescribed control programme. This programme con- Once these new overwintering buds have been
sists of two chlorobenzilate (ethyl 4,4'-dichloro- penetrated by the mites, the mites are again protected
benzilate) applications at 4 and 6 weeks after bud burst for another season.
(de Klerk, 1978), and, if effective, should reduce bud The aim of the present study was to provide a
mite numbers and damage in vineyards of cultivars biologically valid basis for a control programme
which are known to be susceptible. In a small survey against bud mite by determining when, during the
done by the present author, samples of overwintering spring period, the mites are most vulnerable to control
buds were obtained from 14 vineyards of cultivars measures. This was done by (1) determining the length
which are known to be susceptible to bud mites (viz. of the period between bud burst and penetration of the
White French, Hermitage and Waltham Cross). The new season's overwintering buds and (2) determining
* Present address: Plant Protection Research Institute, Private Bag X5017, Stellenbosch 7600.

0261-2194/86/01/0012-03 $03.00 © 1986 Butterworth & Co (Publishers) Lrd

 G. B. DENNILL 13
the distribution of the mites on the shoots during the I00

period after bud burst. Seasonal trends in bud mite

reproduction were also examined.
_....•6"oo
Methods
__ 50
A Chenin Blanc (White French) vineyard infested with
E
the bud mite strain of E. vitis was selected in the
Worcester area. None of the symptoms produced by m

the erinose or leaf-curl strains were found. Chenin pit.71 -

Blanc is susceptible to bud mite which is generally a 2_704905 278 849 12_42 1079 970 5699

serious pest in the hot Worcester valley (Whitehead et 6 i ~ 3 4 6 6 ib

Time after bud burst (weeks)
al., 1978).
Bud burst occurred in the vineyard concerned from FIGURE 1. The percentage of bud mites located inside the
20-25 September 1980. From 23 September until 8 new season's overwintering buds during the period after bud
December, samples of 8-16 shoots were taken weekly burst. The total number of mites examined on each date is
for 6 weeks and once 4 weeks thereafter. In order to given above the x axis and the number of mites in the buds is
shown on the graph.
ensure the presence of bud mites on sampled shoots,
shoots displaying a typical range of bud mite no significant effect on bud mites inside or outside the
symptoms were selected. In this way it was hoped also buds.
to standardize as far as possible the selection of samples The increase in the number of bud mites in the buds
taken on different dates. after bud burst was not due to a mass movement of
Each sampled shoot was placed in a plastic bag adults into the buds from other parts of the shoots.
which was sealed and kept in a cool bag until arrival at This is illustrated by the fact that, during the first 2
the laboratory (one hour later) where the bags were weeks after bud burst, the number of bud mites outside
stored at 4"5°C. Microscopic examination of the the buds decreased markedly without a concurrent
shoots began immediately. The bud mites on or under increase of bud mites in the buds (Figure 1). The
each component part of each shoot were counted. The annual peak in bud mite reproduction began in spring
number of bud mites inside the newly developing over- (September/October) during the month after bud burst
wintering buds were counted separately. Eggs were when the new season's overwintering buds were being
counted separately from adults. The low refrigerator penetrated by the bud mites (Figure 2). Egg laying
temperature and thigmotaxis of the bud mites limited practically ceased during the winter months of May to
bud mite movement after the shoots had been picked. August (Figure 2).
Examination of the shoots was completed within 5 In the samples selected in December 1980 and
days of sampling. January 1981, bud mites were found neither on the
In addition to these samples, monthly samples of leaves or inflorescences nor under the stipular scales.
nine randomly selected mature shoots each were taken The stipular scales at the leaf bases and the sepals on
from the same vineyard during the periods from the inflorescences had desiccated and abscised. Bud
February 1980 to September (bud burst) 1980 and in mites Were, however, found under the basal scales at
January 1981. The basal two buds and thereafter every the bases of the shoots. Unlike the stipular scales and
second bud on each shoot were microscopically sepals, the basal scales had not abscised and still
examined to count the number of bud mites in each provided protection for the bud mites. Bud mites were
bud, eggs being counted separately. On average there found in large numbers inside the buds in both the
were 17.4 buds per mature shoot. The percentage of December and January samples.
the total number of mites in egg form was calculated Although it was not the aim of this study to examine
for each cane and then the m e a n of these percentages
was obtained for each sample. These data could thus be 70

used, with the data of the study done after bud burst, to
determine trends in reproduction over an entire year. iiiii!iiiiii!i
i iiiiiii,\.
Results
Penetration of the new overwintering buds which ._./" iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!iiiiiii;
4914 4874 6877 7455 6478 50.'.'.'.'57"F502 3703 4140 5699 5900
developed in the axils of the leaves began one week ., I

after bud burst (Figure 1). Four weeks after bud burst, 1980 1981
over 50% of the bud mites on the shoots were protected FIGURE 2. Annual trends in bud mite reproduction. The
inside the buds and their numbers were increasing number of bud mites counted to obtain the percentage of
markedly (Figure 1). In the vineyard used for this eggs per sample is given above the x axis. Bud burst is
study an acaricide (chlorobenzilate) was accidentally indicated by the arrow. The shaded area corresponds to the
applied during the fifth week after bud burst but had period represented by Figure 1.
14 Timing spraysfor bud mite
population fluctuations, a marked decline in bud mite loosest at this stage and this will allow the acaricide
numbers was noted during the first 2 weeks after bud easily to come into contact with the mites under these
burst (Figure 1). There was a noticeable increase in the scales. These reasons for recommending early spray-
numbers and activity of three predacious mite ing explain the finding of Osman (1979), that a pro-
species, which were found wherever bud mites were gramme starting at budding gave best control.
exposed and which were observed to be preying on bud The fall in bud mite numbers during the first 2
mites. Observations made on the dissected buds on weeks was probably due to predation by the mite
mature shoots during winter 1980 and January 1981 species already mentioned, in addition to other factors
revealed that these predacious mites were found under such as wind and desiccation. The relatively large size
only the outermost bud scales and in much lower of these predacious mites prevents them following the
numbers than found on the opening buds in spring. smaller bud mites into the inner regions of the buds,
These predacious species were identified as Typhlo- and probably also reduces their efficiency as predators
dromus (Anthoseius) saevus v.d. Merwe, Amblyseius even under the outer bud scales where they were found
(Amblyseius) addoensis v.d. Merwe & Ryke, and Tydeus on mature shoots. It thus appears that the predacious
grabouwi Meyer & Ryke. mites cannot reduce bud mite numbers once the bud
mites have penetrated the new season's overwintering
Discussion buds and this, again, emphasizes the need to control
the bud mites before penetration of the new season's
Penetration of the buds began one week after bud burst overwintering buds is possible.
because the buds were not sufficiently developed to According to Ruppel (1984), 'Optimum timing of
have been penetrated during the first week. Four [insecticide] application was when the insect was
weeks after bud burst is the time prescribed at present starting its rapid increase and before much damage had
for the first of two acaricide applications (de Klerk, been done'. If the bud mite is controlled at the time
1978). At this time, however, over 50% of the bud suggested in this study, these requirements of
mites are protected inside the buds. The fact that the optimum timing are fulfilled.
incidental application of chlorobenzilate 5 weeks after
bud burst had no effect on the bud mites inside the Acknowledgements
buds confirms that spraying at this stage of shoot I thank Dr C. A. de Klerk for reviewing the manu-
development is too late. script, Miss E. C. du Toit for assistance and Mr E.
The accidental application of acaricide had no Ueckermann for the mite identifications.
noticeable effect on the mites outside the buds. At this
stage of shoot development such mites were located References
under the basal scales at the shoot bases and under the
DE KLERK, C. A. (1978). Chemical control of insect and other
stipular scales at the leaf bases. The mites were pests of wine and dried grapes. Farming in South Africa,
protected from the acaricide because the scales were Oenology and Viticulture. Leaflet F10.
pressed tightly against the sides of the shoots, which DE KLERK, C. A. AND MARAIS, P. G. (1982). Chemiese Beheer-
had increased in diameter. Moreover, the large size of program vir Wingerdsiektes en -plae vir die 1982/83 seisoen.
the leaves and inflorescences at that stage would have Boerdery in Suid Afrika, Wynkunde en Wingerdbou. Bladskrif
F21.
prevented drenching of the areas on the shoots where KIDO, H. AND STAFFORD,E. M. (1955). The biology ofthe grape
the mites were located. bud mite Eriophyes vitis (Pgst.). Hilgardia 24, 119-142.
The increase in the proportion of bud mites inside OSMAN, A. A. (1979). On the population and control of the mite
the colonized buds did not result from a mass Eriophyes vitis (Pgst.) infesting vineyards in Tahreer Province
migration of mites into the buds but from a high rate of (Acarina:Eriophyidae). Bulletin of the Entomological Society of
Egypt, Economic Series 9, 111-114. Abstracted in Review of
reproduction of those bud mites that did penetrate the Applied Entomology (1982) 70(2), Abstract No. 917.
buds. This emphasizes the need to reduce bud mite RUPPEL, R. F. (1984). Model for effective timing of an insecticide.
numbers before colonization of the new overwintering Journal of Economic Entomology 77(5), 1083-1085.
buds is possible. SMITH, L. M. AND SCHUSTER, R. O. (1963). The nature and extent
These results indicate that the spray programme of Eriophyes vitis injury to Vitis vinifera L. Acarologia 5,
530-539.
should begin within the first week after bud burst SMITH, L. M. AND STAFFORD,E. M. (1948). The bud mite and the
when the shoots are 1-2 cm long and almost all the bud erineum mite of grapes. Hilgardia 18, 317-334.
mites are outside the buds. Other benefits of applying STAFFORD, E. M. AND KIDO, H. (1952). Grape bud mite studies;
acaricide within this first week rather than later are seasonal cycle searched for weak point to attack pest assumed
that the smaller size of the leaves and inflorescences to be responsible for abnormal growth. CaliforniaAgriculture
No. 6, p. 4.
would permit better drenching of the shoots and that WHITEHEAD, V. B., RUST, D. J., PRINGLE, K. A. AND ALBERTSE,
the shorter shoots would require less acaricide to G. (1978). The bud infesting strain of the grape leaf blister
drench them. Development ofoverwintering buds and mite, Eriophyes vitis (Pgst.) on vines in the Western Cape
their subsequent colonization by bud mites may Province. Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern
proceed more rapidly on other cultivars and under Africa 41, 9-15.
other conditions. The stipular and basal scales are also Accepted 25 March 1985