ABSTRACT
The most important spider mite species on vine are the European red mite P.ulmi, the two-spotted mite T.urticae and the yellow spider mite E. carpini in Europe. T.pacificus and E.willimatei are present in North America.
Among Eriophydae in spring, shoots can be damaged by Eriophyes vitis and Calepitryroerus vitis. The latter species can also damage leaves, stopping shoot growth in summer.
Red varieties attacked by P.ulmi become uniformly bronzed and white ones yellow. This species does not produce webs.
T.urticae E.carpini and T.pacificus first colonise small areas near the veins which become necrotic and covered by webs.
A population of 10 P.ulmi per leaf, for one or two weeks, does not produce economic and “aesthetic” damage. Neither do similar population densities of the other species produce damage, but since they are smaller and difficult to count, the threshold level can be based on first visible damages.
Mite infestations are linked to the reduction of natural enemies produced by pesticides. In northern European vineyards, the side-effects of fungicides (Dithiocarbammates and Dinocap) on predacious mites (Phytoseiidae and Stiomaeidae) results the most important cause of imbalance.
The release of predacious mites on vineyards allows a satisfactory biological control of spider mites. Pruned twigs can be used to transport predators to new vineyards. The best time results the end of winter for Kampimodromus aberrans (Oud), commonly used in the commercial vineyards of North Italy.
