ABSTRACT
Spider mites are in all grapevine regions of Europe very important pests. In the northern parts there are mostly the species Panonychus ulmi and Tetranychus urticae; in the mediterranean vineyards the species T.urticae and Eotetranychus carpini vitis are in majority. The chemical control with miticides is more or less effective in dependence of the seasonal appearence of a species and on the premises that resistance do not exist. With regard to integrated pest management, the strategy differs with the control program of the diseases and other pests. Biological methods for spider mite management are in developping in some viticulture regions of Europe. The most important predators are mites, esp. of the phytoseiid family, chrysopids, bugs, and ladybird beetles. The bionomics and the capacity of predation of some species are given. For an effective biological control of spider mites it is necessary to find methods for preserving an original or released predator population, to study the side-effects of pesticides against it, and to give watching the pests and the predators in the vineyards.
