Mites On Grapevines: Tips For Controlling Grape Bud Mites

Whether you own a vineyard or have just a plant or two in the backyard, grapevine pests are a serious hazard. Some of these pests are grapevine bud mites. These tiny, microscopic grubs feed on the bud material that ought to become new shoots, leaves, and grapes. Keep reading to learn more about mites on grapevines and grape bud mite control.

Mites on Grapevines

Grapevine bud mites are tiny, about 1/10th of a millimeter long, to be exact. Their size, coupled with their clear to white coloring, makes them impossible to see with the naked eye. You can spot them with a microscope, but the more common and much easier method is to wait for telltale signs of damage. The presence of grapevine bud mites can result in buds that are blackened, covered in white fuzz, and/or have a bubbly, rippled appearance to the surface. It can also lead to stunted, misshapen, or dead buds on your grapevine plants. The best time to detect the presence of bud mites is in the spring, before or after bud burst.

Controlling Grape Bud Mites

You can find bud mites on grapevines all year long-- a population will go through many generations during the growing season, but the adults born in the autumn will overwinter inside the plant. One method of grapevine bud mite control is releasing beneficial mites that feed on bad ones. Of course, make sure that this new species of mite is amenable to your local environment before you go anywhere near it. Another popular means of controlling grape bud mites is to spray large amounts of sulfur on the vines to kill off the mite populations. Spray during the budding period when the temperature is at least 60 degrees F. (15 C.). Spray again one week later.