Acariasis
Acariasis is caused by Calepitrimerus vitis mites, of the family Eriophidae, which are invisible to the naked eye. This mite is light coloured, though it becomes brown in the adult stage. Adult females hibernate at the bottom of stalks, in bud scales and on the two or more year old rhytidome. In spring, they move to the shoots and bite and feed on the leaves of the lower page, causing disturbances on the development of leaves and branches. At the end of their development, they lay eggs on the lower page of the leaves. The incubation period lasts for ten days. There are 3 to 4 generations each year. At the end of summer, the females leave the leaves and hibernate again.
After budding:
- delay in the development of the plant’s vegetation - decrease in the fruit setting rate - small deformed leaves. The younger leaves show white spots when observed against a light source (which represent the mite’s bites).
Vine:
- Short internodes - Basil-like appearance of the vine.
Leaves:
- Small light spots on the lower page. - Bronzed foliage.
Cultural control:
- Burn pruning leftovers of attacked grapevines - Do not use material that might be contaminated
Biological control:
- Promote the presence of phytoseiid mites (predators)
Chemical control:
Winter Treatment:
- summer oil - malathion + summer oil
Spring / Summer Treatment:
- cyhexatin - dicofol - endosulfan - sulphur - summer oil |