Control of Eriophyid Mites on Baldcypress with Sunspray Ultrafine Spray Oil, 1993

Baldcypress, 75 to 100 ft tall, located on the property of Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA, were used to evaluate the effectiveness of Sunspray Ultrafine Spray Oil on eriophyid mites. On 28 Jul, the trees were treated with a 1.5% solution of oil using an SDI sprayer operating at 700 psi with a #50 hollow cone spray nozzle tip. Treatment was performed at 5:00 am under clear skies, 27°C, 55% RH, and <5 mph winds. The treatment was evaluated by randomly sampling 5 branches from 4 sprayed and 4 unsprayed trees. From each branch, one leaf, 3A to 1 inch in width and cut to a length of 2 inches, was examined with a dissecting microscope. The number of live mites per leaf section was counted. Treatment effectiveness was evaluated 1 and 23 DAT.