Avocados, Tests of Acaricides, Aug 1981

Acaricides were evaluated for control of the avocado brown mite (ABM) and their effec on its natural enemies. A randomized block experimental design was used with 4 single-tree replicates. All treated trees were separated by at least 1 untreated buffer tree within and between the rows (20 ft x 20 ft spacing). Treatments were applied on Au 11 to 9-yr-old avocado trees located in a commercial grove in San Diego County, CA. Applications were made by hand-gun with an FMC hydraulic orchard spray rig at 400 psi to run-off (ca 6 gal/tree = 600 gal/acre) at 7 days post-treatment. Fifteen leaves were randomly selected per tree at a height of 3-7 ft above ground. One-half of each leaf was examined on both sides with a dissecting microscope for all motile stages of ABM and natural enemies. Leaves were stored at 40 F and were examined within 3 days of being picked.