Dryberry mites attack the fruit of blackberries (including 'Logan' and 'Boysen' berries) and raspberries. They are tiny, sausage-shaped, yellowish to brown eriophyid mites. The mites overwinter in bark cracks and under bud scales, and attack leaves and fruit. On the leaves, the mites feed on the underside, causing yellow blotching and reduced leaf size in some varieties. Affected fruits, particularly on 'Logan' berries, become brown and die shortly after petal fall. Red raspberry fruit may appear sunscalded, with whitish to tan areas of dead drupelets (the small sections of the fruit) often occurring at the stem end of the berry. Similar fruit symptoms on red raspberry can also be caused by other factors, including poor pollination or disease.

Management Options

Non-Chemical Management

Avoid use of broad-spectrum insecticides which kill natural predators, including predacious mites.

Select non-chemical management options as your first choice!

Chemical Management

IMPORTANT: Visit Home and Garden Fact Sheets for more information on using pesticides

Non recommended.

Images

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Caption: Dryberry mite damage Photo by: R.S. Byther
Caption: Early dryberry mite damage Photo by: A.L. Antonelli

WSU Extension

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