Blackberry: Redberry mite

Biology

The redberry mite is an eriophyid mite. It is a tiny (1⁄50″), sausage-shaped, yellow mite which feeds primarily on the fruit of blackberries. The symptoms of redberry mite feeding are known as redberry disease. The mites feed between the drupelets (the small sections of the fruit) and at the core of the fruit. Affected fruits are hard and do not ripen normally. They are partly or entirely bright red (sometimes green), rather than black. Redberry mites overwinter in buds and in bark crevices, migrating to green fruit in the spring.

Management Options

Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for successful plant problem management.

Non-chemical Management

Select non-chemical management options as your first choice!

• Predator mites are effective natural controls.

Chemical Management

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

None recommended.