Mites are a subclass of arachnids , and they are one of the oldest animal groups on planet earth. About 50,000 species of mites are known worldwide, although it is estimated that there may be more than 100,000.

The body of mites is generally divided into two segments, the cephalothorax (head attached to the thorax) and the abdomen, which are fused together. They have four pairs of legs and two pairs of appendages dedicated to feeding and sensory functions. Their vision only allows them to see different intensities of light. These characteristics are what differentiate them from arachnids and insects.

In general, it can be said that the life cycle of mites is divided into 4 phases:

Source: adapted from ETSIAAB-UPM

The nymph stage can have several subphases depending on the mite species and only in the adult phase can they reproduce. In most species there are males and females, which differ in the shape of their bodies.

The mites, with their mouthparts, penetrate the plant. A chlorotic spot is generated at each point and the leaves can fall, which can lead to plant death . It has been shown that even a low population density of mites in a crop causes a closure of the plant's stomata, reducing its evapotranspiration and photosynthesis.

The acaricides are phytosanitary products whose function is the elimination, control or prevention of the presence and action of mites on a crop. The degree of mite control obtained with the application of acaricides will depend on the following factors:

• The specificity of the acaricide with the mite present: the habitat, activity and feeding of the mite influence the effectiveness of the miticides.
• The properties of the acaricide in terms of its formulation and application method: susceptibility to acaricides varies according to the phase of the life cycle in which the mite is found. Each effective acaricide must be toxic for a single phase of the life cycle, but leave residues that last throughout the life cycle.
• The relationship between the application method and the distribution of the pest in the plant: when a crop is dense, the contact products do not reach all parts of the plant.
• The residual effect of the acaricide

Regarding the mechanism of action of acaricides, they are classified into the groups detailed below.

Advice of Commercial Mida

Successive use of the same active ingredient can lead to resistance. It is heritable, and is generated at the population level. Resistance management is a tool that allows the efficacy of pesticides to be preserved, so it is recommended not to use the same active ingredient successively and always respect the application intervals recommended by the manufacturers. Likewise, non-chemical measures for pest control should also be considered.

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