Those aren't spider mites. That's where a moth has laid eggs and when the young hatch out they make that pattern of damage. Spider mites give a stippling over the whole leaf surface.

The Fruitnut

Thanks fruitnut.

I got the mite idea from a post I made last year. See here. I see what you mean about the stipling over the whole surface... especially when I look at Michael357's picture. See here.

Any idea what type of moth? Or what I can do about it? Would some sprays of Malathion do the trick? I believe I saw some Bonide Malathion at the hardware store which was rated for apples and had just a 3 day PHI if I remember correctly.

Does anyone else out there have problems with these?
Thanks,
-Glenn

Glenn: Malathion will certainly do the job. But at this stage the caterpillars may be gone. If you cann't see anything now eating your leaves you don't have a problem.

I've been using BT for webworms and such this yr. It has worked as well as malathion or sevin.

The Fruitnut

Thanks Fruitnut-

So, you think this is little catepillars doing that damage? I guess I would have thought that catepillars would have taken big bites out of the edges of the leaves, no?

If so, I would think I'd rather use BT because it's more targeted than Sevin/Permethrin/Malathion, right? (i.e. because it a bacteria that only attacks caterpillars)

I actually do have some BT, but unfortunately, it's not rated for fruit. Do you have a good BT for fruit? Do you think a good BT spray 2 weeks prior to now would prevent this next year?

Thanks as always,
-Glenn

The damage on the top three leaves was done right after the caterpillars hatched. Farther down is a leaf showing more extensive damage done as the worms got bigger. Later they may disperse over quite a distance. If you watch closely next yr or later this yr, you could catch them when they are small. I wasn't aware that BT isn't cleared for fruit. I have both the dry flowable and a liquid formulation. I'd rather spray that on fruit than malathion or sevin, cleared or not.

Bt doesn't last long in the sun. Spraying it on small caterpillars will be your best bet. Actually you spray what they are eating as it is a stomach poison.

I don't worry about a little damage as in your pictures. I have almost the identical looking thing on sweet cherries right now. The damage is cosmetic only.

The Fruitnut