Fig mite symptoms

12 years ago

I recently bought a handheld 40x "active eye" microscope and discovered fig mites on many of my plants. After treating with miticides I have seen a rapid decline in "FMV" mottling/spotting symptoms. These spots develop after the leaf emerges, as it grows and expands.

The symptoms could have cleared because the mites were causing them, or the mites were spreading FMV more rapidly up the plant than it can move itself.

Even with a microscope they are very difficult find on plants, unless there is an infestation (a microscope is still required but there are enough to find easily). It would be very easy to imagine they do not exist!

Below are a few pictures showing the symptoms and different plant's recovery after treatment with miticides, roughly 2 weeks ago.

This tree was planted as a rooted cutting in June, new healthy leaves that did not develop mottling:

Old damaged leaves:

Yearling raised in the greenhouse showing healthy new growth.

What is likely damage to the fruits.

A seedling which was pruned back below the first mottled leaf, some growths emerge deformed and were removed.

Some leaves have cleared totally but some have areas of discoloration still, although not spotty like before, perhaps mild FMV:

I tried a soap solution first but it seemed to have no effect at all, so I bought sample sizes of Forbid 4F and Avid on eBay. Forbid is systemic and lasts 45 days, and is only labeled for non-bearing fruit trees, although in Canada it is labeled for many fruits. Avid is labeled for many fruits and can be sprayed 3 days before harvest.

I also got some Azatrol and will continue to treat through the main crop, it is supposed to have no effect on taste and can be sprayed the same day as harvest. Also systemic.

These mites should not survive freezing temperatures, but plants kept indoors or in well insulated structures could host female mites within their buds. In mild climates spraying at bud break is the best time to kill these females and get good coverage of all leaves.

Featured Answer

quackmaster

12 years ago

I have a couple trees that looks spotty like the ones you show and I just figured it was fmv. Thanks for pointing this out.

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Comments (6)

dieseler
12 years ago
Hoosier
My personal observations in our yard.

There is more than 1 strain of FMV such as the one from
UcDavis(documented) called Ischia Black which displays a cocktall of fmv strains including mottling , spotting and deformed leaves.

In our yard i have seen FMV display on plants only to hide,
then display following season.

FMV is said to travel slowly as well in plants and will diisplay
normal leaves such as some of yours and see this quite often in our yard.

Mottling is actual bubbling on the leaf , the spotting seen in your 2nd picture is fmv also.

As a note none of ours never had mites.
Hope this helps.

Martin

As a side note none of our plants have any mites.

This post was edited by dieseler on Tue, Sep 2, 14 at 22:58
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hoosierbanana
Original Author
12 years ago
Hi Martin, glad to see you.

I am certain that my plants did have eriophyid mites, and I think it is possible that the mites were increasing FMV symptoms rather than causing the spotting themselves. But at least in my case the symptoms have improved drastically as a result of getting rid of the mites. I have not seen any spots develop on new leaves for a week.
dieseler
12 years ago
Yes plants under stress can make FMV more visible.
Take away the stress and thats a plus .

Martin
mimulus
10 years ago
Thank you so much for writing this! I honestly never thought about mites being the problem. I use Neem oil for mites but would really be interested if any of those systemic are actually non-toxic. Does anyone know the name of the actual chemicals in those systemics?
hoosierbanana
Original Author
10 years ago
Forbid is part of a class of new chemicals, much safer for people and the environment than the older miticides. Avid is naturally produced using soil bacteria but is acutely toxic. Forbid is spriomesifen, Avid is abamectin.

I have not read the link beow yet, but if you have time please stop back and tell us what you think.

http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/registration/ais/publicreports/5858.pdf