curled leaf mites on pear trees - Ask Extension
We have curled leaf mites on our 3 pear trees in Windsor. They are all over the trees, but they seem especially bad on the tips of branches at the top...
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curled leaf mites on pear trees #868699
Asked May 16, 2024, 12:03 PM EDT
We have curled leaf mites on our 3 pear trees in Windsor. They are all over the trees, but they seem especially bad on the tips of branches at the tops of the trees. We have read that all we can do is pick them off or prune the tree, which is to involve wiping the shears with alcohol after each cut. This is needless to say a very time consuming exericse, and we are not at all sure of getting all of them off, as we understand they fall to the ground and then crawl up the tree. Is there anything we can do about them short of using some dangerous chemical?
Windsor County Vermont
Expert Response
Although you did not send a picture, I suspect what you are seeing is damage from the pear leaf blister mite. THese little spider-like creatures (eriophyid mites) can cause this damage in early cool springs. Often the first leaves that come out show this damage and the later ones are free from it. It does not harm the tree and by the time you see the damage, it is too late and typically the weather has warmed up. No control is necessary although a dormant oil spray next spring before bud break may help. https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/insects-pests-and-problems/other/galls/gall-forming-eriophyid-mites
