Aculops or tomato russet mite is a difficult pest to get rid of for many tomato growers. Last year, the reduced effectiveness of Oberon resulted in infestations that surprised a lot of Dutch growers.
Growers with supplemental lighting in many cases already have the pest in their current cultivation, and also the regular growers who started later, encounter this harmful mite more often than they would like to. Alternative options for Oberon are very limited and biological solutions still do not provide an adequate answer, even though a lot of research is going on for an integrated solution.
Vigilance, and targeted scouting is therefore of great importance, especially now that the warm summer season is approaching. For lit growers, finishing clean is of great importance, so that after the crop change the next crop does not get infected right away, or run the risk that neighboring unlighted growers get infected as a result of the crop change.
Therefore, ensure to keep up to date of the latest developments by having yourself informed by your advisor or specialist to keep tomato russet mite manageable.
Source: LTO Glaskracht Nederland