How to Manage Pests
Pests in Gardens and Landscapes
and life cycle—Pear rust mite
Female mites overwinter beneath bud scales and bark predominantly on 1- to 2-year-old wood. As buds
open in spring, mites emerge, move to developing clusters, and feed within buds. As clusters open
and leaves expand, some pear rust mites move to the leaf tissue and feed until leaves mature and
harden, while large numbers remain on the fruit. As leaves mature, pear rust mites move either to
young succulent leaf tissue or to fruit.
Eggs are produced shortly after adults become active in spring. Eggs are spherical and nearly clear
when first laid. Immature mites grow rapidly through two instars.
Several generations occur each growing season; each
takes only 10 to 14 days under ideal conditions. During
the growing season, adults are pale white to cream colored.
By late summer, only females are present, and they seek
overwintering sites under scales of newly developed buds
or in protected areas
on 1- and 2-year-old twigs, unless tender new foliage
is present, in which case they may remain active into
the spring, mites russet fruit