Jerry Brust, IPM Vegetable Specialist, University of Maryland; jbrust@umd.edu
This past April I wrote an article about red legged winter mites, Penthaleus dorsalis, being found in a high tunnel on the eastern shore. I thought this was an odd, one-time thing. I have come to learn that the mites are unfortunately back in the grower’s heated high tunnel and more surprisingly have found that the same mites are causing all kinds of problems in high tunnels along the New England coast. This mite species is far more common than I had guessed and anyone now growing winter greens, crucifers, spinach and maybe leaf lettuces in high tunnels should be on the look out for this mite. Once it gets established in your high tunnel it is very difficult to manage.
