Comparison of laboratory methods for assessing numbers of apple rust mite (Aculus schlechtendali) overwintering on apple

Abstract

During the winter of 1980/81 apple shoots from the preceding season's growth were collected from 19 orchards in Kent and East Sussex. Five buds from each of 10 shoots per orchard were dissected under a stereoscopic microscope at × 30 magnification and apple rust mites (Aculus rchlechtendali) were counted. These dissected buds were then used to test a more rapid method of extraction and counting. The buds were added to methanol and mixed with a vibrating machine, mites were then collected in sieves and counted. Counts of mites by this method were similar to those of the first method when there were fewer than 100 mites on 50 buds, but there was greater variation when mites were more numerous.An even more rapid method using five other buds from the same 10 shoots was also tested; the buds were bisected, then vibrated in methanol, and the mites were collected in sieves and counted. Results were comparable with those obtained by the dissection/methanol method and can be used with similar confidence in advisory work on apple rust mite.