Certainly looks like Stunt Mite damage. You can confirm by using a 20x or larger magnifying glass. They look like white translucent grains of rice under magnification.

 

Certainly looks like Stunt Mite damage. You can confirm by using a 20x or larger magnifying glass. They look like white translucent grains of rice under magnification.

Any fixes other than just ripping this stuff out? It's pretty isolated and growing over my septic. It wouldn't bother me one little bit to tear it all out and start over in there.

 

Certainly looks like Stunt Mite damage. You can confirm by using a 20x or larger magnifying glass. They look like white translucent grains of rice under magnification.

Any fixes other than just ripping this stuff out? It's pretty isolated and growing over my septic. It wouldn't bother me one little bit to tear it all out and start over in there.

They are tough little bugs. Your best option would be using a Termiticide. I would contact the product manufacturer and ask them if the product can penetrate leaf tissue. If the answer is yes, give it a try. Just don't use common insecticides as Mites are not insects, so many are ineffective.

 

Certainly looks like Stunt Mite damage. You can confirm by using a 20x or larger magnifying glass. They look like white translucent grains of rice under magnification.

Any fixes other than just ripping this stuff out? It's pretty isolated and growing over my septic. It wouldn't bother me one little bit to tear it all out and start over in there.

They are tough little bugs. Your best option would be using a Termiticide. I would contact the product manufacturer and ask them if the product can penetrate leaf tissue. If the answer is yes, give it a try. Just don't use common insecticides as Mites are not insects, so many are ineffective.

Any experience with Abamectin? It seems like I've read a little about that product.

 

Any fixes other than just ripping this stuff out? It's pretty isolated and growing over my septic. It wouldn't bother me one little bit to tear it all out and start over in there.

They are tough little bugs. Your best option would be using a Termiticide. I would contact the product manufacturer and ask them if the product can penetrate leaf tissue. If the answer is yes, give it a try. Just don't use common insecticides as Mites are not insects, so many are ineffective.

Any experience with Abamectin? It seems like I've read a little about that product.

No sorry. I study insects and fungus religiously. But I have not experienced Stunt Mites. The info I gave you is from research, not experience.

 

They are tough little bugs. Your best option would be using a Termiticide. I would contact the product manufacturer and ask them if the product can penetrate leaf tissue. If the answer is yes, give it a try. Just don't use common insecticides as Mites are not insects, so many are ineffective.

Any experience with Abamectin? It seems like I've read a little about that product.

No sorry. I study insects and fungus religiously. But I have not experienced Stunt Mites. The info I gave you is from research, not experience.

Thanks @Austinite, you've been very helpful. I appreciate it!

 

So something like bifen wouldn't correct it?

 

So something like bifen wouldn't correct it?

Found this last night. It's an interesting and short read. https://citybugs.tamu.edu/2017/06/13/tiniest-turfgrass-pest/

 

@Dono1183 I am on my second round of Abamectin. The first round was about three weeks ago. I used Abamecttin and Azadirachtin along with Bifen and a surfactant. Last night I applied 8oz of Abamectin per acre and 10oz of Azadirachtin. I am applying it with about two gallons per 1000 to try and drench the grass.

Here is a post I made three weeks ago:
https://thelawnforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=489390#p489390

While I feel the first round helped I'm hopeful the second heavier application will make a bigger impact. While I do not think elimination of bermuda mites is even a goal with the research I have seen I am just hoping for a significant reduction.

I went with these two chemicals based on this article:
https://www.gcmonline.com/research/news/bermudagrass-mite?utm_source=informz&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=FC%2012.6.18

I hope to apply every 14 days until I run out of chemcial.

 

@Dono1183 I am on my second round of Abamectin. The first round was about three weeks ago. I used Abamecttin and Azadirachtin along with Bifen and a surfactant. Last night I applied 8oz of Abamectin per acre and 10oz of Azadirachtin. I am applying it with about two gallons per 1000 to try and drench the grass.

Here is a post I made three weeks ago:
https://thelawnforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=489390#p489390

While I feel the first round helped I'm hopeful the second heavier application will make a bigger impact. While I do not think elimination of bermuda mites is even a goal with the research I have seen I am just hoping for a significant reduction.

I went with these two chemicals based on this article:
https://www.gcmonline.com/research/news/bermudagrass-mite?utm_source=informz&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=FC%2012.6.18

I hope to apply every 14 days until I run out of chemcial.

Thanks @cldrunner, I think I'm going to dig up that whole area, bag it, and monitor it. It's not particularly large. I wonder if anyone has tried torching them? I have a propane torch that would cook the grass and anything on it.

 

@Dono1183 Here is further research:

https://lgpress.clemson.edu/publication/biology-and-management-of-bermudagrass-mite/

 

So something like bifen wouldn't correct it?

Found this last night. It's an interesting and short read. https://citybugs.tamu.edu/2017/06/13/tiniest-turfgrass-pest/

Thanks for the read!! However, I've applied Bifen before and I also irrigate ALOT, so I'm starting to think maybe it isn't mites. Just stunted growth in addition to thatchy buildup and heat stress. All of that makes for a very low, sparse, yellowish bunchy looking area I suppose.

 

Any fixes other than just ripping this stuff out? It's pretty isolated and growing over my septic. It wouldn't bother me one little bit to tear it all out and start over in there.

They are tough little bugs. Your best option would be using a Termiticide. I would contact the product manufacturer and ask them if the product can penetrate leaf tissue. If the answer is yes, give it a try. Just don't use common insecticides as Mites are not insects, so many are ineffective.

Any experience with Abamectin? It seems like I've read a little about that product.

I'm dealing with the same issue right now and will be applying some Abamectin to see if it cures the Bermuda Mites. The does is very little, like .20 of an ounce per 5 gallons of water. I have enough to last me a life time....lol

 

They are tough little bugs. Your best option would be using a Termiticide. I would contact the product manufacturer and ask them if the product can penetrate leaf tissue. If the answer is yes, give it a try. Just don't use common insecticides as Mites are not insects, so many are ineffective.

Any experience with Abamectin? It seems like I've read a little about that product.

I'm dealing with the same issue right now and will be applying some Abamectin to see if it cures the Bermuda Mites. The does is very little, like .20 of an ounce per 5 gallons of water. I have enough to last me a life time....lol

Lol that's what I was looking at too. That bottle is gonna last forever.

 

@Hapa512 @Dono1183 This is how I see the Abamectin application. The research I have seen calls for a .14 to .28 oz per 1000 every two weeks. The research was using Divanem which is an 8% solution.

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1217

The Abamectin I am using (Lucid) is a 2% solution. So I need to use .56 to 1.12 oz per 1000 every two weeks. I use two gallons of water per 1000.

I bough a quart (32 oz) of Lucid for $60.

At an 8% solution rate at the high rate this bottle can go pretty quick. I think you guys may need to up your rate by 4X to even be effective per the research. At that rate your bottle may go a little quicker.

 

@Hapa512 @Dono1183 This is how I see the Abamectin application. The research I have seen calls for a .14 to .28 oz per 1000 every two weeks. The research was using Divanem which is an 8% solution.

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1217

The Abamectin I am using (Lucid) is a 2% solution. So I need to use .56 to 1.12 oz per 1000 every two weeks. I use two gallons of water per 1000.

I bough a quart (32 oz) of Lucid for $60.

At an 8% solution rate at the high rate this bottle can go pretty quick. I think you guys may need to up your rate by 4X to even be effective per the research. At that rate your bottle may go a little quicker.

Thank you ! That's some great information. I'm thinking of doing an application today, then scalping my lawn to .25 late next week, then do another application the following week. Hopefully scalping and and bagging will keep it somewhat under control, it's not so bad that's it noticeable, but now I know what to look for so I see them in a few more places in the yard.

Anybody have any idea how they even get into your yard ?? I don't share equipment my equipment, my mower never leaves the house…lol

 

@Hapa512 I wonder sometimes if we are applying some type of insecticide that we may be killing off beneficial insects. Imidcloprid is what I wonder about most from this article. I may move on to a different grub preventative.

Several studies have demonstrated that insecticides, including imidacloprid and pyrethroids, can worsen spider mite outbreaks by increasing their reproductive output or killing off natural predators (Szczepaniec and Raupp 2012). Therefore, it is important to consider potential unintended effects of insecticides before using them. In fact, recent UF/IFAS research has found that applying a combination of imidacloprid, bifenthrin, and z-cypermethrin to control for bermudagrass mites provided no reduction in mite damage over five weeks (Figure 7).

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1217

Moreover, we compared the abundance of E. buxi on imidacloprid-treated and untreated boxwoods in the landscape and a greenhouse to determine if changes in the fecundity of mites exposed to imidacloprid were linked to outbreaks of E. buxi. We found that females consuming imidacloprid-treated plants laid more eggs than females feeding on untreated boxwoods, while their longevity remained unchanged. Fecundity was not affected, however, when spider mites were directly sprayed with imidacloprid and consumed foliage of untreated boxwoods. Furthermore, populations of E. buxi were greater on boxwoods treated with imidacloprid in the landscape and greenhouse.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23007227/

In addition, my common bermuda is not affected. I have another very small patch of bermuda that is different than my tiff419 that is not affected as well. My neighbor next door has Lattitude and I don't think he is affected.

 

@Hapa512 @Dono1183 This is how I see the Abamectin application. The research I have seen calls for a .14 to .28 oz per 1000 every two weeks. The research was using Divanem which is an 8% solution.

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1217

The Abamectin I am using (Lucid) is a 2% solution. So I need to use .56 to 1.12 oz per 1000 every two weeks. I use two gallons of water per 1000.

I bough a quart (32 oz) of Lucid for $60.

At an 8% solution rate at the high rate this bottle can go pretty quick. I think you guys may need to up your rate by 4X to even be effective per the research. At that rate your bottle may go a little quicker.

Thank you ! That's some great information. I'm thinking of doing an application today, then scalping my lawn to .25 late next week, then do another application the following week. Hopefully scalping and and bagging will keep it somewhat under control, it's not so bad that's it noticeable, but now I know what to look for so I see them in a few more places in the yard.

Anybody have any idea how they even get into your yard ?? I don't share equipment my equipment, my mower never leaves the house…lol

I'm pretty sure mine happened when I got my yard aerated. I also could just be imagining that. 🤣

 

@Hapa512 @Dono1183 This is how I see the Abamectin application. The research I have seen calls for a .14 to .28 oz per 1000 every two weeks. The research was using Divanem which is an 8% solution.

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1217

The Abamectin I am using (Lucid) is a 2% solution. So I need to use .56 to 1.12 oz per 1000 every two weeks. I use two gallons of water per 1000.

I bough a quart (32 oz) of Lucid for $60.

At an 8% solution rate at the high rate this bottle can go pretty quick. I think you guys may need to up your rate by 4X to even be effective per the research. At that rate your bottle may go a little quicker.

Thank you ! That's some great information. I'm thinking of doing an application today, then scalping my lawn to .25 late next week, then do another application the following week. Hopefully scalping and and bagging will keep it somewhat under control, it's not so bad that's it noticeable, but now I know what to look for so I see them in a few more places in the yard.

Anybody have any idea how they even get into your yard ?? I don't share equipment my equipment, my mower never leaves the house…lol

I'm pretty sure mine happened when I got my yard aerated. I also could just be imagining that. 🤣

You know ? that's the one machine that I do tend to use on my lawn as I have an Aerator, and come to think about it ? I think my issues started a bit after I used the aerator.....I guess I'm buying a set of tines just for my own yard ! LOL

 

Thank you ! That's some great information. I'm thinking of doing an application today, then scalping my lawn to .25 late next week, then do another application the following week. Hopefully scalping and and bagging will keep it somewhat under control, it's not so bad that's it noticeable, but now I know what to look for so I see them in a few more places in the yard.

Anybody have any idea how they even get into your yard ?? I don't share equipment my equipment, my mower never leaves the house…lol

I'm pretty sure mine happened when I got my yard aerated. I also could just be imagining that. 🤣

You know ? that's the one machine that I do tend to use on my lawn as I have an Aerator, and come to think about it ? I think my issues started a bit after I used the aerator.....I guess I'm buying a set of tines just for my own yard ! LOL

That sounds like the move right there!

 

Mine are right along the property line where it meets my neighbors crappy lawn. Makes sense. 🙄

 

@DFW245 Does the neighbor have them? Have you use imidacloprid this year?

I am seeing a significant reduction after my second application of 3% Azadirachtin and 2% Abamectin . My last application was at a higher rate than the first application.

With our drought and extreme heat I have been trying to be careful. I will go with an 8% Abamectin rate probably tomorrow.

 

@DFW245 Does the neighbor have them? Have you use imidacloprid this year?

I am seeing a significant reduction after my second application of 3% Azadirachtin and 2% Abamectin . My last application was at a higher rate than the first application.

With our drought and extreme heat I have been trying to be careful. I will go with an 8% Abamectin rate probably tomorrow.

I'm glad to hear that. I'm going to just use the Abamectin, but may start off at the higher rate. Thanks for continuing to keep us in the loop on this!

 

@DFW245 Does the neighbor have them? Have you use imidacloprid this year?

I am seeing a significant reduction after my second application of 3% Azadirachtin and 2% Abamectin . My last application was at a higher rate than the first application.

With our drought and extreme heat I have been trying to be careful. I will go with an 8% Abamectin rate probably tomorrow.

I'm glad to hear that. I'm going to just use the Abamectin, but may start off at the higher rate. Thanks for continuing to keep us in the loop on this!

My estimate is about a 50% reduction. Pretty happy with that. At an 8% solution rate I think I can get down to a 90%+ reduction.

 

@DFW245 Does the neighbor have them? Have you use imidacloprid this year?

I am seeing a significant reduction after my second application of 3% Azadirachtin and 2% Abamectin . My last application was at a higher rate than the first application.

With our drought and extreme heat I have been trying to be careful. I will go with an 8% Abamectin rate probably tomorrow.

Well I personally wouldn't know, they keep their Bermuda at like 4"....maybe 5"....not even joking. Also, it's the only spot in my lawn(I think) that I have them. With it getting about 3in of water a week, the drought isn't an issue. Was only doing 2"...bumped it up to 3" the day of the 4th just for safety purposes and the heat stress actually scaled back alot. Turns out Monaco is a VERY VERY VERY thirsty cultivar. Resists drought, but still wants extreme tons of water lol

I'll try out that combination and see how it works for me. Thanks.