we found suspicious growth on 1/3 of one of our huge new dawn's this weekend. we are worried it is RRD [rose rosette]. it might be herbicide damage, because it is a pretty good green, virtually no red or yellow. we cut out that third and put at curb in covered trash bins for garbage collection. we intend to rogue out the entire plant just in case.[we have two other as yet unaffected magnificent new dawns, as well as about 100 various roses]
RRD is transmitted by the wooly mite called Phyllocoptes fructiphilus, an eriophyid mite.
has anyone used predators against the wooly mite?
i contacted an entomologist about predators[we buy predatory mites for our greenhouse and veg garden from her company]and i thought other organic rose gardeners would be interested in her reply:
There is no research on this that I know of. I have been encouraging
Brooklyn Botanical Garden to diversify the ground cover in their rose
beds from bare earth to harbor mite natural enemies. Bare earth = no
natural enemies.
I have recommended sweet alyssum, ivies, marigolds, catmint as
reservoirs for natural enemies in roses.
For the predators? We have recommended Neoseiulus fallacies ( a native
that eats many things and will survive in the landscape on its own,
especially with adequate ground cover).
We also have 2 new predators,
Amblyseius swirskii comes in little bags that you hang on the plants
that emit these predators for about 6 weeks, and
Amblyseius andersoni, a mite that is specifically named as a predator of
eriophyid mites. This one also requires ground cover for survival.
Carol
Carol S. Glenister
Entomologist
diane_nj 6b/7a
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