The orchard predatory mite Typhlodromus pyri
Several species of predatory mite in the family Phytoseidae prey on apple rust mite, but Typhlodromus pyri is the species which occurs in selectively sprayed apple orchards and is the key natural enemy of apple rust mite because it has developed resistance to organophosphorus insecticides.
- This predatory mite is also the key natural enemy of the fruit tree red spider mite.
- If populations of the mite are conserved by avoiding the use of harmful insecticides, notably synthetic pyrethroids, apple rust mite and fruit tree red spider mite are seldom a problem.
Other predators
Rust mites are probably preyed on by several other generalist insect and mite predators such as anthocorids, mirids and the stigmaeid mite Zetzellia mali.