Natural enemies (Flat scarlet mite)

Predatory mites
Several species of predatory mite in the family Phytoseidae prey on flat tree scarlet mite, including Typhlodromus pyri, the species which occurs in selectively sprayed apple orchards and is the key natural enemy of fruit tree red spider mite and apple rust mite because it has developed resistance to organophosphorus insecticides.

• If populations of the mite are conserved by avoiding the use of harmful insecticides, notably synthetic pyrethroids, fruit tree red spider mite and apple rust mite are seldom a problem.
• Typhlodromus pyri also appears to have a regulatory influence on populations of flat scarlet mite, though it does not seem able to give sufficient natural regulatory control to prevent serious outbreaks of flat scarlet mite.

Other predators

Flat scarlet mite is preyed on by several other generalist insect and mite predators such as anthocorids, mirids and spiders.