Two spotted spider mites are widespread in Georgia peanut fields as we approach the final weeks of the 2024 growing season. Spider mites thrive in hot, dry conditions, and they are often more abundant in fields where broad spectrum insecticides have been applied. The recent cooler, cloudy, rainy conditions in the state may have slowed mite population development, but the sun is shining now and mites are doing just fine. Decisions about spider mite management will be made on a field by field basis taking into account the current mite pressure, the condition of the field, and the time to harvest. Finding and treating mites before the population gets huge is important. If mites were present in July or August, treating them would be a no-brainer. When the mites show up in mid-September, it is not so easy. We are closer to digging, days are getting shorter, and temperatures are hopefully lower. Whether a low-level mite infestation will explode into a major problem in any given field in the coming days is impossible to know. Fields with less than two weeks to dig that are in decent shape will probably be fine even if the mites get heavy. I would be reluctant NOT to treat mites in fields with three weeks or more weeks to go before digging.
If you have questions about managing spider mites or other pests in peanut, please contact your local UGA ANR Extension Agent.