Fuchsia Gall Mite - treatment ?

Hi,

We have a couple of 6ft high standard Fuchsias v Celia Smedley and at this time of year they are usually pushing out flower buds, but they are looking a little sad and suspect they are suffering from some Gall Mite after being overwintered in the greenhouse

Can see some tips of the shoots looking a little distorted and some leaves curling and under a magnifier can see some signs of a growth / gall under the leaf tip.
Cannot see any signs of Red Spider Mite even with a x50 lens.

Noticed these sachets being sold here and getting lots of good reviews -
Fuchsia Gall Mite Sachets | Green Gardener

Interestingly these Amblyseius-Andersonii are sold by the more well known Nematoes Direct for Red Spider Mite, but they do not mention using them for FGM ?

Seems our other greenhouse Fuchsias do not seem to be showing similar signs but would welcome any input on how to deal with this outbreak and prevent it spreading.

 

I find that if you cut it back to sticks and dispose of the leaves, the plant will recover.
This has worked for me on delta Sarah and another one I don't know the name of.

 

Hi, thanks for the reply,

Take it you mean its not just a case of picking off the leaves, but actually removing the stem/last part of the branch the leaves are attached to ?

 

I used to buy something called persimillis, can't remember the full name for red spider, can only assume predatory mites eat all kinds of other mites.

How much is it?
The price always puts me off these kinds of things .

 

Think you might mean Phytoseiulus persimilis - Spider Mite Curative System ?
As you say these mites for RSM might also work to some degree on the Gall mites.

Those sachets for the Amblyseius Andersonii are about £1- £2 each.

 

Yes that's the name, not bought any for years.
Think shiney red bugs slightly bigger than rsm.

 

Quick way to get rid, use a mite pesticide that they use on chickens and pigeons

 

You could try a systemic insecticide like Bug Clear Ultra Vine Weevil Killer.

 

Have a bottle of that already, so will give it a good spray so hopefully it will stop them spreading to other Fuchsias though feel the method @BB3 suggests to strip them off will be the next step to erraticate them

 

Thrips and aphids can make the leaves and stems distorted, but Fuchsia gall mite has a characteristic look.
I found it on one of my hardy ones last year, and I've bought a blowlamp to zap it with - whenever I see it starting I light the blowlamp and point it at the infected bits, and burn them. You should not put them into a compost bin because that will help it spread.

I have not found it on any of my other Fuchsias, just that particular one.

 

If you can still get it Nurell D 505 kills mites, I've also got something called Forbid 4F that I'm yet to try.
I've used the animal mite protection that @Spruce suggests but they often contain other chemicals that damage leaves.

the old one that really worked well was Abermectin, similar to Ivermectin but not sure you can still get that.

 

As far as I know, they don't live in the stems but I cut then right back.
Maybe it wasn't necessary. I don't know.
Definitely get rid of any swollen buds. The immature ones might be ok. If not, cut back more next time.

 

Hi pete

from what I was told by a grower spray late evening try and keep out of full sun for 3 days ..

 

OK.
They seem to sometimes have disinfectants added, but I know there are various types.

 

You might kill the mites with sprays but you're going to have to cut off the affected parts anyway.