Dormant oils (BioCover, Damoil, Dormant Oil 435, Mite-E-Oil, Omni Supreme Spray, Par F70 Soluble Oil, Sunspray 6E)
Oils are physical pesticides, which are effective as a smothering film on European red mite eggs and young nymphs, and several other pests. Oils in the 60- or 70-second viscosity range are recommended as a control measure for preventing San Jose scale and European red mite. These oils are safer than earlier dormant oils because they are more volatile, resulting in less persistence on the tree. They remain on the tree long enough to kill the pest, but not so long as to interfere with vital plant processes or oil-incompatible pesticides that may be applied later. Because of this safety factor these oils can be applied up to the prepink stage of tree development. Oil applied during silver tip to 1/4-inch green is not nearly as effective on mites as it is when applied between 1/2-inch green and full pink. Use 2 gallons of oil per 100 gallons dilute between half-inch green and tight cluster. To lower the possibility of tree injury after oil applications, reduce the oil rate to 1 gallon/100 gallons dilute if application is made after tight cluster. Oils should never be mixed with fungicides containing sulfur.
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