@article{meck_kennedy_walgenbach_2013, title={Effect of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) on yield, quality, and economics of tomato production}, volume={52}, ISSN={0261-2194}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/J.CROPRO.2013.05.011}, DOI={10.1016/j.cropro.2013.05.011}, abstractNote={The twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, is an important and consistent pest of vegetables in central and western North Carolina, particularly on tomatoes, Solanum lycopersicum L. Small plot experiments were conducted in 2007, 2008 and 2009 in which acaricides were applied to early and late-planted staked tomatoes based on threshold levels ranging from 0 to 50 mites per leaflet, with a non-treated control included. Vine ripe fruit were harvested at weekly intervals from all plots, and fruit were weighed and graded for size and quality. A partial budget analysis was conducted to compare net profitability among treatments. Results from 2007 to 2008 showed that total and marketable yield was higher in plots with low versus high densities of T. urticae, and that yield differences were mostly due to number of fruit harvested rather than size of fruit. In 2009 there were no differences in yields among treatments. Gold fleck caused by T. urticae feeding directly on the fruit was another factor that influenced marketability, with more fruit affected and a higher percentage of surface area affected in higher densities versus lower densities of T. urticae. Net profitability varied considerably among planting dates and years, but an action threshold level to avoid yield losses by T. urticae injury on staked tomatoes appeared to be about eight mites per leaflet on a second or third recently expanded leaf.}, journal={Crop Protection}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Meck, Elijah D. and Kennedy, George G. and Walgenbach, James F.}, year={2013}, month={Oct}, pages={84–90} }
 @article{meck_walgenbach_kennedy_2012, title={Association of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) feeding and gold fleck damage on tomato fruit}, volume={42}, ISSN={["0261-2194"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.cropro.2012.07.027}, abstractNote={The twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch has been established as an indirect pest of tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) by reducing yields through plant feeding. Field observations suggested that T. urticae feeding on fruit may have resulted in discoloration known as gold fleck. A series of experiments were undertaken in the field and laboratory to evaluate T. urticae feeding as a cause of gold fleck on the fruit. Field experiments showed that, as cumulative mite days increased, so did the percentage of fruit affected by gold fleck. Results from laboratory experiments showed that T. urticae feeding on tomato fruit did cause gold fleck. This study clearly demonstrated that T. urticae can damage tomato fruit directly in the form of gold fleck, which may impact marketability of that fruit.}, journal={CROP PROTECTION}, author={Meck, Elijah D. and Walgenbach, James F. and Kennedy, George G.}, year={2012}, month={Dec}, pages={24–29} }
 @article{meck_walgenbach_kennedy_2009, title={Effect of vegetation management on autumn dispersal of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) from tomato}, volume={133}, ISSN={["0931-2048"]}, DOI={10.1111/j.1439-0418.2009.01413.x}, abstractNote={AbstractAutumn dispersal of twospotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) from tomato to overwintering host plants was studied in field experiments during 2004–2006. Three vegetation management strategies (herbicide, cultivation and no vegetation control) were established around mite‐infested, senescing tomato plants. Tetranychus urticae dispersal was monitored using trap plants of common chickweed (Stellaria media) at 2, 6 and 12 m from the tomatoes within each vegetation management plot. Chickweed plants were sampled in the autumn and spring from 2004 to 2006. Sticky traps were placed next to trap plants in the autumn of 2005 to monitor aerial dispersal of mites. Mite populations infesting chickweed were low, and autumn dispersal of mites from tomatoes to the chickweed plots was considered to be short range. The vegetation management strategies had no effect on mite densities found in the chickweed, but the capture of mites on sticky traps indicated that aerial dispersal was also a means of dispersal to overwintering hosts.}, number={9-10}, journal={JOURNAL OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY}, author={Meck, E. D. and Walgenbach, J. F. and Kennedy, G. G.}, year={2009}, month={Dec}, pages={742–748} }