Disclosed is a method of controlling a pest selected blue oat mite (Penthaleus major) or from the family consisting of Sminthuridae, said method including applying to a locus where control is desired, after the emergence of seedlings from earth within the locus, an inhibitory or inactivating amount of a pesticidal compound selected from the group consisting of spinosyns, synthetically-modified spinosyns, and derivatives, salts and mixtures thereof.