Spider Mites Treatment
Spider mites, which are related to spiders and ticks of the arachnid family, are tiny pests that feed on a wide variety of plants such as fruit trees, ornamental vegetation, vines and berries. Mites inflict their damage by sucking cellular contents from leaves. Does this Spark an idea?
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Recognizing the Problem
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Spider mites are less than 1/20 inch long, but can be easily observed with a household magnifying glass. They live in colonies on the underside of a plant's leaves.
Water Treatment
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Spider mites thrive in the summer dust and heat, as well as on water-deprived plants. Frequently watered plants are less susceptible to mites. Also, spraying water against the underside of the leaves will dislodge the pests.
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Predatory Mites
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Predatory mites can be purchased and introduced into the infested landscape. In fact, the western predatory mite is one of the most effective methods of eliminating spider mites.
Other Predatory Insects
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There are numerous, often naturally occurring insects that also feed on spider mites. The sixspotted thrips, the spider mite destroyer lady beetle, the larvae of several flies, lacewing, minute pirate bugs and bigeyed bugs are all known predators of the spider mite, and they offer efficient, yet environmentally safe, methods of control.
Miticides/Chemicals
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The common miticides are Avid and Kelthane, but anything that contains pyrethroids will work. The chemicals should be applied once every five days until all signs of the mite infestation have vanished.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Louise Docker
