How to Control the Red Spider Mites
Tiny red spider-like mites are only the size of a grain of table salt or a pinhead. They often leave a red smear on a tissue, like a small blot of blood, if you squeeze them upon capture. The red spider mite or Tetranychus urticae belongs to the mite family. These mites live on the undersides of leaves. Red spider mites sometimes wander in to buildings in search for food and warm environments to thrive, even if there is no houseplant present in the home. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Hold a white piece of paper under a leaf suspected of harboring red spider mites. Tap the leaf to dislodge the mites on to the paper. Tiny red flecks move on the white surface if mites are present.
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2
Bring houseplants outside on a sunny morning or treat outside plants in place. Hose the leaves with water.
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3
Apply an insecticidal soap alternatively. Spray off the insecticidal soap before it dries. Apply one more time and rinse again. Repeat every two weeks until you no longer see red spider mites.
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4
Release a bag of ladybugs -- a natural enemy of the mites, along with dragonflies, wasps, spiders and caterpillars -- in your garden. Ladybugs are sold online and at nurseries.
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5
Apply miticides for a heavy infestation. Insecticides against normal bugs are ineffective in killing these mites and may aggravate the problem, as the insects that eat mites are killed by the chemicals instead.
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6
Seal cracks that can be gateways for the red spider mites to enter your house. Pay attention especially to the window and door screens, wall corners and baseboards.
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Tips & Warnings
Kill any red spider mite you see wandering about singly on a surface in your home, as it could be a female. Be quick to capture the mite because it's a runner.
One female can lay around 20 eggs per day. Adult red spider mites can live for 2 to 4 weeks.
References
- Photo Credit Creatas/Creatas/Getty Images
