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Spider Mite

© Carla Goodloe

This pest is found throughout the United States and possibly other countries.

Mites are not true insects. They are closely related to spiders. They are minute red, black, or brown arachnids that attack many types of plants. They feed on leave undersides, flowers, and the blossom ends of fruits. They feed by sucking out plant juices, causing leaves to become stippled (splattered) yellow and dry looking. They suck chlorophyll out of leaves, causing small white dots to appear. They also inject toxins into the leaves which distorts and discolors them. They also weave webs around your plants while they feed.

Mites are encouraged by dry, hot conditions. the hotter the temperature, the faster they develop from egg to adult, and the more eggs they lay. They reproduce quickly, producing many generations each year.

All fruit and vegetable crops are susceptible to mites. I've had them before and they killed a plant in a matter of days.

Controls include natural sprays like hot pepper spray, dish soap sprays, etc. Some insecticidal soaps work, but read the labels to make sure they are organic. Light horticultrual oil sprays work, but again, some are not organic, read your labels.

Really good methods include misting and shading. Mites prefer dry, hot conditions, and this method will make a moist, cool microclimate around plants. Water spraying to knock the pests off the plants works, but you have to do it every other day or two. Too hard of a spray can damage plants. Makre sure there is good air circulation around vulnerable crops as well.

You can use glue traps, pyrethrum (organic), sabadilla dust, diatomaceous earth, and a bi-weekly combination preventive spray made of dishsoap mixed with very diluted seaweed extract sprayed on the undersides of leaves.

Natural predators include lacewings, ladybugs, predatory mite, firefly larvae, and predatory thrips.