Spider mites
CLASSIFICATION
Animalia, Arachnida, Acari
ABOUT
Spider mites are very small sap-sucking pests living in colonies on leaf undersides. They cause light dots on the leaves, and eventually yellowing and drying. Heavily infested plants can be covered with silk webbing.
How to treat?
- Biological
Remove pests mechanically. Rub the pests off, or remove infested parts.
Apply ecological products for plant protection (e.g. soap sprays, neem oil, orange oil).
Introduce natural enemies - predators, parasites, or diseases (e.g. lady beetles, predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis, lacewings).
- Chemical
If necessary, apply acaricide (miticide) containing maltodextrin (on ornamentals and some garden crops).
- Disease prevention
Encourage the presence of natural enemies (e.g. predatory mites).
Apply dormant oil (controls pests and diseases during the off-season).
Remove dust from the surface of plants - rub it off with a wet cloth. Dust encourages the presence of spider mites.