Spider mite is one of the most terrible and hated enemies of all gardeners. Ticks often survive in hot, dry conditions, unfavorable to many other parasites. Sooner or later every gardener came across this pest. Consider why the attacks of spider mites are so dangerous and unpleasant that they do with our plants, what types of parasite are and how to fight them.
Spider mite: general characteristics of the pest
Spider mites are malicious pests that colonize the leaves of houseplants and horticultural crops. These parasites are detected everywhere. Spider mite is extremely small, which makes it difficult to fight it. It is impossible to notice the parasite until serious damage to the leaves of the plant occurs. The length of the female individual is only 0.4-0.6 mm, the male is even smaller. The color of ticks is pale green or amber yellow.
Such pests as caterpillars, nematodes, aphid, cockchafer, carrot fly, onion fly and snail significantly affect the general properties of plants, and in some cases can lead to their complete death.Young six-legged mites. After two periods of molting, the mites become adults and acquire eight legs. Life expectancy of females ranges from 5 to 40 days. At a temperature of 25-30 ° C, the full development of an adult individual can take as little as 7-8 days. When the temperature gets lower, this process can be slower, it can take up to four weeks to complete.
Did you know? Spider mite is not an insect. It is classified as arachnid class, a relative of spiders and scorpions. The main feature that distinguishes mites from insects is the number of limbs. Insects have three pairs of legs, ticks have four pairs.
The spider mite is usually located on the back of the leaf blade, where it sucks the sap of the plants and makes many small holes. Damaged leaves are dehydrated. They look dry, fragile and discolored. Even a minor infection can have a significant impact on plant development. And with a long attack, the plant's ability to photosynthesis and self-healing decreases. Leaves infected with pests can suddenly become covered with a thin web, turn yellow and fall off. Plants in general are becoming weaker. 
Did you know? Spider mites are especially dangerous, as they can severely damage a plant in a short period. MicroscopicArazites attack in large numbers, this is the cause of serious damage to the foliage. Among the plant pests are mites - some of the most difficult to control, which is why pesticides have to be used.
Types of spider mites and their description
There are many species of spider mites, and some may be more common in your area than others. Most species attack both internal and external parts of plants.
Common Spider Mite
The common spider mite infects plants in the dry summer. Damage from the pest is manifested in leaf spot. It may be white, yellowish or reddish brown. Tick eggs can be found on the leaf blade of the plant. Sometimes there is damage to the leaves: they are torn between the veins, dry and fall. In turn, such damage can have a negative impact on the yield and quality of fruits.
Next, consider what a spider mite looks like. The length of an adult tick is 0.44–0.57 mm, the body is oval, pale yellowish or greenish in color. The body of an adult male is slightly smaller than that of the female, narrower and has a yellow-green color. At a temperature of 22 ° C and a sufficient amount of food females live from 21 to 35 days. One female can lay several hundred eggs. In the spring, females migrate to grassy terrestrial vegetation and begin laying eggs. They are translucent, spherical in shape.
The pest attacks plants during the growing season. In the case of a massive reduction in summer plantings or in the treatment of plants with herbicides, pests look for other food sources. Parasites can settle in the root system of a plant. The same happens if there is no precipitation. This enemy of plants has a high potential of distribution. In particular, in hot dry weather, two parasites create up to seven generations during the growing season. Accordingly, the damage becomes more pronounced and appear as soon as possible.
In greenhouse conditions, the spread of the common mite is much faster because of the higher chances of survival in the heat. The cracks and crevices of the greenhouse construction are the perfect shelter for the winter for the parasite, which greatly complicates the fight against it. The number of ticks in a greenhouse increases by more than 50 times (from 10 to 15 generations) within 2-4 weeks. Pests prefer such plants: pepper, eggplant, cucumber, carnation, gerbera, rose, chrysanthemum, but most often the parasite affects everyone's favorite indoor ficus. If you have identified a thin whitish web on the trunk of a ficus, this is a sign of infection and a signal that something needs to be done.
Important! Ticks are very difficult to see with the naked eye. To identify small pests need a magnifying glass. To determine the type of such an organism, you can also contact your local phytosanitary service for help.
False spider mite
False spider mites are destructive and rare small pests. This species differs from other members of the family in that it does not spin a web. In addition, the false mite is smaller in size than other species. An adult individual has a flat red body about 0.25 mm in length with two pairs of short legs in front and two pairs of legs adjacent to the narrow abdomen. Eggs are red, oval, deposited singly near the main veins on the back of the leaf. The nymph is similar in shape to an adult.
These small enemies of plants move slowly and are sometimes visible on the back of the leaves. They feed on the upper and lower layers of leaves, which leads to the death of the plant. This type of mite affects citrus fruits, orchids, passionflora, papaya, rambutan, durian and mangosteen. Infection usually occurs in hot, dry weather and causes scarring and discoloration of ripening fruits.
Did you know? The damage of citrus fruits by a false spider mite is unusual: ticks tend to infect those parts of the fruit that have already been damaged by other insects.
Atlantic spider mite
Atlantic spider mites (Tetranychus atlanticus) - a look similar to an ordinary, false and Turkestan tick. The Atlantic mite is able to live and multiply at very high humidity of the air and the soil. The color of the calf is yellowish-green. The length of the female specimen is 0.43–0.45 mm; body oblong-oval, convex. Females usually hibernate at the base of plants and other dark areas. During the season, the parasite reproduces 5-6 generations. The length of the male is about 0.3 mm. Eggs are spherical, light.
The parasite chooses palm trees and citrus fruits as places of settlement. Ticks infect fruit, vegetable, berry, technical and ornamental plants. When attacking ticks on foliage, yellow formations are noted. Gradually the spots cover the whole leaf, which eventually leads to its drying.
Red spider mite
Red spider mites (Tetranychus cinnabarinus) - garden pests affecting a wide variety of plants: azalea, camellia, apple, citrus, carnation. But most often this spider mite settles on a cactus. This fact is explained by the fact that these parasites prefer dry habitat. Ticks multiply rapidly in drought conditions and show resistance to certain pesticides. Small enemies of plants suck sap from a young cactus, forming white spots on its surface.
After infection with this pest, the plant is continuously damaged. Leaves take an unhealthy look. On the reverse side of the sheet plate is observed dusty deposits. A careful inspection reveals that this dust "moves" and is in fact a cobweb. The red spider mite is most active in cool weather (spring or autumn).
Eggs whitish-pink spherical shape. The larva is yellowish-greenish with three pairs of legs. The nymph is yellowish gray, with dark spots, has four pairs of legs. Depending on age, the color of ticks varies from yellowish to brownish red. The body of an adult female is oval, 0.4 mm in length. Males are slightly smaller - 0.35 mm.
The question of how to control a red spider mite and how to get rid of it is complicated by the fact that mite eggs can remain in the soil for about five years.
Cyclamen spider mite
Cyclamen spider mite (Tarsonemus pallidus) causes serious damage to various greenhouse crops. Adult individual with a length of less than 0.3 mm. On the legs are placed microscopic suckers. Colorless or brown, they have four pairs of limbs. The length of a smooth egg is 0.1 mm.
Cyclamen mites avoid light, they are found in hidden shady places on houseplants (in the buds, between the calyx and corolla). In addition, cyclamen mites prefer high humidity. Parasites feed on young leaves and plant buds. Infected leaves curl inward and become wrinkled. Buds also look wrinkled and discolored, and sometimes they may not open at all. This pest has a wide range of host plants: violet, cyclamen, dahlia, chrysanthemum, geranium, fuchsia, begonia, petunia, daisy, azalea.
Turkestan spider mite
Turkestan Spider Web mite - pest size 0.3-0.6 mm, green. A common greenish color results from eating the cell sap of plants with a high content of chlorophyll.
The length of the female is 0.5-0.6 mm; the shape of the calf is ovoid. Females overwinter in small settlements on weeds, fallen leaves, bark cracks. Their life expectancy is 80 days. The male is slightly smaller than the female, the shape of the calf is elongated, the color is light green.
The leaves infected with this pest turn yellow and become covered with thick cobwebs. Gradually, leaf blades are noticeably damaged. Water balance is disturbed. Suspended photosynthesis. The leaves dry out. The parasite damages melons and vegetables, as well as beans and cotton.
Wide spider mite
High humidity and high temperatures contribute to the development wide spider mite (Tarsonemus pallidus). Severe outbreaks can occur in greenhouses during the fall and winter months. Spider mite is most often found on balsamic (we will return to the question of how to deal with it).
The body of this pest is translucent, light green in color. Females can live up to one month and breed without mating. They lay 2-3 eggs per day for 2-3 weeks. During the entire life cycle, one female lays up to 16 eggs in moist dark places in crevices and at the base of the plant. They are oval, smooth. White larvae hatch in 2-3 days. Adults leave the pupal stage after 5–7 days, and tend to move faster. They can complete a life cycle in just 1 week.
Through saliva, parasites spray a dangerous toxin onto the plant. The leaves become twisted, hardened and distorted, there is a bronze coating on the lower surface of the sheet. With the mass spread of the parasite, the young buds of the plant may die. The damage resembles the usual disturbances in plant development.
This pest often feeds on flower crops. Flower spider mite has a wide range of host plants: violet, ageratum, begonia, chrysanthemum, cyclamen, dahlia, gerbera, gloxinia, hibiscus, jasmine, balsam, lanthanum, marigold, snapdragon, vervain, zinnia. Sometimes a broad tick infects crops such as peppers, tomatoes, and legumes.
With a large number of pests it is recommended to spray the plants with such chemical preparations as Fufanon, Bi-58, Tanrek, Alatar, Aktara, Aktellik, Karbofos and Fytoverm.
Top Spider Mite Tips
Experienced gardeners and specialists involved in the fight against spider mites, lead Some important tips for the prevention and treatment of plants from this pest:
- Of course, the best means of pest control is prevention. Only a healthy plant can repel pest attacks. The weaker is more susceptible to parasites. Work to keep the plants healthy and the areas around them free from debris and dust. Also, make sure that they are supplied with enough water. Active spraying and increasing irrigation will help control the level of infection. Water keeps parasites as they prefer a hot dry environment. Cooler and wetter conditions slow the rate of reproduction. In the open air, spider mites are active in spring and sleep in winter. The risk of pests is always higher if you live in a region with warm winters.
- If you decide to use pesticides as a control against spider mites, always follow the instructions in the instructions. Some pesticides are not intended for food crops. Make sure the pesticide is not harmful to humans! Insecticidal oils are particularly effective. For detailed chemical control advice, consult your local phytosanitary service.
A great way to deal with garden pests is to use insect predators. Spider mites have natural enemies, including predatory mites, which can serve as a form of biological control. Usually use ladybugs. They eat ticks if there are no other insects around (for example, aphids). However, do not overdo it with the number of beneficial insects introduced. If you plant several thousand ladybirds in your garden, they will eat everything, including their own kind.
A great way to deal with garden pests is to use insect predators. Spider mites have natural enemies, including predatory mites, which can serve as a form of biological control. Usually use ladybugs. They eat ticks if there are no other insects around (for example, aphids). However, do not overdo it with the number of beneficial insects introduced. If you plant several thousand ladybirds in your garden, they will eat everything, including their own kind.Important! Be careful with the amount of pesticides used. Chemicals from spider mites can kill beneficial insects, while pests will simply move from the pesticide-treated area to a clean area.If you have not encountered a spider mite, be sure to do everything possible to protect your favorite plants and prevent infection.
