Spider mites are arachnid cousins to ticks, spiders, harvestmen (daddy longlegs), and scorpions. These oval-shaped, eight-legged animals are difficult to notice without the aid of a microscope or magnifying glass because they are so small.
A variety of spider mites can be found. Two-spotted spider mites are the most frequent. There is one dark spot on each side of the mite’s body, and they dwell in colonies together. Chlorophyll-eating arachnids adhere to the undersides of leaves. Here You can get the Best Spider Mites removal service in San Diego.
The average lifespan of spider mites is three to four weeks, which aren’t hazardous to humans but can be deadly to plants. Despite their brief lifespan, they produce offspring at a quick reproduction rate. When a female is just five days old, she begins laying eggs, depositing a few hundred of them throughout time. In around 72 hours, these eggs will be ready to eat.
Other spider mites come in various colors, from red to green to purple to black to translucent, depending on the specific type. Spider mites can hop from plant to plant or outside to inside throughout the summer when conditions are warm and dry.
Plants with white or yellow dots on their leaves and plants with webbing and falling leaves are symptoms of infection. When designing an eviction strategy, make sure you deal with spider mites, not some other insect.
Natural Ways to Get Rid of the Spider Mites in your Home:
Types of Biological Controls:
Spider mite populations are checked by lacewings, thrips, ladybugs, and predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis). Avoid applying pesticides if you want to keep these valuable insects around for a long time. Mulch and water your flower and garden beds frequently.
You can get live mites and insects for your indoor plants on the internet. Put them into the crocks. Every day, these predatory mites and insects can eat hundreds of mites and pose no threat to plants, people, or pets.
Aromatic Oils:
According to a 2017 study, the most efficient essential oils for destroying two-spotted spider mite eggs and adults are chamomile, coriander, spearmint, and rosemary. It’s easy to make your pesticide by mixing some water with your preferred oil and spritzing it on the leaves in question. In addition to killing spider mites, Neem oil sprays also suffocate them.
Hot Peppers Ingredient:
Pepper extracts killed Spider mites (bell peppers, jalapenos, chile, and cayenne peppers). These peppers destroyed about 45 percent of adult spider mites. Online, in stores, or by making your pepper repellent, you can protect yourself from hot peppers.
Other Home Remedies:
As needed, apply a soap solution to the leaves of infected plants.
If you have rubbing alcohol lying around the house, you can use it to get rid of spider mites. Wipe the foliage of infected houseplants with cotton balls soaked in rubbing alcohol. A few hours after saturating the plants with rubbing alcohol or dish soap, rinse the leaves thoroughly.
Spider mites that have evaded homemade repellents can be washed away by spraying water from a garden hose. While rinsing spider mites away is a short-term fix, the plant pests may reappear after each wash.
Chemical Means to Remove Spider Mites:
Problems with spider mites may go away on their own, especially if they are few and your yard attracts their natural predators. Pesticides can be used to control spider mites if other DIY approaches fail.
Horticultural Oil or Insecticide-Based Soap:
Pesticides are usually discouraged since they can harm beneficial insects; however, a product will only kill spider mites. Insecticidal soap or horticultural oil should cover both sides of leaves to be effective on adult spider mites.
Insecticide soap or horticultural oil should not be used if your plants suffer from drought or excessive temperatures. Plants that can survive the application of these products can be found on the labels. Some plants have a sensitivity to components that are too high. In climate-controlled environments, insecticidal soap (or horticultural oil) is most likely effective on indoor plants.
Diatomaceous Sands:
Insect and arachnids killing organic insecticide diatomaceous earth are created from the fossilized remains of aquatic organisms. Infected plants and soil can be treated with a food-grade version. When the spider mites’ exoskeletons dry out, they will be unable to survive.
Other Insecticides are also Available:
The University of California’s integrated pest management division has recommended pyrethroid-based pesticides, which are components of the chrysanthemum flower, to combat spider mite infestations. On the other hand, these insecticides can impair the spider mite’s natural predators, allowing the mites to reproduce.
Conclusion:
Even if you’re not afraid of ghosts, it’s terrifying to be attacked by something you can’t see in your dreams. Even though spider mites aren’t usually visible to the human eye, they can quickly inflict severe damage on your plants. Spider mites are difficult to get rid of since they are so small. Biological control measures, natural home treatments, and chemical pesticides can all combat them.
AUTHOR BIO
Jordan Everett (Tree & Plant Healthcare Specialist)
Jordan Everett is a tree and plant healthcare specialist at Tree Doctor. He is highly experienced in diagnosing and treating numerous tree and plant species. Correct identification of the tree healthcare problem, proper care, and regular monitoring is of utmost importance to let your tree grow stress-free and stay healthy.
So, to make readers aware of tree health dangers, requirements, and management, he has given extensive information on invisible signs of health hazards to trees, plants, and shrubs, secrets of tree preservation, tree & plant healthcare tips, and soil & root care treatment through his blogs. Read our recent post related to tree and plant health problems, in-depth assessment, unique treatment solutions, prevention, tips to improve drought tolerance, how to increase tree and plant longevity, stabilize older and declining trees in San Diego.
