If the plants suddenly begin to weaken and wither, a spider mite has probably appeared in the garden. First, it should be detected. An adult spider mite is 1 mm long, so it is impossible to see it with the naked eye. Before starting the fight, you need to learn to recognize the signs that indicate its presence.
A spider mite is not an insect. This is an arachnid animal, so drugs against harmful insects will not help here.
What does a spider mite look like?
This is a small spider that has an oval shape. It has a color that makes it camouflage among the plants, so it is very difficult to see it.
The danger posed by a spider mite
The pest feeds on plant juice from stems or leaves. It can live on garden or indoor crops.
Parasites and their eggs can be carried by animals, people, strong wind, it can also be in planting material. The colony is developing at a high speed. In a year, a spider mite can have up to 20 generations indoors and 4 generations outdoors.
It is easy to notice the affected areas – white spots appear on them, so the plant turns pale, dries up and dies. In a few days, the colony can destroy the plant, and the tree can die after two seasons.
Various infections, which are transmitted by spider mites, enter the plant through punctures.
Plants that the pest hunts
Cucumber
In greenhouse conditions, cucumbers suffer from spider mites more often than in open ground. The parasite loves warmth, thanks to which it grows faster. When the planting is dense, the mite quickly spreads through the bushes, which causes them to die.
Tomato
It is very difficult to solve the problem with tomatoes. The pest can be destroyed by frequent spraying, and tomatoes do not like excessive moisture.
Houseplants
The pest feels very comfortable on indoor plants. However, it is impossible to use acaricides indoors. Because of this, most often they use folk methods or buy other means.
To get rid of spider mites, use household soap. Rub the large leaves with a sponge, and spray the small ones with soapy water and leave for several hours. After that, wash off the soap and cover the plant with polyethylene. In this way, the pest will die. However, be careful not to let the soap get into the soil.
Berry bushes
Currants, raspberries and gooseberries are most often affected by spider mites. Because of this, the bush does not bear fruit, drops fruit and becomes a habitat for the pest. To avoid this, you need to regularly cut the bushes so that the crown is ventilated, then you will be able to notice the tick in time.
Strawberries
The pest may not be noticed until the first ovaries are formed. In this case, the berries do not ripen, dry up, and then the whole bush dies. To avoid this, water the soil with hot water before planting.
Seedling
When signs of parasite damage appear, the fight should be started immediately. In the spring, the pest becomes more active, so the reasons for its appearance can be different.
Controlling the spread of pests
The fight will take a long time, it will require a lot of strength, energy and nerves, because the spider mite is able to get used to the drugs, which is why they will have to be changed several times during the season.
Preventive measures:
- Regularly weed the beds and remove plant residues;
- Moisturize the soil and plants;
- Spray with garlic tincture, at the rate of 2 heads per 1 liter. water;
- Feed with fertilizers that are high in phosphorus and potassium.
Read also: Effective ways to get rid of slugs in your garden.
