Spider mite appearance
The spider mite is a half-millimeter mite, visible to the naked eye. It can grow in temperatures from 12 to 40 degrees Celsius.Prefers low air humidity. Under favorable conditions, each female can lay more than 10 eggs a day.Changing environmental conditions: shorter days, lower temperatures and diminishing amounts of food cause female spider mites to enter diapause.
Fertilized females hibernate hidden in the structural elements of greenhouses or other hiding places. During diapause, they do not feed and do not lay eggs.In conditions where the day is not shortened enough for the spider mites to enter diapause, such as in lower latitude regions or in light crops, the spider mite feeds and reproduces throughout the year.
Harmfulness of the spider mite population
The first symptoms of spider mite feeding in the form of small yellow spots are easy to see on the leaves. They arise as a result of the pest pricking the underside of the leaves and sucking the contents of cells that die and change color.Damage reduces photosynthesis, increases transpiration and restricts plant growth.
The spider mite population, under favorable conditions, increases rapidly and causes the entire leaves to turn yellow and the plant to die.Apart from the unattractive appearance of the leaves, the aesthetic value, especially of ornamental plants, is reduced by the net produced by young and adult specimens. The spider mite can cover the entire plant with it.
Spread of the pest
Spider mites spread rapidly to neighboring plants through several mechanisms. In the case of a large population, individuals may fall to the ground or descend on the threads and this way pass to other plants.Spreading is also facilitated by the high density of cultivation, where the leaves of neighboring plants touch each other and are an easy path for the pest to follow .
Large numbers of spider mites are carried from the tops of plants by the wind. They can also be carried over clothes and other items used in the care of the crop.
Fighting the spider mite
Various chemical methods are available to control spider mites, but frequent use of chemicals can result in the formation of individuals and entire populations resistant to these substances. Too frequent or inappropriate use of pesticides poses a risk to the environment, human he alth and plant he alth.
Biological solutions are an excellent and safe alternative. They are widely used in large-scale production greenhouses and available for home cultivation enthusiasts.They rely on the introduction of enemies of pests onto the plant, which foraging naturally eliminate them from the cultivation.Useful organisms are harmless to plants, and when their food runs out, they die without leaving harmful substances on the plant as in the case of chemicals.
One of the natural enemies of the spider mite is the Californian Mite (Neoseiulus californicus), a useful mite that can also survive for long periods in cultivation without food. The mite is available in easy-to-hang sachets under the name of Spical Ulti-Mite offered by Koppert.It is widely used to control spider mites in a variety of indoor and outdoor crops such as grapes, strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers and ornamentals.
The application is very simple, just hang the Spical Ulti-Mite on the plant. One sachet is enough to protect 2.5 m2 of the crop with low pest intensity. If the spider mite infestation is high, one sachet is recommended for every m2. The Scassette contains all developmental stages of the benefactor that exit through a small opening in search of food for the next 4 to 8 weeks. Spical Ulti-Mite sachets can be disposed of with plant waste.
The sachet is made of a newly developed film that is fully compostable. Spical Ulti-Mite is available in the Koppert Polska online store in packages of 20, 100 and 500 sachets. The product is available at this link.
