Spider mite. Methods of pest control

Spider mite is one of the most common plant pests. This, like all pests, is quite a small insect. The female is larger and reaches a length of about 0.5 mm. The spider mite is smaller and thinner, only 0.4 millimeters long.

When creating unfavorable conditions for the development of this insect, females can for a long time go into diapause. After the onset of a favorable situation, they again begin to eat the juice of the plant and actively lay new larvae. Gradually, females change color and become almost invisible on plants. Under normal conditions, females are approximately three times larger than males.

Laying eggs the female can both on the upper and lower surface of the leaves. The most intense spider mite multiplies at an air temperature close to 30 degrees. After the onset of a significant drop in temperature, which occurs in autumn, mites can migrate to weeds. During the year can develop from 6 to 10 generations of this pest.

Usually the care of females in diapause occurs when the light day is reduced to 14 and fewer hours. They usually hibernate under various plant residues or in the upper layers of the soil.

Spider mites can spread in various ways. For example, it can be carried by an animal or a person, and also it is carried by the wind or moves independently.

Usually ticks affect both indoor plants and various vegetable crops. At first this species of pests settles on the lower leaves, but gradually moves upward, to younger shoots, flowers, and then to fruits. If the density of the spider mite is very high, then the plant may die. But usually the presence of this pest leads to a decrease in yield or to a general weakening of the plant.

The main signs of the presence on the plant of a spider mite are the appearance on the underside of leaves of dark brown or black spots - these are the excrement of this insect. On the top of the sheet, small spots usually appear, which have a yellowish color. Gradually the discoloration of the defeated sheet occurs, it is covered with a web, then it falls off. On the remaining web, mites migrate to other parts of the plant.

Spider mite on a room rose

If the room air is strongly overdried and has a high temperature, this creates favorable conditions for the appearance of ticks on a room rose. Settled on this plant, a colony of mites quickly sucks the juice from the leaves, and they gradually fall off. To prevent the appearance of ticks, especially during the active vegetation period, it is recommended to constantly monitor the influx of fresh air into the room where the rose is located, and also to periodically spray the leaves. It is also necessary that the room has moist air. If its moisture content is insufficient, it is necessary to carry out artificial moistening and irrigation of indoor plants, which it is recommended to do.

If the spider mite on the roses still appeared, then it is necessary to spray the leaves with a warm solution, the temperature of which should be about 50 degrees. The solution is prepared very simply: one liter of water is taken about 20 grams of liquid soap. For the same purpose, you can use infusions of various plants, for example, onions or garlic. If a single spray does not give the desired result, then it is necessary to re-spray it. If traditional methods of combating this pest are ineffective, then chemical means can be used, neuron is one of them. It is necessary to carry out two or three sprayings with an interval of 5-7 days. Release the plant from a spider mite before it enters the rest period. If on the plant you leave to winter with mites, then in the spring they will start to damage it again.