How can you fight spider mite on eggplants? - briefly
Apply a horticultural oil or neem‑based spray to both leaf sides early each morning, repeating every 7–10 days until the mites are gone. Ensure adequate plant spacing, regular watering, and removal of heavily infested foliage to lower humidity and stop reinfestation.
How can you fight spider mite on eggplants? - in detail
Spider mite infestations on eggplant require early detection and a combination of cultural, biological, and chemical measures.
Regular scouting of leaves reveals the presence of tiny, moving specks and fine webbing. Inspect the undersides of foliage weekly, especially after warm, dry periods when populations expand rapidly. When the density reaches 5–10 mites per leaf, initiate control actions.
Cultural practices reduce habitat suitability:
- Keep plants well‑watered; avoid prolonged leaf dryness.
- Mulch with organic material to conserve soil moisture and lower canopy temperature.
- Prune heavily infested shoots and remove debris that shelters mites.
- Space plants 18–24 inches apart to improve airflow and reduce humidity.
Biological agents provide sustainable suppression:
- Release predatory mites such as Phytoseiulus persimilis or Neoseiulus californicus at a rate of 10–20 predators per square foot.
- Apply entomopathogenic fungi (e.g., Beauveria bassiana) according to label instructions during cool, humid evenings for optimal infection.
- Encourage native predators by planting companion herbs like basil, cilantro, or dill near eggplant rows.
Organic compounds act as direct miticides:
- Neem oil, applied at 1–2 % concentration, contacts and disrupts mite feeding. Reapply every 7–10 days until populations decline.
- Insecticidal soap, diluted to 1 % solution, suffocates mites on contact. Use thorough coverage of leaf undersides; repeat after 5 days.
- Horticultural oil (e.g., mineral oil) at 1 % rate provides similar contact activity, effective against all life stages.
Synthetic acaricides are reserved for severe outbreaks:
- Abamectin, applied at 0.5 ml per liter of water, controls mites within 24 hours. Rotate with other chemical classes to prevent resistance.
- Spiromesifen, used at 0.5 g a.i. per hectare, offers systemic action; follow label‑specified pre‑harvest intervals.
- Limit applications to three per season; observe re‑entry intervals and protective equipment requirements.
Integrated pest management (IPM) guidelines:
- Combine scouting, cultural sanitation, and predator releases before resorting to chemicals.
- Record infestation levels, treatment dates, and product names to track efficacy and resistance trends.
- Adjust timing of interventions to target the most vulnerable mite stages—eggs and early larvae—when temperatures exceed 20 °C.
By maintaining optimal plant health, promoting natural enemies, and applying targeted miticides only when thresholds are surpassed, growers can keep spider mite populations below damaging levels while preserving eggplant yield and quality.