How should I treat spider mites on cucumbers with biopreparations? - briefly
Apply a biocontrol product such as predatory mites (e.g., Phytoseiulus persimilis) or a neem‑based spray, covering all cucumber foliage and re‑treating every 5–7 days until mite numbers fall below the economic threshold. Maintain leaf humidity above 60 % and avoid broad‑spectrum insecticides that could damage the introduced beneficial agents.
How should I treat spider mites on cucumbers with biopreparations? - in detail
Spider mites infest cucumber foliage rapidly, feeding on cell contents and causing stippling, yellowing, and leaf drop. Their life cycle can complete in a week under warm, dry conditions, making timely control essential.
Biological agents act by infection, predation, or repellence. Effective groups include:
- Entomopathogenic fungi (e.g., Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae). Apply a suspension of 1 × 10⁸ conidia L⁻¹ during early morning or late afternoon; avoid temperatures above 30 °C and leaf wetness periods shorter than 6 h.
- Predatory mites (e.g., Phytoseiulus persimilis, Neoseiulus californicus). Release 10–20 individuals cm⁻² at the first sign of damage; maintain relative humidity above 60 % to support establishment.
- Botanical extracts (neem oil, rosemary oil). Dilute to 0.5–1 % v/v; spray until runoff, repeating every 5–7 days while mite populations exceed economic thresholds.
Integrate cultural measures to enhance biocontrol efficacy:
- Inspect plants twice weekly; record mite counts per leaf.
- When populations reach 5–10 mites per leaf, initiate biopreparations.
- Reduce canopy density by pruning to improve air circulation and lower leaf temperature.
- Avoid broad‑spectrum insecticides that harm beneficial predators; if chemical intervention is unavoidable, select products with minimal impact on mite antagonists.
After each application, reassess pest pressure. If counts decline below 2 mites per leaf, maintain a preventive spray schedule of 2–3 weeks to prevent resurgence. Rotate fungal strains and predatory species annually to limit adaptation.
Combining infection‑based agents, predatory arthropods, and botanical repellents within a structured scouting regime provides reliable suppression of spider mites on cucumber without resorting to synthetic chemicals.