How should one treat spider mite? - briefly
Apply a miticide (e.g., spinosad or abamectin) or a horticultural oil such as neem, spraying thoroughly onto the undersides of leaves, and repeat every 5–7 days until populations disappear. Maintain low humidity and remove heavily infested foliage to prevent reinfestation.
How should one treat spider mite? - in detail
Spider mites are tiny, fast‑reproducing pests that feed on the undersides of leaves, causing stippling, yellowing, and webbing. Early detection relies on inspecting foliage with a hand lens or by gently shaking plant material over white paper to reveal moving mites.
Effective management combines cultural, biological, and chemical strategies:
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Cultural practices
- Remove heavily infested leaves and discard them away from the growing area.
- Increase air circulation with proper spacing and regular pruning.
- Apply a strong stream of water to foliage weekly; the spray dislodges mites and reduces population density.
- Keep the growing medium well‑drained; excessive humidity favors mite reproduction.
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Biological agents
- Introduce predatory mites such as Phytoseiulus persimilis, Neoseiulus californicus, or Amblyseius swirskii; release rates depend on infestation level.
- Use entomopathogenic fungi (e.g., Beauveria bassiana) as a supplemental control, applying according to label instructions.
- Preserve existing natural enemies by avoiding broad‑spectrum insecticides.
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Chemical options
Monitoring continues after each intervention. Record mite counts per leaf segment; when the average exceeds 5–10 mites per leaf, re‑treat according to the integrated plan. Maintaining a regular scouting schedule, combined with the layered tactics above, keeps spider mite populations below economic damage levels.