How to remove spider mites from cucumbers? - briefly
Remove spider mites from cucumber plants by spraying the leaves with a strong jet of water and treating them with insecticidal soap or neem oil, repeating the application every few days until the infestation is eliminated.
How to remove spider mites from cucumbers? - in detail
Spider mites infest cucumber vines by feeding on leaf tissue, causing stippling, yellowing, and reduced yield. Early detection involves inspecting undersides of leaves with a magnifying glass; colonies appear as tiny moving specks or webbing.
Control measures fall into three categories: cultural, mechanical, and chemical.
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Cultural practices
- Maintain humidity above 60 % by overhead watering or misting; low humidity favors mite reproduction.
- Space plants 18–24 inches apart to improve air flow and reduce leaf wetness time.
- Remove weeds and plant debris that can harbor pests.
- Rotate crops annually; avoid planting cucumbers in the same bed for more than two seasons.
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Mechanical methods
- Spray foliage with a strong jet of water (10–15 psi) to dislodge mites; repeat every 3–5 days until populations decline.
- Prune heavily infested leaves and destroy them.
- Introduce predatory insects such as Phytoseiulus persimilis, Amblyseius swirskii, or lady beetle larvae; release rates follow supplier recommendations.
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Chemical options
- Apply insecticidal soaps (2–5 % fatty acid solution) directly to leaf surfaces; ensure thorough coverage of the undersides. Reapply after rain or irrigation.
- Use neem oil (1 % concentration) as a systemic and contact agent; apply at sunrise or sunset to avoid phytotoxicity.
- For severe outbreaks, consider acaricides containing abamectin or spirodiclofen, respecting pre‑harvest intervals and label restrictions. Rotate products with different modes of action to prevent resistance.
Monitoring continues after treatment. Use sticky traps to gauge mite activity and adjust interventions accordingly. Integrating these tactics—environmental management, physical removal, biological allies, and selective chemicals—provides a comprehensive strategy to eradicate spider mites from cucumber crops while minimizing harm to the plant and surrounding ecosystem.