How to treat eggplants for mites? - briefly
Apply a miticide—neem oil, spinosad, or a sulfur‑based product—over the entire foliage, re‑applying every 7–10 days until mite activity stops. Remove heavily infested leaves and maintain good air circulation to prevent recurrence.
How to treat eggplants for mites? - in detail
Mite infestations on eggplants appear as stippled or yellowed leaves, fine webbing on the undersides, and reduced fruit set. Early detection relies on regular inspection of foliage, especially the lower canopy where spider mites and broad mites congregate.
Cultural measures reduce population pressure.
- Remove weeds and alternate host plants that harbor mites.
- Space plants 60–90 cm apart to improve air circulation.
- Irrigate with a strong spray of water at least once a week to dislodge mites and their eggs.
- Rotate crops with non‑solanaceous species for a minimum of three years.
Biological agents provide sustainable control.
- Predatory mites (e.g., Phytoseiulus persimilis, Neoseiulus californicus) are released at a rate of 10–20 mites per plant when scouting shows >5 mites per leaf.
- Entomopathogenic fungi such as Beauveria bassiana can be applied as a foliar spray at 1 g L⁻¹, repeating every 7–10 days until populations drop below economic thresholds.
- Nematodes (Steinernema feltiae) target the immature stages of certain mite species when soil drench is feasible.
Chemical options are reserved for severe outbreaks.
- Neem oil (5 % azadirachtin) applied at 20 mL L⁻¹ provides acaricidal activity while preserving beneficial insects.
- Insecticidal soaps (2–3 % fatty acid salts) are effective against soft‑bodied mites; spray until runoff, reapplying every 5 days.
- Synthetic acaricides such as abamectin (0.5 mg a.i. L⁻¹) are used only as a last resort, observing pre‑harvest intervals and resistance management guidelines.
Monitoring continues throughout the growing season.
- Set a threshold of 10 mites per leaf or 5 webs per leaf before intervention.
- Record weekly counts to track population trends.
- Adjust control tactics based on observed efficacy, favoring non‑chemical methods whenever possible.
Integrating these practices maintains eggplant health and minimizes mite damage while limiting reliance on pesticide inputs.