What is a spider mite on cucumbers? - briefly
Spider mites are microscopic arachnids that pierce cucumber leaves to suck sap, producing stippled, yellowed foliage and fine silk webs. They multiply quickly in hot, dry environments and can dramatically lower crop yields if not controlled.
What is a spider mite on cucumbers? - in detail
Spider mites are tiny arachnids that colonize cucumber foliage, feeding on cell contents with piercing‑sucking mouthparts. Adult females measure 0.2–0.4 mm, are oval, and display a pale green to yellow coloration; males are smaller and less conspicuous. Their life cycle, completed in 5–7 days under optimal temperatures (25‑30 °C), comprises egg, larva (two motile stages), protonymph, deutonymph, and adult. Rapid reproduction enables populations to explode on warm, dry crops.
Feeding results in stippling—tiny, translucent spots where chlorophyll is removed—progressing to a bronze or yellow discoloration that may coalesce into extensive leaf necrosis. Severe infestations cause leaf curling, reduced photosynthetic capacity, stunted vines, and diminished fruit size. Webbing, a fine silk produced on the undersides of leaves, signals advanced development and facilitates dispersal.
Effective management relies on early detection and integrated tactics:
- Cultural: Maintain humidity above 60 % by overhead irrigation or misting; avoid excess nitrogen that promotes lush growth; rotate crops with non‑host species; remove plant debris after harvest.
- Biological: Release predatory mites (e.g., Phytoseiulus persimilis, Neoseiulus californicus) at a ratio of 3–5 predators per spider mite; conserve native predators by limiting broad‑spectrum insecticides.
- Chemical: Apply acaricides with proven efficacy (abamectin, spirodiclofen, neem oil) following label rates; rotate modes of action to prevent resistance; prioritize products with low toxicity to beneficial arthropods.
- Monitoring: Inspect leaf undersides weekly using a 10× hand lens; count mites per leaf segment; record population trends to trigger control thresholds (≈5–10 mites per leaf).
Understanding the pest’s biology, symptomology, and control options enables growers to protect cucumber yields while minimizing pesticide reliance.