What should be done with ticks on cucumbers in a greenhouse? - briefly
Remove infested foliage and treat plants with a registered miticide. Maintain low humidity, regular sanitation, and monitor crops to prevent recurrence.
What should be done with ticks on cucumbers in a greenhouse? - in detail
Ticks on cucumber vines in greenhouse cultivation demand immediate, systematic action. First, verify infestation levels through regular visual inspections of leaves, stems, and fruit surfaces. Remove heavily infested foliage and discard it in sealed containers to prevent spread. Clean growing trays, benches, and surrounding soil with a mild detergent solution, then rinse thoroughly.
Implement cultural controls. Maintain optimal temperature (22‑26 °C) and humidity (60‑70 %) to discourage tick development. Space plants to allow air circulation, reducing micro‑climates favorable to pests. Rotate crops annually, introducing non‑cucurbit species to break the life cycle.
Adopt biological agents. Release predatory mites such as Phytoseiulus persimilis or Neoseiulus californicus at a rate of 10‑15 adults per square meter. Ensure the greenhouse environment supports predator activity by avoiding broad‑spectrum insecticides that could harm beneficial organisms.
When chemical intervention is unavoidable, select acaricides approved for greenhouse use. Apply a targeted spray at the recommended concentration, covering all plant parts. Observe the pre‑harvest interval specified on the product label before harvesting cucumbers. Rotate active ingredients to mitigate resistance development.
Monitor continuously. Install sticky traps near the canopy to capture adult ticks and assess population trends. Record trap counts weekly and adjust control measures accordingly. Documentation of interventions and outcomes facilitates future decision‑making and improves overall pest‑management efficiency.