Red Spider mites are the most widespread members of the Tetranychidae family out of more than 1200 listed species that live worldwide. They live on the undersides of the leaves, where they create a silk webbing that protects them from predators. They also suck plant sap by piercing their stylus into the tender leaves and shoots that cause severe economic and physical damages to both growers and the garden plants. Spider mites are not categorized as being insects. But arachnids that somehow resemble both spiders and ticks. Red Spider mites are typically microscopic with an average body length of less than 1mm but, their colonies can be seen even by the naked eyes. While closely observing them several tiny dots look suspended inside the webbing which, is a clear indication that Red Spider mites have infested the undersides of the leaves.
Generally, Red Spider Mites are prevalent pests in landscapes and gardens that suck sap from several fruit species, berries, ornamental plants, vines, and vegetables. Red Spider mites are among the most pervasive pests in the garden.
Initially, shreds of evidence show that the Red Spider mites were first cultured and defined from the European samples. They are predominantly a species of the temperate zone but, can tolerate subtropical climate, as well. The colonies of the Red Spider mites exist throughout the United States, where their pervasiveness is often in greenhouses. Normally, they overwinter here beyond their natural habitat whereas, their occurrence also reports on the deciduous fruits in the Northern regions of the US. Red Spider Mites can infest hundreds of plant species but, their outbreaks are most often on garden plants that include peppers, potatoes, corn, beans, tomatoes, and strawberries throughout the US.
The body of a spider mite consists of two dissimilar parts: (1) mouth (2) the rest of the body that includes the head, thorax, and abdomen. After hatching from an egg, the newly emerged larva possesses three pairs of legs, and the nymphs and the adults have four of them. Generally, an adult Red Spider mite looks oval, and its body measures up to 1/50th of an inch and most often in orange-red or brown shade. Some other shades like total green, greenish-yellow, and translucent also exist but are not often. With an Elliptical Body, the length of a female mite is about 0.4 mm, having 12 pairs of dorsal setae. Usually, the body color of a female ranges from orange to orange-red in the overwintering stage. Large dark spots may be seen on the body wall. These spots often vanish when a female mite passes the molting process. The male mite is also with an elliptical body but, usually shorter in length than the female. The caudal end in the male is tapering whereas, the axis of the aedeagus is parallel, or it may form an angle with the axis of the shaft. They may be seen on the undersides of the leaves as tiny dots suspended within the webbing during the hot and dry climatic conditions.
Usually, a female lays up to 100 eggs in an average lifecycle of 70 days depends on the surrounding temperatures. The eggs hatching may take between 3 to 19 days depending on the surrounding temperature and humidity. The Red Spider mite endures 4-stages from egg lying to an adult stage. Eggs are round and clear initially and change color on hatching. After hatching, the larva starts feeding on leaves instantly. Time length from an egg to an adult remains between 5 to 20 days under optimum temperature (80ºF). There may be several overlapping generations in a year whereas, the female can only survive for two or four weeks. Hot and dry conditions speed up to increase the number of generations per year. However, Red Spider mites may be found throughout the year hibernating under plant debris and litter when the surface temperature is not favorable for their growth and reproduction.
Red Spider mites puncture leaves, tender shoots, and soft plant tissue with a pair of stylus instead of chewing or sucking sap that most other insect pests do. They push their mouth into the soft tissues and disrupt the flow of nutrients to that particular part of the plant. It results in leaf stippling on the upper surfaces of the leaf. The leaves and other affected parts turn grey from green, and the ultimate result is leaf yellowing. The leaves become dry and bleached and fall from the branches. At this stage, a microscopic lens could help you identify the eggshells, webbing, chitin, and live mites on the undersides of the leaves. For more clarification, move a white piece of paper under the infested leaf and shake well to collect black, tiny dots that indicate the presence of a colony on your plant.
After a female mite overwinters under plant debris and stubbles in your garden, they emerge when the conditions are best adaptable for their survival. They become more active under hot and dry conditions. But, the significant damages increase when the temperature ranges between 48 to 111 °F and less than 50% relative humidity in the field. However, the temperature range between 55 to 98 °F is crucial for critical damages and speedy reproduction.
Although a rain shower could effectively decrease the Red Spider mite population in the garden area, running misty showers in the evening can also serve the same purpose. Increase the health and vigor of the garden plants and feed them with a suitable fertilizer. Also, destroy all host plants, plant debris, and broadleaf weeds that could serve as potential egg-laying sites in the garden.
Besides taking every care if the infestations exceed your control, adopt any of the control methods listed below;
Neoseiulus Californicus are biologically cultured predatory mites that live on Red Spider mites that harm your edible plants and orchards. They are almost the size of a Red spider mite and more voracious eaters than them. They come without body tints in several shades ranging from orange to tan. Their extended jaws and long legs help catch and eat Red Spider mites much easier during any stage of their lifecycle. They can be released directly on the garden plants where they establish colonies in a few days.
One predatory mite can kill up to 10 Red Spider mites. Usually, 5-10 mites can be released per square foot if the temperature remains below 95 °F.
Phytoseiulus persimilis is Another species of cultured predatory mites that remain equally effective against Red Spider mites and young thrips under hot and dry climates. This species is a specified predator of webbing spider mites like Red Spider mite. Phytoseiulus persimilis depends on Red Spider mites for feeding, reproducing, and completing the entire developmental stages since it owns a cannibalistic behavior about all related species. Naturally, it also exists in greenhouses and garden beds where Red Spider infestation remains a problem.
The release rate is between 5 to 10 predatory mites per square feet depending on the type of infestation.
SMITE spider mite killer contain extracts of Geranium, Cotton Seed, Peppermint, and Rosemary oils. This 100% organic recipe is very effective for killing Red Spider mites during the entire growth stages and is safe on edibles including vegetables, leafy greens, and orchards. It also destroys eggs and adult mites on all types of plants, irrespective of the growing cultures.
Add one ounce of Smite in 1-gallon of water and spray over the affected area using a mist or knapsack sprayer. There is no harm in repeating the application within the week.
This product concentrate consists of extracts from Rosemary, Clove, and Peppermint oils in a ratio of 50, 3.0, and 1.95%, respectively. Also listed with OMRI for organic use that contains no residual effects or pollutants that could harm humans and the environment. This formulation works on the central nervous system of Red Spider mite that paralyzes from coming to its contact.
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8-ounces of product pack makes up to 6 gallons of insecticide solution that treats about 2500 square feet of Red Spider mite's infected area.
Avid is both a contact poison and translaminar miticide that penetrates the tissues of the leaves and tender shoots and deposits itself within the cells which, Red Spider mites can't puncture. Additionally, the Red Spider mite and other target pests that come into direct contact with the mist get killed. Translaminar products are effective through all the developmental stages of the insect pests that target your garden scape. It contains a 2% active ingredient (Abamectin), and it mixes with only 1.5 ml per gallon of water to target Red Spider mites.
Carefully read the product label for toxicity before applying it to your plants.
The active ingredients included in its formulation are (0.012%) Imidacloprid, (0.014%) Tau-fluvalinate, and (0.015%) Tebuconazole which not only kills Red Spider mites But, is an equally good general-purpose insecticide and a fungicide as well. This chemistry is available in a ready-to-use formulation and applied with a garden hose.
24-ounces of product mixture can treat up to 45 mature plants.
Check out our other guides on common garden bugs.
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