Indoor plants, which decorate the room and help purify the air, can be susceptible to various diseases, and pests often settle on them. Spider mite, is just one of these quite dangerous harmful insects. If it settles on a plant, then a web appears on it.

The spider mite is very small in size, making it extremely difficult to see with the naked eye. The largest adult individuals have a body length of no more than 5 mm. Depending on the species, the insect may have different colors. Most often you can find green ticks, but they also come in orange or red.

These pests can hide in the soil, in a flower pot, or in the leaf axils of a plant. If there are a lot of ticks, then it will not be very difficult to notice them.

If this pest has settled on your indoor plant, then light and pale yellow spots will form on the entire surface of its leaf blades. If there are a lot of pests, then examining the underside of the leaves, you can see a thin web on it. If the flower is completely covered with cobwebs, it will dry out quickly.

There are several types of spider mites:

1. Ordinary. This type is the most common and poses a great danger to plants. As a rule, such a pest takes refuge on young shoots or on the underside of the leaf plate. Over time, when the number of mites increases, they will begin to settle on new plants located near the affected one. Such insects have a light color. Cobwebs and yellow spots appear on the leaves of the affected specimen.
2. Red. This very small pest has a deep red color. This type of tick is the most dangerous of all, but it can not be seen as often as an ordinary one. It prefers to live on orchids, roses and lemon plants.
3. Atlantic. This pest prefers to settle where there is a high level of humidity. As a rule, he chooses exotic plants, for example, palm trees or citrus fruits.
4. False. This insect is very, very small, so it is almost impossible to notice. Most often, its presence on a flower is discovered only when the plant becomes covered with a thin web and begins to fade very quickly.
5. Cyclamen. Such a soil mite can hide both on tubers and on the leaf blades of the flower. Because of this, this pest is somewhat more difficult to get rid of than its counterparts. This species is capable of forming large colonies, which are often mistaken by gardeners for simple dust. In this regard, it is often too late to understand that the plant is affected by such a mite. This pest prefers high humidity.

Methods for controlling spider mites

Fight spider mites that have settled on indoor flower, It's hard enough. To destroy it, flower growers often resort to using folk or special chemicals. It should be taken into account that it is precisely the chemicals.

But if you are afraid of harming the plant, then in this case it is better to opt for time-tested folk methods. However, in this case, it should be taken into account that these funds are often low in effectiveness. And, in the end, the grower still has to use chemicals.

A fairly large number of chemicals have been developed that can cope with spider mites. Such agents are called acaricides. With their help you can destroy different kinds mites that can settle on flowers grown in room conditions. For example:

1. Aktellik. It is used to combat ticks, and this product has a contact effect on the pest. It disrupts the feeding process of spiders, making it impossible. Treatment should be carried out 2 times a month. The florist must wear a special protective suit, and spraying the flower must be done either in non-residential premises, or on the street, as this drug is very poisonous.
2. Fitoverm. This biological drug is much less harmful than Actellik. This product contains aversectins, which have a neurotoxic effect, and it has a detrimental effect on ticks. When processing, you should also take care of protective equipment, because Fitoverm is also a poisonous product.
3. Neoron. This remedy is the most effective. During treatment, both adult ticks and eggs, as well as larvae, die.
4. Flumite. This drug has a detrimental effect on the eggs of spider mites, due to which new individuals are not born. Adults also die from this product, so you will be able to completely destroy the pest in a relatively short time. You can spray the plant only once every 4 weeks, since Flumite is highly toxic.
5. Skelta. This product appeared not so long ago, but has already become popular among gardeners. It destroys both adult insects and larvae. However, it should be remembered that after treatment, adult ticks will die only after 7 days, and larvae - after 5 days. Despite this, Skelta is highly effective, and just one spray is enough to completely destroy the tick.

It happens that a gardener does not want, for various reasons, to resort to using chemicals to get rid of spider mites. What to do in this case? There are many folk remedies, the preparation and use of which are not difficult.

Before you start fighting spider mites using traditional methods, you need to prepare the plant, for this you need to thoroughly clean it. To do this, you need to wash the flower with a simple clean water, however, the use of detergents is not recommended, as they contribute to clogging of the pores on the leaf blades. Then you need to wash the windowsill, window and pot very thoroughly to remove all pests that may be there. Only then should you treat the plant with your chosen folk remedy. For example:

1. Garlic infusion. To prepare it, you need to finely chop a couple of heads of garlic and mix the resulting mass with 1 liter of boiled water. The container must be tightly closed with a screw-on lid and placed in a cool, dark place for 5 days to infuse. Before use, the infusion is diluted with water in a 1:1 ratio. Then the plant is treated with it.
2. Onion infusion. 5 l clean water must be combined with one hundred grams of onion peels. This mixture should be allowed to brew for 5 days. The finished infusion must be filtered, and then it can be used to process flowers.
3. Alcohol. The folk way showed comparatively high efficiency. But it should be taken into account that only those flowers that have dense leaf plates can be treated with it. Take a cotton swab and moisten it ammonia. Then they need to thoroughly wipe the surface of the sheet plates. Efficiency this method can be reduced if ticks hide in hard-to-reach places.
4. Soap solution. To prepare such a solution, you can take any soap, for example: laundry, green or tar soap. Both the affected flower and the container in which it grows should be treated. The foam must be left on the surface of the flower for 2–4 hours. When it is washed off, the flower must be covered with a plastic bag, which is removed only after a day. This will allow you to maintain the required increased level of air humidity.

Prevention of infection

To prevent plants from being damaged by spider mites, preventive measures should be taken:

• systematically inspect all indoor plants;
• This pest prefers dry air, so it is important to observe optimal level humidity;
• it is necessary to systematically spray the leaf plates from a sprayer with clean water;
• Once a month the flower needs a warm shower;
• recently purchased flowers must be quarantined;
• Be sure to steam the substrate, as it may contain individuals that hibernate in the ground.

Spider mite on indoor plants- photo:

Numerous light spots, and if the colony is large, then the plant is covered with a thin, barely noticeable cobweb(hence the name mite) and very soon begins to dry out.

They can be difficult to detect due to too small in size and color, helping to blend in with the foliage (mites are brownish, greenish and yellowish in color). Females remaining for the winter are red in color.

Female ticks live less than a month, but during this period they are capable of laying hundreds of eggs. New individuals appear in the clutch after three days. The most a big problem is that eggs remain alive for up to 5 years.

They wait in the wings on the bark, in the axils of the plant, in the soil and even in window frames, on window sills and in chips flower pots. That is why the fight against them can be long.

Spider mites are often brought from the shop, so the new plant must be quarantined for at least two weeks.

Types of ticks

Cobwebs on flowers: what to do? To understand how to remove spider mites from indoor flowers, you need to know that they there are several types:

Houseplants are also attacked by other types of mites: Pacific, strawberry, red(flat).

All mites are capable adapt to the most unfavorable conditions, slow down vital processes before the onset good conditions for reproduction. This state is called diapause.

How to fight at home?

Fighting spider mites is difficult, so it’s worth doing prevention.

Most types of mites do not like humid air, and plants need to Spray more often, maintain humidity at the right level in different ways.

Immersing the plant in water It rarely helps, because mites are able to form an air bubble around themselves.

The leaves of the plant need wipe on both sides with a damp soft cloth, which must be rinsed constantly hot water so as not to transfer mites from plant to plant. Fallen leaves and flowers should not be left in the pot.

Pots before reuse must be washed with detergents, it is better to store them in unheated rooms in winter. Wash frames with detergents. Wooden frames paint as often as possible.

Spider mites not only harm the plant themselves, but are also carriers of various diseases, for example, gray rot and spores of various fungi.

Treatment

How to treat flowers against spider mites at home?

All remedies will be effective only if multiple processing. Neighboring plants, frames and window sills also need to be treated.

Treatment

How to cure flowers from spider mites? If a mite is detected, the plant must first be thoroughly washed with laundry or tar soap. Lather each leaf and each axil, whipping the foam with your hands and carefully working all parts of the plant. Leave the flower for several hours (you can also leave it for a day), covering it with a plastic bag. Then rinse off the soap thoroughly under a warm shower.

If the lesion was minor, then such a procedure will be sufficient, although it is necessary be sure to repeat two or three times during the week. The plant needs to be sprayed warm water twice a day and check regularly.

Wash the frames and window sill hot water with anyone detergent. The remaining plants on the windowsill also need to be treated in order to prevention. Spider mites do not tolerate Fresh air and ventilation.

What to do if the defeat has gone far enough? You must first treat with soap, then spray with preparations "Intavir", "Fitoverma", "Karbofos". When treating a window, it is also worth adding Karbofos to the water.

Sometimes it helps A fairly simple method: Place an open container with finely chopped garlic or turpentine, tightly close the plant along with the container for 2-3 days. The edges of the pot need to be lubricated tar.

Ways to fight flowers

How to get rid of spider mites on indoor flowers? For each plant it is necessary to select an individual control method.

Orchid

Spider mite on an orchid - photo:

The flower is amazed many types of ticks, for example, the phalaenopsis mite living in the sinuses. Spider mites on orchids - how to fight? First, the plant must be washed with soap, then treated with one of the chemicals, it is better to use a non-toxic one "Fitoverm" or water solution drug "Aktellik".

Spider mites on an orchid: what are the control measures? To combat mites, special sticks made in Holland are used, which are stuck into the soil in a pot with an orchid. Action “Plant-pin” and “Etisso” sticks based on the following principle: the substance of which they consist dissolves during watering, is absorbed into the ground and, together with water, is absorbed by the roots, from where it enters ground part plants, the flower becomes unsuitable for ticks to feed on.

Soil, moss, orchid pots after purchase treated with boiling water for the prevention of spider mites.

What an orchid affected by spider mites looks like and how to avoid infesting plants - in this video:

Balsam

Mites often infest balsam trees. If this happened at the end of summer, autumn or winter, then the plant needs cut off radically. Wash the remaining part and treat it with an insecticide, preferably a preparation "Alatar", since it is very difficult to get rid of mites on balsam.

Spider mites on balsam - how to fight? If infection occurs in spring and summer, then the plant is treated soap suds, then sprayed with insecticide, the procedure is repeated several times after 3-5 days. If the plant is not of particular value, it is better throw away and prevent the appearance of mites on other flowers.

Spider mite on balsam - photo:

Indoor rose

How to cure and save a rose from spider mites at home? Spider mite on a rose indoors appears constantly Therefore, it is important to carry out prevention. But if the plant is already affected, then treatment must begin as quickly as possible. Are there home remedies for spider mites on roses?

A cobweb appeared on an indoor rose: what to do? First, you need to wash the rose with hot, up to 50-55 degrees, water with dissolved soap. Leave the plant for a day under a plastic bag and then rinse with water at the same temperature.

Then you need to try the processing garlic infusion. If this does not help, then spray with any chemical, it is better to use "Neoron".

How to use a spider mite remedy on a house rose? In each case, when you have to process a flower, you must resort to the help of different chemicals.

Spider mites on an indoor rose - photo:

Spider mites on a home rose: how to fight?

About, how to process homemade rose from spider mites, you will find out by watching the video:

Several Yet useful tips About, how to get rid of from spider mites on a rose at home, you will get from this video:

Ficus

To prevent spider mites, ficus spray regularly. Spider mites on ficus - how to fight? If infected, thoroughly wipe each leaf on both sides. well soaped with a rag and, after keeping the plant for a day under a plastic bag, wash off the soap with warm water. Then you need to spray the ficus alcohol solution of calendula, diluted with water, without missing a single leaf.

Irradiation of leaves is effective ultraviolet light, which ticks cannot tolerate. Ficus leaves can be covered oil-containing the drug and leave it like that for several days.

Spider mites on ficus - photo:

Anthurium

If you find numerous colonies of mites on a plant, you must first wash with soap, cut out those leaves that are severely affected. Then remove from the pot, inspect the roots, remove damaged ones, carefully rinse the roots V warm water and transplant into a clean container in new soil.

After this, spray the plant epinome. As a rule, such treatment is sufficient.

But if you can’t get rid of ticks in this way, you will have to resort to spraying more toxic drugs, for example "Karate".

Spider mites on anthurium - photo:

Violet

Most often, violets (Saintpaulias) are affected by the cyclamen mite. Trim the affected leaves, then spray the flower with the drug "Fitovern", repeat the treatment twice after 10 days.

Spider mite on a violet - photo:

Dracaena

The plant is attacked by a simple spider mite. The fight against it is to wash it long leaves in warm water and soap.

If after repeated water procedures If the mite still remains, you need to resort to an insecticide. For example, to "Fitoverma".

Spider mite on dracaena - photo:

The most effective prevention of spider mites on any indoor plant is washing in a warm shower with laundry or tar soap.

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It is quite difficult to remove spider mites. After all, it is not always possible to notice a small, 0.2 to 1 mm, brown or greenish-gray insect with the naked eye, not to mention its eggs. But the extent of the damage caused by the pest is quite impressive, since the spider mite feeds on plant cell sap. An enzyme secreted from the salivary gland destroys the chloroplasts of plant cells. This is why the leaves begin to turn yellow, dry out and fall off over time. As a result, plants are stunted and sometimes even die.

On a note!

During its short life, and the red spider mite lives for about 45 days, the female lays more than one hundred eggs. From which, after a maximum of 5 days, young individuals are born. This fact should be taken into account, timing it to coincide with the period of pest persecution.

How to get rid of poutine mite

The fight against spider mites involves the use of chemicals and folk remedies. However, before using them, it is necessary to carry out preparatory measures.

Such control measures should be carried out in relation to all plants in the house and even those on which no symptoms of infection are detected. After all, partial destruction of pests will not give full results.

Overwintering spider mites are eliminated by fumigation. metal constructions burned with a blowtorch.

Chemicals for spider mites

Fitoverm

How to use:

1. To prepare the working solution, you need to mix the contents of the ampoule (2 ml) with water (1 l).
2. The resulting composition is used for spraying plants in indoors and on open ground.

The death of spider mites occurs within 6-8 hours from the moment of treatment. The residual effect of the product lasts up to 3 weeks.

Aktellik

The disadvantages of the product include the development of acquired group resistance to the composition, which is developed through systematic use. The working solution is prepared at the rate of 2 ml of poison per 2 liters of water, which is enough to treat an area of ​​10 square meters. m. The protective effect of the composition lasts up to 12 days from the date of treatment. A 2 ml ampoule costs about 35 rubles.

Karbofos

Another insectoacaricidal agent designed to combat spider mites, codling moths, on garden and berry plants. vegetable crops. The active component is malathion, the amount of which is 50% of the total volume. Due to the high concentration of the toxin, the chemical has a quick effect on garden pests.

On a note!

Spraying with Karbofos in the garden is carried out in sunny, windless weather and preferably in the morning or evening hours. The dosage is determined using the instructions, taking into account the area of ​​​​treatment, the type of plant and the degree of its damage:

• for berry bushes, the solution is prepared at the rate of 75 g of poison per bucket of water;
• for floral and ornamental shrubs 60 g of product per 8 liters of water, the same proportions are used to combat spider mites on trees (cherries, cherries, plums);
• for processing peaches, apricots and nectarines, 10 liters of solution are required;
• Citrus is treated at the rate of 5 liters per tree, and the last treatment should be carried out no later than 50 days before harvest.

Period protective action Karbofos 10-15 days, the speed of action of the drug is 3-4 hours. The price of a 30 g bottle is around 30-40 rubles.

I prefer old time-tested drugs, so I have been using them for more than one season. I recommend.

Nikita, Kislovodsk

When spraying with insectoacaricidal solutions, it is necessary to use personal protection and observe basic safety measures.

The following brands of drugs also have a good effect in the fight against spider mites: Apollo, Karate, Neoron, Sunmite, Fufanon, Talstar and others.

Recipes from the people

Despite the effectiveness of chemicals, many gardeners and summer residents prefer to use folk remedies for spider mites, the main advantages of which are safety and accessibility.

Decoctions and infusions

Herbal decoctions and infusions are widely used in pest control.

A soap solution (20 g of soap per 1 liter of water) gives an effective effect in the fight against spider mites. It is better to use regular laundry or green soap to prepare the solution. It is necessary to wash the leaves on both sides with a cloth soaked in soapy water, avoiding contact of the composition with the roots of the plant.

To spray flowers and garden plants, you can also use sulfur-tar soap (100 g of soap per 10 liters of water). The procedure is carried out 2-3 times a week.

I think it's poison for processing garden crops- Not the best option. I use soap and water periodically garlic solution. In the early stages of plant infection, nothing better is needed.

Vladislav, St. Petersburg

Hydrogen peroxide and potassium permanganate

To combat spider mites at home, use a solution of hydrogen peroxide, which is prepared at the rate of 2 tbsp. l. (3%) product per 1 liter of water. Spraying is carried out once a week for a month, which allows you to destroy the entire harmful family over time. To treat the soil, use a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Ammonia

Ammonia has similar properties. The solution is prepared in a ratio of 1 tbsp. l. for 10 liters of water. The resulting composition is used to treat the leaves on both sides, which will not only remove mites, but also saturate the plant with nitrogen.

Alina, Smolensk

Regular inspection of them and adherence to the rules of caring for them will help prevent the spread of pests on indoor flowers or seedlings: regular watering, timely weeding and fertilizing of plants, as well as the use of folk remedies for preventive purposes.

A small insect that sucks juices from more than 200 species of plants, including cultivated ones - headache gardeners and the threat of death for their pets. Control methods against spider mites do not always end in victory - they are too prolific and quickly adapt to poisons. Therefore they are collected here effective methods combating the spider beetle with the best means.

Spider mites with equal persistence destroy leaves on indoor plants, vegetables and fruit trees. Numerous open and closed ground crops suffer from it. This tiny “gourmet” does not settle except on plants that live in water.

Methods can be differentiated depending on the type of plant and the place where it grows, therefore they are divided into:

• on ways to combat spider mites on indoor plants;
• on methods of eradicating the pest in greenhouses or greenhouses;
• for recipes for fighting ticks in the open ground.

In terms of the use of funds, the approaches also differ in processing:

• fruits of the chemical industry - insectoacaricides;
• new achievements of biochemistry - biological products;
• reliable folk techniques.

To understand the logic of the fight against ticks, you need to delve into its biology.

Introduction to the common spider mite

A mite that weaves a web is not an insect at all, it is important to take this into account when selecting means for baiting it - insecticides do not affect their families! A tick is a tiny spider with 4 pairs of legs, so only substances with an acaricidal effect will affect it.

Signs of mite infestation are milky, and then darkened, dots or spots on the leaves, the presence of a thin whitish web, withering and falling of greenery, slow sluggish growth.

Fighting spider mites on indoor plants

• At home, the fight against spider mites can be reduced to simply washing off the insects in the shower, having previously tightly wrapped the pot with polyethylene to protect the soil.
• Copious spraying of indoor flowers followed by placing a bag secured around the rim of the pot will create humidity inside that is incompatible with the survival of the mite.
• It is good to add hydrogen peroxide, turpentine or ammonia to the water for wetting - the effect will be enhanced.
• If the tick has only recently appeared and the lesions on indoor pets are insignificant, then simply wiping the leaves with a wet sponge is enough.
• Affected foliage should be carefully picked and destroyed outside the home.
• Before wetting indoor flowers, the web is removed - otherwise it will turn into a barrier for drops of liquid, and it will not fall on the foliage, but will flow down the web.

Important! Many people advise adding soap or other detergent as an adhesive - this method is only suitable for the upper part of the leaf and stems of indoor flowers, and there is no need to treat the underside of the foliage with foam. The so-called stomata - channels for gas exchange - will become clogged.

If efforts to control spider mites folk remedies do not give results, then it’s time to arm yourself with acaricides or biological products that can kill the tick colony.

How to remove spider mites from a greenhouse or greenhouse

Cucumber leaves affected by spider mites

When physical measures prove powerless, then the fight is turned on with folk remedies, acaricidal chemical and biological preparations.

How to get rid of spider mites in the garden

In open ground, spider mites breed and multiply to their maximum in midsummer, which is facilitated by hot, dry weather. Colonies of mites with larvae stick around the foliage, depriving it of juices and chlorophyll before our eyes, which leads to wilting, stunted growth and death of plants.

Such measures will have an effect at the first stage of tick arrival, and if the colonies have grown greatly, then treatment with active solutions cannot be avoided.

Baiting spider mites with insectoacaricides

The mite, which drinks juices from the pulp of leaves, develops relative immunity to most poisons due to the rapid change of generations. Therefore, sometimes a course of chemical treatments is not able to completely eliminate tick colonies.

In such unsuccessful cases, you need to change the drug, focusing not on the new name, but on fundamentally different active ingredients. But you should know that any single treatment is not able to exterminate mites at the root - usually 3 repetitions are required with an interval of 3 - 6 days.

Treatment with acaricidal chemicals requires strict implementation of measures for personal protection - gloves, a respirator, a hat, a closed gown, in order to minimize the risk of poisoning.

It is not advisable to deviate from the instructions - dosage, frequency, processing time, safety and storage measures.

Of the tested drugs, these work best.

• "Sunmite", based on pyridabene;
• "Flumite", based on flufenzine;
• "Floromite", based on biphenazate;
• "Oberon", based on spiromesifene;
• "Nisoran", based on hexythiazox;
• "Apollo", based on clofentesine.

Due to their toxicity, acaricides are the last link in the chain of methods to combat spider mites, when other measures have exhausted themselves without yielding results.

Fighting spider mites using biological products

• Biological products after spraying do not destroy ticks immediately - they will die within about 8 - 12 hours.
• The eggs will remain invulnerable, so a repeat cycle is needed - usually 3 or 4 times.
• The solution is prepared before spraying, a maximum of an hour, and is not stored prepared.
• The method of mixing the solution is described in the instructions and should be followed thoroughly.

Biological products that have already proven themselves to work “excellently”.

• "Agravertine",
• "Kleschevit",
• "Akarin",
• "Fitoverm",
• "Vertimek",
• "Aktofit".

Biological products are based on the biological incompatibility of individual microorganisms and spider mites, so they do not cause harm to soil, water, insects, fish and people.

A collection of folk recipes for getting rid of spider mites

The rich experience of victims of spider mite infestations in combating them has accumulated effective recipes for decoctions and infusions that need to be sprayed on plants affected by the pest.

• Dandelion in first place - its infusion, prepared in the proportion of 500 g of fresh chopped herbs per 10 liters of water and infused for 4 hours, will eliminate colonies of spider mites in a few times.
• Calendula is not inferior to dandelion - its infusion, mixed in the proportion of 400 g of herb per 4 liters of water and aged for 5 days, is no less powerful.
• Datura It is also popular - its decoction, for which 10 liters of boiling water is used for 1 kg of dry raw materials or 3 kg of fresh raw materials, when cooled, will poison ticks no worse than chemicals. The same applies to the infusion, where 100 g of dry herb will take 1 liter of water, you need to wait a day and start spraying.
• Celandine, if a pinch of it is brewed in boiling water and left for a little while, it will become a formidable weapon against spider aliens.
• Onion and garlic most often used - 200 g of husks are infused in a bucket of water for a whole day, and the greens are processed on another day.
• Yarrow It works just as well - 500 g of dry herb needs to be brewed and diluted with 10 liters of water.

Important! Infusions and decoctions are not resistant to the sun, so they are used in the morning or evening when there is no sun.

Prevention of spider mites

As soon as the original source of trouble with the affected plants is identified, you must immediately begin to exterminate it - tick colonies multiply before our eyes, and the number of suffering greenery also multiplies. Therefore, all damaged plant elements are immediately removed and disposed of.

A garden and vegetable garden dug up in time and cleared of leaves and tops rarely becomes a haven for tick families.

Regularly pulled out weeds, which are first attacked by ticks that awaken in the spring, will become a brake on their reproduction.

To make the fight against cobwebs as effective as possible, you need to know what type of mite has infected the houseplant. The following types of these pests are found in nature:

Red spider mite (Tetranychus cinnabarinus). Red webworm most often affects indoor plants. It primarily affects callas, balsams, lemons, cineraria, roses, nightshades, and orchids. The body color of this pest varies from dark brown to bright red. The size of females reaches 0.5 mm, males - 0.3 mm. You can see them with the naked eye if you look closely at the bottom of the leaf. Red spider mites do not tolerate high humidity and low temperatures, but reproduces well in dry and warm conditions. The reproduction rate is not as impressive as that of the common spider mite, but it is still enough to infect a large surface of the plant in a couple of weeks.
Red spider mite - pest of indoor plants

Common spider mite (Tetranychus urticae). This is the most polyphagous species - it feeds on almost any plant and is sometimes found on potted plants, but prefers fruit crops, berries. He has a special “love” for apple trees, currants and blackberries. The greatest increase in the number of this animal is achieved in July-August. Common spider webs reach 0.3–0.6 mm in length - they are visible to the human eye. The color of the body changes depending on the stage of maturity - young larvae have a green or yellow tint, older individuals are brown and red. The common spider mite reproduces quickly - in less than a month it can lay up to hundreds of eggs, from which larvae hatch within a week.
The common spider mite is the most common type of spider mite that affects fruit crops.

False spider mite (phalaenopsis mite). It is much smaller than the cobweb and is almost impossible to see with the naked eye. The main difference between a false tick and a true one is the absence of a web. Its presence on the plant can be noticed only by tiny, almost indistinguishable bodies running along the leaves. It is extremely important to be able to distinguish a spider mite from a false mite, since conditions that are detrimental to the first cause the rapid reproduction of the second. So, spider mites quickly die when high humidity and coolness, while the false web spider feels very comfortable in such conditions.

Three more types of mites - Atlantic, hawthorn and date - only affect fruit crops. For example, the Atlantic prefers cotton, clover, alfalfa, strawberries, apple trees, and pears. Hawthorn (which is most often found in Germany and Austria) likes to reproduce on apple trees, plums, and apricots. The date tree is practically not found in Russia due to its preferred climate - it is more comfortable than those in hot and dry countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Signs of plant damage

How can you reliably determine that a houseplant has been attacked by a spider mite? The symptoms that indicate a pest are quite varied:

Small eggs can be seen on the underside of the leaf. The eggs laid by spider mites are very small, but thanks to a large number their presence can be determined even with the naked eye.
Depending on the type of tick, the color of the eggs can vary from white to grayish.

The most important and most unambiguous sign is the appearance of a thin cobweb on the underside of the leaf or between the leaf and shoots. The cobweb is not durable and is easily erased from the sheet even with bare hands. Mites can move along the surface of the web, which can be seen with the naked eye.

A thin web on a plant is the main sign of the presence of cobwebs

Yellowing of leaves. This is a later sign, which indicates that the plant has been under attack from spider mites for more than a week.

Falling and dry leaves. Withered leaves and shoots, dried by the mite, soon curl and fall off.
Leaves attacked by cobwebs quickly dry out and lose color.

Fighting spider mites

The peculiarity of this pest lies, unfortunately, in its survivability. It reproduces quickly and lays a huge number of eggs in a short period. Because of this, unfortunately, it will not be possible to get rid of spider mites in one or two procedures. It is necessary to apply comprehensive measures to destroy both adults, larvae, and laid eggs.

Spider mite at different stages of its life cycle dies from different conditions and drugs

Chemicals

Chemical pest control products are most effective, but can be toxic. When using them, it is important to strictly follow safety precautions:

isolate treated plants from animals and children;

use medications wearing a protective mask and gloves;

Carry out thorough ventilation or use the product outdoors.

Please note - ticks are not insects. Spider mites are arachnids, so insecticides (chemicals used to kill insect pests) will not work on them. It is necessary to choose from acaricides:

"Aktellik" is an insecto-acaricide. This drug is effective against both insects and ticks. Actellik is extremely toxic, so its use indoors is not recommended. If you need to apply it to a houseplant, it is better to take the pot outside or to a well-ventilated balcony while it is being treated. “Actellik” is a very powerful and effective remedy, so it is excellent for mass plant infestations. Unfortunately, it does not kill eggs, so after it it is necessary additional processing another acaricide. Unlike other means, it can cope not only with the most common ticks (red and common), but also with more exotic species that are rarely found in Russia (date, Atlantic, hawthorn).

Actellik is a highly effective but very toxic drug

"Fitoverm" is an acaricidal agent. It is less toxic than Actellik, so its use is also permissible in enclosed spaces. However, it still poses quite a risk for children and animals, so treated plants must be placed in a place inaccessible to small household members. This product can be used without protective gloves and a mask, but after finishing work, be sure to thoroughly rinse your face, mouth, and hands. “Fitoverm” also does not destroy spider mite eggs, only adults and larvae.
"Fitoverm" is an effective and low-toxic acaricide

"Neoron" is an effective acaricide that destroys not only adult ticks, but also tick eggs. It is toxic, so you need to remember safety precautions and ventilate the room well after using it. Despite the fact that it quite quickly destroys the pest population, one application of the product is not enough - it is necessary to carry out at least three treatments of the plant. It is best to carry them out at intervals of 3–5 days - this is not enough time for the larvae to hatch from the eggs and produce a new generation.
"Neoron" is a powerful acaricide that can remove the entire population from a plant

"Sunmite" - like "Neoron" effective remedy to destroy both adult ticks and larvae with eggs. This drug can only be used once every six months, otherwise the pests may develop immunity. “Sunmite” is used by dissolving at the rate of 1 g of acaricide per 1 liter of water. The plant is carefully sprayed, it is especially important to treat the underside of the leaf - the drug is effective only in direct contact with the larva or adult.

"Sunmite" is an acaricide with an ovicidal effect

Biological method

This method was developed by Candidate of Biological Sciences G. A. Beglyarov. Its essence is simple - feed the spider mite to a predator that feeds on them in the natural environment (acariphage). Today, garden stores offer sachets (small bags) containing natural enemies of the mite - phytoseiulus or amblyseius. The method of control in this case is as follows: the bag is hung from one of the branches of the affected plant and opened. Predators immediately go looking for food. In one day, each of the acarifages eats several adult ticks and several dozen eggs. Within a week, the colony of spider mites is emptied, and the predator itself dies a few days later from starvation.

Phytoseiulus - acarifagus that feeds on spider mites

This method is recognized by scientists and gardeners as extremely effective, but it is not suitable for use on plants with heavily pubescent leaves (for example, violets).

Folk remedies

If the plant has just been attacked by pests, and their population is not yet large enough, you can use gentle folk remedies:

Medical alcohol. A cotton pad or small sponge should be moistened with an alcohol solution (1:10) and thoroughly wipe all the leaves of the plant. Unfortunately, this method does not destroy tick eggs, but it works well against adult ticks. If the spider mite has not yet had time to leave its future offspring on the leaves of the plant, then such treatment will be enough to get rid of the pest. Look at the underside of the leaf - if you do not find small whitish fixed dots, then the pest has not yet laid eggs. Please note that this method is not suitable for plants with thin and sensitive leaves (rose, fuchsia, petunia), but is well tolerated by denser ones (ficus, dieffenbachia, phalaenopsis). Medical alcohol - universal remedy, which will help not only disinfect wounds, but also get rid of pests of indoor plants

Tobacco smoke. This method is certainly not the safest for humans, but if you or anyone in your household smokes, you can use this bad habit to eliminate spider mites. The smoker must release smoke onto the plant. Tobacco smoke is extremely harmful to adult spider mites, but it will not get rid of eggs and larvae.
Tobacco smoke contains many toxins and combustion products that are harmful to spider mites

Laundry soap. This method is ideal for plants with large leaves: violets, dieffenbachias, orchids, and some types of ficus. Laundry soap must be whipped into foam and lubricated with it on the leaves of the affected plant. This product does not kill the tick directly, but creates a dense film through which the pest cannot breathe and feed. After treatment, the plant is left with foam on the leaves for 3–5 hours, then the product is washed off with a warm shower. weak pressure. Without allowing the plant to dry out, you need to cover it plastic bag or any other “cap” that will prevent moisture from quickly evaporating. The combination of a foam film and high humidity is detrimental to an adult spider mite, but eggs can survive this impact - additional treatment with an acaricide chemical will be required.
Laundry soap is one of the most available ways fighting spider mites

Garlic. One large head of garlic must be finely chopped and poured with three liters of water. The mixture is infused for five days, after which it is filtered and sprayed on the leaves of the affected plant. This method can show its effectiveness only at the early stage of the lesion, when the spider mite colony is still very small.
Garlic is very useful not only for humans, but also for plants affected by spider mites

Spread of the pest to other plants

Spider mites, unfortunately, very quickly spread to neighboring plants, since they not only have the ability to reproduce quickly, but also the ability to overcome relatively large distances (for a tiny pest). To prevent massive tick infestation of your green pets, you should take the following precautions:

the plant on which you found a tick must be urgently isolated from other potted plants;

all plants that were in the same room with the affected one must be checked for signs: cobwebs, eggs, mites themselves;

if several plants are affected, they also need to be kept isolated from each other until complete recovery.

Prevention of spider mites

Spider mites can enter your home in two main ways: on a new plant or through a window. To significantly reduce the risk of ticks entering the house, any new plant purchased in a store (even a trusted one) must be kept separately for the first time until the absence of diseases and pests is confirmed.

Plants in a flower shop are often susceptible to attacks by various pests, so immediately after purchase it is important to treat your new favorite before placing it next to the others.

The pest can enter the window along with the wind, especially in hot and dry weather. Of course, we cannot keep the windows closed all the time (stale air is no less destructive for plants than spider mites), so we need to create the most uncomfortable conditions for the mite in the house itself:

Spider mites do not tolerate high humidity. Use a humidifier and regularly wet cleaning. If your plants are not fans of desert and dry conditions, mist them regularly. The mite, as a rule, lives on the underside of the leaf, so this is where you need to pay attention when spraying.

Once a week, wash the leaves of the plants with soapy water. This allows the mite to suck the juice out of them, and therefore the pest will quickly die of starvation.

Moisture-loving plants can be washed 1-2 times a week under a warm shower. Ficus and ivy tolerate this procedure especially well. Ticks that may end up on their leaves will die from the flow of warm water.

What to do with succulents? These indoor pets cannot tolerate spraying, moisture on the leaves, or high humidity in general - how can you protect them from spider mites? Fortunately, this pest does not threaten succulents. The fact is that succulents have fleshy leaves with a dense shell that ticks simply cannot bite through.

Succulents are beautiful and unpretentious indoor plants that, in addition, are not threatened by spider mites

Are spider mites dangerous for humans?

Spider mites are phytophagous - that is, animals that feed on plants. For humans (including small children), as well as for animals and birds, it is completely harmless. Spider mites cannot bite through human skin.

Spider mites are one of the most malicious enemies of house plants. Fortunately, with the help of simple and inexpensive means you can effectively combat it, protecting flowers from this pest.