These last few weeks of over 100 degree temperatures have taken a toll on our gardens. Most plants simply don’t thrive in hot, dry weather. Unfortunately, insects love these conditions, especially spider mites.
Spider mite damage shows up on the upper surface of leaves as a white or yellowing stippling pattern. This is caused when the mite feeds with their needle-like mouth parts and extracts fluid from the plant cells. The actual pest tends to live on the undersides of the leaves, where it feeds, and creates fine webbing. To test if you have an infestation in your garden, hold a sheet of paper beneath a leaf and gently tap the leaf, mites will be dislodged and can be seen as tiny specks that crawl around on the paper.
Spider mite control can be a challenge. A strong jet of water can be used to remove the mites. However, keep in mind that they occur on the bottoms of the leaves. Spray is most effective if it comes from below. Gardeners have found success using a water wand hooked to a shut-off valve. Specialized spray wands can also be used. Continue to spray the plants twice a week, to dislodge all stages of mites. You can also use a horticultural oil or insecticidal soap for control, thorough coverage is important, as is timely follow-up treatment. These products must come into contact with the mite to be effective, they have no residual effect. Mites can also be controlled by natural predators such as; lacewing larvae, adult ladybugs, and predatory mites. Biological control is only effective on small populations. Be persistent with control efforts to keep this pest at bay.