Mites, how to identify and fight them » Online Plant Sales

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We often talk about plant parasites when referring to aphids, the so-called lice. Yet there is a perhaps less known but equally fearsome enemy that can attack our plants, we are talking about mites, also known in common jargon as «red reganetti».

In the video we can see a rather advanced attack on an Oleander, so let’s see what the warning signs are that indicate that our plant has been hit by an attack by this parasite.

The mites

First of all, it must be clarified that mites are not insects, they are a subclass of arachnids which only share the phylum of anthropods with insects, another class of invertebrates. This distinction serves us above all to clarify why the insecticide commonly used against other insects does not work on red spider mites. In fact, to be able to fight mites you necessarily need an acaricide, a different product specifically designed to act against them.

Is my plant infested with mites?

Let’s immediately try to understand what are the warning signs that warn us of a potential attack by a mite on our ornamental plants, rather than on horticultural or fruit crops.

The first thing that catches the eye is the discoloration of the leavesthese specks which start out very light go on to invade an initially green leaf, then as the infection is let go the leaves become almost all whitemaking it easy to observe the progression of the infection and the relative depigmentation of the leaf blades.

This is the most obvious signal and is the signal that 99% indicates the presence of a mite.

Once the presence of this first signal has been verified it will be very easy to go to see and find the presence of small, very thin cobwebs on which we barely see small dots. The mite is a very small arachnid, usually under a millimeter in size, so it is difficult to see it with the naked eye, not to mention the eggs and larvae which are really too small.

The adults are red/orange in color but can vary considerably, the red version is the most widespread on our plants.

These two conditions confirm the presence of small arachnids.

Conditions favorable to mites

They are phytophagous, so they have mouthparts that allow them to pierce plant cells and feed on their juices.

One thing that is quite important is the conditions in which these parasites usually arrive. These are very hot, very dry conditions, in fact the oleander you see in the video was affected after suffering a long phase of drought and being exposed to very high temperatures.

How to fight the red spider mite

There are many natural methods that can also be found on the web (such as nettle macerates). However, these methods are only palliatives that are unlikely to solve the problem. Better to intervene with a specific product.

The only natural thing that can really help ward off these arachnids during an early stage of infestation is wetting, so wetting the leaves can help stem an infection in the early stages. Otherwise the advice is to intervene with a specific product, in particular the Cliner liquid concentrated acaricide. these products always change over time, the molecules are subjected to strict reviews by ministerial control bodies so perhaps the product available could vary, while still maintaining its effectiveness.

Depending on the product, it is very important to follow the instructions given on the label, in order to use it without running into problems. If you are using the products on vegetable and fruit plants, pay close attention to the shortage times (days that must pass between the last treatment carried out and the harvest), so that it is safe to then consume the vegetables/fruit. Furthermore, during these operations it is advisable to use gloves and, when dispensing the product, also a mask.

Once the mixture has been prepared, make sure to spread it well over the entire foliage of the plant, without needing to include the trunk or roots. The droplets of product will also help you highlight small cobwebs. The remedy will also have an effect against juvenile forms and eggs, so as to definitively free you from this problem.

After 10 days, it is possible to make a second pass with the same product, in order to mow the mite population a second time and you will see that in this way you will be able to save the plants. Of course, you have to act quickly enough because an infection that is too advanced could lead to the death of the plant.