How To Get Rid Of Spider Mites
What’s In This Guide

Most growers around the world know about spider mites. As part of the mite family and closely related to ticks and spiders, these little insects are some of the most destructive pests known to farmers. Sometimes referred to as the two-spotted spider mites, red spider mites, or spruce spider mites, these little creatures are rather difficult to get rid of once they take hold of a farm.
The worst part of spider mite control is populations grow so quickly and they spread so fast that by the time a farmer recognizes the first signs of an infestation, there is a good chance that it will be already too late and even spider mite killer or insecticidal soap may not be enough.
What Are Spider Mites?

Each female spider mite has the ability to produce a huge batch of eggs very quickly. This makes these little pests difficult to deal with since they have a high generational turnover thus making them less susceptible to chemical pesticides as they quickly develop a tolerance.
Signs that You Have A Spider Mites Infestation
- Spider mites are tiny (about 1 mm in size)
- They tend to exclusively live on the underside of leaves
Unless you are going to be checking the underside of every leaf for silk threads and webbing, the only alternative is keeping an eye out for white or yellow spotting on leaves. These spots are the telltale sign that you may have a spider mite infestation in the works.

Some of their favorite host plants include:
- Melons
- Tomatoes
- Strawberries
- Beans
- Eggplants
Although they cannot fly, they are wonderful windsurfers who can ride their webbing to far off plants. The worst part is that a single female can start her own colony even without fertilized eggs. She will just lay unfertilized eggs that will hatch into male spider mites.
These infestations tend to get worse during spring and summer. That is because the spider mite eggs can overwinter on dead leaves and fallen twigs. Once the weather gets warmer, the little buggers hatch, start eating, and mature in just a few days. They then immediately start reproducing and the circle continues. Are you starting to get a clear picture of why they can be so difficult to control?
What Damage Can Spider Mites Cause?
This regulation is essential to the health of the plant. When the plant’s stomata are closed, the leaves are resistant to water loss which can keep the plant alive during dry seasons and periods when they don’t get enough water. It is essentially the plant’s life support system; sort of like our ability to eat and stay hydrated. It is this life support system that spider mites eat away.

Because spider mites reproduce so quickly, they can affect acres upon acres of crops in no time at all.
How to Control Spider Mite Infestation

Isolate the infected plants and keep the rest clustered:
Spider mites tend to migrate from plant to plant and they can windsurf across different leaf clusters. Once you start seeing the telltale white and yellow spots on leaves as well as silk webs on the undersides, then you should immediately isolate those plants. Keep the rest clustered so that they maintain a moist environment in which spider mites do not thrive.
Retain moisture and humidity:
Keep your plant pots on a platter of water, put in some peat moss or bring the plants indoors. These moist conditions keep spider mites from thriving.
Keep the plants out of the afternoon sun:
Spider mites like dry, arid weather. Keeping your plants away from the hot afternoon sun or setting a humidifier close to the plants is an excellent way to discourage spider mites.
These are just some tips on how to control spider mites once they have taken hold of your plants. But what if the infestation is too widespread? What do you do then?
How to Get Rid of Spider Mites

Best Natural Spider Mites Control Methods
Spider mites have lots of natural enemies. Surprisingly enough, one of the biggest natural enemies to spider mites is actually a different kind of mite: the western predatory mite. You could also create an environment where any one of the following natural predators thrive so as to keep the spider mite population under control:
- Spider mite destroyer lady beetle
- Bigeyed bugs
- Lacewing larvae
- Six spotted thrips
- Minute pirate bugs
But if you find that this method of control just isn’t working for you, then it is time to bring out the big guns:
Insecticides That Get Rid Spider Mites
Pesticides and miticides are the best options if you need to completely rid your plants of spider mites. However, you are advised to use non-toxic, organic options for two main reasons:
The toxic kind might also get rid of other natural predators that help keep spider mite infestations under control
Because they breed so fast, spider mites quickly develop a resistance to most pesticides and miticides. Additionally, organic pesticides and miticides are just safer for use around the house and on your farm as well. Here is a quick list of some pesticides that you should consider using to get rid of spider mites:
- Botanical Oils (Insecticidal Oils)
- Insecticidal Soaps
- Azadirachtin & Neem Oils
- Diatomaceous Earth
These are some of your best options when it comes to DIY solutions for spider mite control.
Why You Need to Call A Pest Management Professional
But when it is all said and done, the best course of action you can take against any kind of pest infestations, spider mites or otherwise is to call a pest management professional. We are highly trained and well equipped to deal with any kind of pest infestation on any scale. By hiring us, you can rest assured that we will run a thorough check of the pest situation in your home. Not only will we get rid of the spider mites that have invaded your property through biological control, but we will also give you practical recommendations on how to keep populations to a minimum as well as give you a quick rundown on all other pest-risks you run.
Give us a call today and let us help you keep that spider mite population at zero as well as show you how to keep your property pest-free.

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Sources
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Spider-Miteshttp://homeguides.sfgate.com/organic-ways-rid-spider-mites-78260.html
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Spider-Miteshttp://homeguides.sfgate.com/organic-ways-rid-spider-mites-78260.html