THE Little Red Spider

Extremely feared and unfortunately very common, the red spider mite is a catastrophe to be avoided. They can be found both indoors and outdoors and it is necessary to eliminate them, otherwise the harvest will be lost!

How to Recognize the Red Spider Spider?

The Little Red Spider is very small and difficult to see at first glance, although if you pay attention, thanks to the color, and especially by looking under the leaves you will be able to find them. Among the signs of attack by Little Red Spiders you will be able to see the presence of yellow or translucent spots on the leaves, traces that they leave as they feed by sucking fluids from the plant.

To verify the infestation, once you have seen the first signs, spray a little warm water under the leaves and you will highlight the cobwebs. The color of the Little Red Spider is not necessarily that of its name, being also whitish yellow or with brown spots and the eggs are translucent. The red spider feeds on the sap and occurs above all at high temperatures, at which it reproduces more quickly.

It seriously damages plants because by feeding it slows down their metabolic functions, weakening them. Depending on the extent of the infestation, the damage can be slight or enormous as it can lead to death.

With ongoing infestation the leaves turn yellow and subsequently fall.

The red spider becomes devastating in indoor crops because they are devoid of their natural predators and allow the parasite to develop peacefully.

PREVENTION:

Keep the environment clean, try to constantly disinfect the tools you use, as well as your clothes in order to avoid bringing these parasites inside.

Check the climate of your environment, in particular the relative humidity and temperature value which should always be with adequate parameters:

Temperature 20°/26°

Humidity 50/60%

Preventively introduce antagonistic insects such as Neoseiulus, a mite that feeds on the red spider mite and is not harmful to your plant. Place them on each plant because they do not have high mobility and when the infestation is underway remember that they have a of neutralization of the red spider of about 20 eggs or 5 adults, then dose them appropriately.

INTERVENTION:

If your crop is under attack from the little red spider you must try to proceed in this way:

Clean everything thoroughly

Remove infected plants

Remove leaves that show attack symptoms on at least half of the surface

Be careful not to spread the infection with your hands, so do not touch healthy parts or healthy subjects after you have touched infested parts.

Reduce the temperature to 16° making the environment hostile to the parasite.

Spray cold water on the plants to physically remove the spider mites.

If the problem is not yet widespread you can remove them by hand with a sponge (and then throw it away).

Spray Neem Oil

Use Potassium Soap or pyrethrum oil.