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virology:s:spider_mites

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 ====== Spider Mites ====== ====== Spider Mites ======
-{{virology:s:media:spider_mites:15bdb4b22c5e426f.jpg?400}} +{{virology:s:media:spider_mites:mites1.webp?direct| }} 
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-{{virology:r:media:red_spider_mites:171e59129817ae3a.jpg?400}}+
  
 ===== Overview ===== ===== Overview =====
-Spider mites are small arachnid pests that target cacti, often feeding on the plant's tender growing tips. While they are relatively easy to control on cacti compared to leafy plants, they can cause aesthetic damage and weaken the plant if left unchecked. Managing them effectively requires breaking their reproductive cycle and avoiding treatments that inadvertently destroy their natural predators.+Spider mites are small arachnid pests that target cacti, often feeding on the plant's tender growing tips. While they are relatively easy to control on cacti compared to leafy plants, they can cause permanent aesthetic damage and weaken the plant if left unchecked. This type of sucker class pest can also be a vector for spread of more serious disease. Managing them effectively requires breaking their reproductive cycle and avoiding treatments that inadvertently destroy their natural predators.
  
 ===== Symptoms & Identification ===== ===== Symptoms & Identification =====
-Spider mites can be identified by their presence in the growing tips of the cactus. Over time, their feeding damage can lead to secondary issues, such as rust infections, which present as dark spots near the base or other areas of the plant. +Spider mites can be tricky to distinguish from predatory mites or tiny spiders, which are beneficial. If you see numerous stationary or slow moving mites on it, some of which suspended a small distance off of the plant with nearly invisible webbing, this is a strong sign of spider mites. They congregate near tips, in crevices between ribs and in with spines. Spider mites can be white, white with a black dot on each side, orange, or red. Spiders (the non mite type) are often solitary unless they are very young, and beneficial mites do not produce webbing and move significantly quicker. Over time, their feeding damage can lead to secondary issues, such as rust infections.
  
 When identifying mites, growers should observe their movement speed to distinguish pests from beneficial predatory mites: When identifying mites, growers should observe their movement speed to distinguish pests from beneficial predatory mites:
-  * **Pest Mites (Prey):** Move slowly relative to their leg size and tend to settle in one spot to feed on plant sap. +  * **Pest Mites:** Move slowly, small enough to be nearly invisible to the naked eye, nearly invisible webbing may be present. 
-  * **Predatory Mites:** Move noticeably faster as they actively hunt for prey. +  * **Predatory Mites:** Beneficial. Move noticeably faster as they actively hunt for prey. Larger, though still tiny. Easily visible with the naked eye.
  
 ===== Cause & Spread ===== ===== Cause & Spread =====
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 ===== Treatment & Management ===== ===== Treatment & Management =====
-*Note: Gee Bee did not participate in this community discussion. The following recommendations are based on consensus from experienced community members, including IPM specialist Chris Salvin.* +  * **Water Spray:** Hosing the mites off the plant is a good initial step to reduce their numbers. A strong direct blast from the hose to your columns tips on occasion is a good preventative for many tiny pests. 
- +  * **Spinosad (e.g., Captain Jack's Dead Bug):** Spider mites are known to build resistance to spinosad within a few generations. If it's all you have on hand it can greatly cut their numbers for a week or two, but long term they will multiply and an alternate treatment will most likely be necessary. Apply at dusk/lights out, apply 4-5 times at intervals based on life cycle - evey 3 days in warmer weather up to every 7 days in cooler weather.  
-==== Physical & Organic Controls ==== +  * **Flying Skull Nuke Em:** Food safe alternative to spinosad. Citric acid based. Apply just like spinosad, but mites will not build resistance to it. Using it and spinosad alternating from early treatment is highly effective. Product can be difficult or impossible to get in some localities. 
-  * **Water Spray:** Hosing the mites off the plant is a good initial step to reduce their numbers. +  * **Azamax:** Alternate effective miticide option. Possible side effects to plants include phytosensitivity. 
-  * **Natra Soap / Insecticidal Soap:** Apply every 5 to 7 days to break the reproductive cycle. If preserving the glaucous (waxy blue) coat of the cactus is a priority, use a highly diluted solution to avoid stripping it. +  * **Diatomaceous Earth (DE) & wettable sulphur:** DE an be mixed heavily into the soil or mixed 50/50 with sulphur to dust the plants. *Caution:* non-selective and will harm beneficial insects and pollinators. Additionally, growers must wear a mask when handling to avoid inhaling the dust, which is hazardous to the lungs. Dusting will damage farina and permanently alter plant skin appearance.
-  * **Neem Oil:** Apply as a spray to control infestations. *Note:* Some growers advise against using oil-based pesticides directly on the cactus body unless applied as a soil drench, suggesting alternatives like Spinosad instead. +
-  * **Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA):** Spraying the plants with IPA on a warm day is used by some growers to treat active infestations. +
-  * **Drying Out:** Allowing the soil and plants to dry out completely can help reduce pest pressure and associated fungal issues. +
- +
-==== Chemical & Mineral Controls ==== +
-  * **Wettable Sulphur:** Highly effective and easy to use for controlling mites on cacti. +
-  * **Spinosad (e.g., Captain Jack's Dead Bug):** Recommended as a highly effective spray specifically designed to target and kill mites. +
-  * **Trifecta:** Can be used as a soil drench combined with a light spray on the cacti (applied when there is no direct light) for 2 to 3 treatments every other day. +
-  * **Azamax:** Recommended as an effective miticide option. +
-  * **Diatomaceous Earth (DE):** Can be mixed heavily into the soil or mixed 50/50 with sulphur to dust the plants. *Caution:* DE is non-selective and will harm beneficial insects and pollinators. Additionally, growers must wear a mask when handling DE to avoid inhaling the dust, which is hazardous to the lungs.+
   * **Avoid Systemic Insecticides:** Do not use standard systemic insect granules (designed for insects) to treat spider mites, as this will worsen the infestation by killing predatory insects.   * **Avoid Systemic Insecticides:** Do not use standard systemic insect granules (designed for insects) to treat spider mites, as this will worsen the infestation by killing predatory insects.
  
 ==== Biological Controls (Integrated Pest Management) ==== ==== Biological Controls (Integrated Pest Management) ====
-Introducing predatory mites is a highly effective natural control method: +Introducing predatory mites is a highly effective natural control method including *Amblyseius californicus* or *Phytoseiulus persimilis*, depending on your local climate.
-  * **For Foliar/Red Spider Mites:** Introduce *Amblyseius californicus* or *Phytoseiulus persimilis*, depending on your local climate. +
-  * **For Soil Pests:** Soil-dwelling predatory mites like *Stratiolaelaps scimitus* (also known as *Hypoaspis miles*) are beneficial for soil health but will not target red spider mites on the upper plant body.+
  
 +<ifauth @trusted_grower,@admin>
 ===== Reported Cases ===== ===== Reported Cases =====
-//Community examples - the photos above belong to these reporters; credit them.// 
  
-^ Date ^ Reporter ^ Diagnosed by ^ Confidence ^ Key note / quote ^ +^ Date ^ Reporter ^ Diagnosed by ^ Key note / quote ^ 
-| 2026-04-27 | Pete Young | Wilfy Fletcher | 7/10 | "U can see them in the tip" | +| 2026-04-27 | Pete Young | Wilfy Fletcher | "U can see them in the tip" | 
-| 2026-04-13 | Daryl Lee DeWeese Jr. | Lee Hatcher | 7/10 | "Systemic Houseplant Insect Control (granules) is not effective against spider mites and may actually increase their population, as it is designed for insects, not arachnids." | +| 2026-04-13 | Daryl Lee DeWeese Jr. | Lee Hatcher | "Systemic Houseplant Insect Control (granules) is not effective against spider mites and may actually increase their population, as it is designed for insects, not arachnids." | 
-| 2026-04-06 | Anton Kucharski | Mark Lyon | 7/10 | "Upon closer inspection it appears to be a secondary rust infection brought on by spider mites." | +| 2026-04-06 | Anton Kucharski | Mark Lyon | "Upon closer inspection it appears to be a secondary rust infection brought on by spider mites." | 
-| 2026-03-16 | RC Figueroa | Chris Salvin | 8/10 | "Those are beneficial soil dwelling mites. Helpful mites to have around, they will eat harmful pests." | +| 2026-03-16 | RC Figueroa | Chris Salvin | "Those are beneficial soil dwelling mites. Helpful mites to have around, they will eat harmful pests." | 
-| 2026-03-16 | Julie Wolf | Chris Salvin | 8/10 | "For red spider mites, introduce either amblyseius californicus or phytoseilus persimilis, depending on your climate" | +| 2026-03-16 | Julie Wolf | Chris Salvin | "For red spider mites, introduce either amblyseius californicus or phytoseilus persimilis, depending on your climate" | 
-| 2026-02-09 | Jon Young | Maria Megalogeni | 6/10 | "I agree. Spider mites" | +| 2026-02-09 | Jon Young | Maria Megalogeni | "I agree. Spider mites" | 
-| 2026-01-26 | Jelle Buntinx | Nick VanWagner | 6/10 | "Looks like harmless soil mites." / "they've destroyed some nice growth. Going to have to cut .." |+| 2026-01-26 | Jelle Buntinx | Nick VanWagner | "Looks like harmless soil mites." / "they've destroyed some nice growth. Going to have to cut .." | 
 + 
 +===== Contributor Confidence ===== 
 +//Visible to trusted reviewers only.// 
 + 
 +^ Contributor ^ Confidence ^ 
 +| Wilfy Fletcher | 7/10 | 
 +| Lee Hatcher | 7/10 | 
 +| Mark Lyon | 7/10 | 
 +| Chris Salvin | 8/10 | 
 +| Maria Megalogeni | 6/10 | 
 +| Nick VanWagner | 6/10 | 
  
 +</ifauth>
 ===== Notes & Contradictions ===== ===== Notes & Contradictions =====
   * **Gee Bee's Participation:** Gee Bee did not participate in this discussion thread.   * **Gee Bee's Participation:** Gee Bee did not participate in this discussion thread.
virology/s/spider_mites.1783025429.txt.gz · Last modified: by clonebot