Tips for Getting Rid of Two Spotted Spider Mite in Your Garden

If you see that your plants are being attacked by two-spotted mites, you will want to take immediate measures to protect them. What are two spotted spider mites, and how can you get rid of them? Their formal name is Tetranychus urticae, and they are tiny mites that infest hundreds of different plant species around the world. Continue reading for more information on two-spotted mite damage and how to manage two-spotted mite infestations.

What are Two spotted Spider Mites, and Why do They Exist?

You may be familiar with spider mites in general, but you may not be familiar with this specific kind. So, what precisely are they, exactly? These plant pests are as small as mites can get, making them difficult to detect. In fact, one of them is hardly visible to the human eye, so you won’t be able to check it or count the number of dots on it.

On the other hand, finding a single mite is very unlikely. By the time you see two-spotted mite damage and begin to consider two-spotted spider mite management, the mite population is likely to have grown to a significant size. These mites are found on the undersides of plant leaves and feed on the sap.

Damage caused by the Two Spotted Spider Mite

It is important to understand the life cycle of the two spotted spider mite as you prepare to tackle the pest’s harm. The following is a synopsis of what occurs.

Overwintering on host plants is a need for the adult female two-spotted spider mite. They spend the winter either beneath the bark of the host plant or at the base of neighboring plants. The females mate in the springtime. On the underside of the host plant’s leaves, they lay between 2 and 6 eggs every day, for a total of around 100 eggs in their brief lifespan.

The eggs hatch in less than a week after being laid. During their first several weeks of life, the young mites shed their exoskeletons three times. They then develop into full-grown adult mites, which mate and deposit eggs in order to reproduce.

If you see two-spotted spider mite damage on your plants, it is likely that they are infested with mites at various stages of growth. Generations have a tendency to blend together. Pest infestations are most severe in hot, dry weather; thus, two-spotted mite management is critical during this time of year.

Damage caused by two-spotted spider mites may be seen on both deciduous and evergreen trees, as well as on ornamental garden . Even vegetables grown in a garden might be in danger. Two-spotted mites feed on plant fluids that are vital to the plant’s survival. When there is a severe infestation, the foliage turns yellow or becomes mottled. Fine, silky threads will most likely be seen on the surface of the leaf.

Even in the case of a severe infestation, it is possible that you will not be able to see the mites themselves on your plants. Hold a piece of white paper beneath a stippled leaf and tap it to see whether your assumptions are correct. Tiny moving specks on the paper indicate that two-spotted mites are present, and you should consider treatment for them.

Control of the Two-Spotted Spider Mite

Beginning treatment for two-spotted mites is to use a miticide, which is a pesticide that is specifically designed to kill mites. In an ideal situation, you should begin treatment for two-spotted mites before your plants suffer significant harm.

Every 7 to 10 days, or as needed, use the miticide to control two-spotted mites. Because mites may develop resistance to chemicals over time, it is recommended that you switch to a different kind of miticide every three treatments.