Spider Mites Are Just As Terrible As They Sound
Spider Mites Are Just As Terrible As They Sound |Texas Pest Control
Luckily, unlike your typical microscopic mites that can cause scabies, spider mites are only damaging to plant life. However, similar to common mites, spider mites are incredibly small, and their presence on vegetation will likely go unnoticed until significant plant damage or plant death results. Spider mites are not insects; rather, spider mites are arachnids. They are closely related to ticks, spiders and scorpions. Spider mites are so named for their ability to produce silk. Their silk is produced within their mouthparts. Spider mites will often use this silk to cover plant leaves. Sometimes, their silk can even work to protect them from pesticides. This is only one of several reasons why extermination efforts can be tricky, and the destruction of spider mites is dependent on the use of particular insecticides.
There are several types of spider mites, and most are significant pests within North America. They can infest both indoor and outdoor plants. The most destructive and common type of spider mite in America is known as the two spotted spider mite. These tiny arachnids can feed on nearly any type of plant that you can think of including a wide variety of trees, shrubs, flowers, weeds, fruits, greenhouse plant-life and numerous commercial crops. These spider mites are active during the warmer months, but the females overwinter by seeking shelter beneath the soil.
The southern red mite is active during the cooler months, as its population sizes are highest around the coolest periods during the spring and fall. These mites are known for attacking nearly all evergreen trees. These mites are often found on azaleas, viburnum, Japanese and American hollies, and roses.
Spider mites are notorious for their stubbornness, as they are not killed easily. Pesticides are always essential in order to successfully decimate mite populations. Of course, pesticides are most effective when infestations are caught early. Two spotted spider mite infestations can sometimes be traced back to the area where the infested plant life was purchased. Luckily, spider mite pests can also be killed by natural predators.
Have you ever noticed signs of an insect pest infestation before you even spotted the presence of insect pests on plant-life? If you have, what type of insect pests were destroying the plants?