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There is a better approach on how to kill spider mites. It cannot be solved by always having to invest in sprays to get rid of them or worse having to lose and discard some damaged plants you have grown to care for. Besides damage control, there are other preventive measures for you to use like biological, water, and mechanical controls or the more aggressive means of chemical control.
Biological Controls
Biological control is established in the hierarchy of animals within the food chain. Dark lady beetles of the Stethorus species and big-eyed bugs or pirate bugs of the Geocoris species are natural enemies of spider mites. These beetles and bugs instinctively know how to kill spider mites. There are even mites which prey on fellow mites. Modern technology also artificially manufactures insectaries to combat spider mites. When we interfere with this natural chain of events by using sprays with carbaryl or malathione, we kill the very organisms that protect us against spider mite outbreaks.
Control Using Water
Watering your plants regularly not only protects your plants during dry weather but it also prevents the laying of eggs among spiders by delaying the production of webs. An occasional, directed blast of water to clear foliage of dust would be a forceful way on how to kill spider mites in areas where spider mites’ enemies would naturally abound. Spraying a plant every day with ice water for one week is claimed to get rid of spider mite inhabitants. Let it be your way of giving spider mites a cold shoulder.
Mechanical Control
A mechanical control on how to kill spider mites would be to destroy webbing. Walking on eight legs is no problem with spider mites. It allows them movement in all directions and angles. Webbing lets spider mites travel sideways or drop down and slide up from leaf to leaf. Higher temperature and wind sway webs in the direction of other plants, giving way to further widespread infestation of spider mites. Imagine how some ninja fighters or Special Forces action units make a quick and quiet ambush or getaway, and that is how this would look.
Chemical Control
Miticides are specific pesticides used against mites, including spider mites. Some species of mites, however, have become resistant. Besides, miticides do not destroy eggs and spraying has to be repeated every 10 to 14 days. Otherwise, the spider mites return to resume their activities.
Cheaper methods on how to kill spider mites would be to use botanical or horticultural oils derived from the neem tree which prove gentle to plants but lethal to mites or through insecticidal soaps and isopropyl alcohol with dishwashing suds regularly sprayed on the underside and veins of leaves where eggs are usually laid. These, too, would have to be done on a regular basis.
A Combined Approach
Having approached the problem from the biological, water, mechanical, and chemical point of view, this time you are well-prepared and equipped on how to kill spider mites. A balanced combination of all these preventive measures would be the best way.
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Author Bio Box: Patricia Wainwright
Get all the facts about pest and disease and organic gardening at GreenThumbArticles.com!
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