Spider Mites

Also known as: Two-spotted spider mite, red spider mite

Identification

Tiny (0.5mm) — need magnification. Look for fine webbing between leaves and stems. Stippled/speckled leaves. Hold white paper under branch and tap — mites appear as moving dots.

Damage

Piercing-sucking — puncture individual cells, cause stippling, bronzing, webbing, leaf drop

Best Organic Solutions (Ranked)

Solutions ranked by reliability tier — start with Tier A options.

Insecticidal Soap Tier A

Must contact mites directly — thorough coverage essential

Horticultural Oil Tier A

Suffocates mites and eggs

Neem Oil Tier A

IGR disrupts development; also suffocant

Sulfur Tier B

Acaricidal action — do not combine with oils

Biological Controls

Predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis, Amblyseius californicus), minute pirate bugs, lacewing larvae

Prevention

Mites thrive in hot, dry, dusty conditions. Overhead watering knocks mites off and raises humidity. Avoid dusty conditions. Do not over-fertilize with nitrogen.

Common Mistake

Using broad-spectrum insecticides that kill predatory mites while leaving spider mites (which develop resistance faster). Spider mites often become WORSE after pesticide applications.