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Red Spider Mite
lydiaann
Posts: 300
Does anyone else have a problem with red spider mites this year. I noticed a couple in the conservatory but after a thorough inspection of plants, couldn't find an infestation. Did a quick spray anyway. However, now I notice they are everywhere outside. Went out to my composter this a.m. and they're on the lid, same on the bin and on my paths. Where are they coming from and how do I get rid of them when they are all over the place?
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The recent warm conditions will be the cause of the population explosion. You'll have to use chemical control to get on top of it, then go on to biological control.
http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=190
Okay - know of any crop-sprayers around...
lydiaann, we have them all over the brick work of the conservatory and they are coming inside, great with white blinds
we mist the brick work with the hose and wash windowsills down, they don't like being wet. Dab any that get inside with wet kitchen roll because if they wipe them they make a right red mess.
We get them every year, usually June, OH thinks they were in the sand used to build extension, we never had them before. Any consolation they only last about 2 weeks.
If you can see them with the naked eye and they are bright red, then they are not Red spider mites. They are generally too small to see and they are brown, not red. What you have is a large number of newly hatched 'blood spiders'. Nice useful things which grow up and eat greenfly etc.
Mites by the way have 10 legs whereas spiders of course have 8.
Thanks Berghill
Blood spiders explains what happens when you remove them.
I posted about these last year and no one ID them. Just wish they would appear on plants and not inside the house. Must admit I haven't had my glasses on to count their legs. Thanks again
Any ideas why they like conservatory & indoors and not my patio plants etc. ?
They like the heat.