One of the problems common to commercial greenhouses during the summer months is an infestation of mites. The mites tend to be more active in hot weather They are usually not a problem in cooler weather. The mites feed on the leaves of a variety of ornamental plants and some types of conifers and fruit trees. If left unchecked, mites can destroy, or at least make significant cosmetic damage.

The mites are very small. They have four pairs of legs, no antennas and a main body. They are smaller than 1 / 50 inch. Are difficult to see with the naked eye, requiring a magnifying device for viewing. Mites are not insects, but are members of the family of arachnids. There are over a dozen species of mites are common in North America. The life cycle of mites varies from 5 to 40 days depending on temperatures from 85 to 90 degrees is ideal, to which life cycle is 8 to 12 days. The female mite can lay 90 to 200 eggs in their daily lives 30.

The symptoms of mite infestation

The mites feed by scraping the leaf surface and sucking the juice. Leaves infested plants show with tiny grains of brown-yellow color. Often when you see symptoms of the sheet can be found bugs seeking the bottom of the page. In cases more advanced stages of infestation can be found in the paintings of fine wire of the plant. When you find the strap may be too late, that the degree of infestation can be too severe to save the plants.
Several methods are available for commercial cultivation to control or eliminate dust mites. It is, however, the opinion the author that the most secure and cost to deal with mites is chemical treatment with a miticide. This article briefly reviews some of the methods.

Cultural control

Keep plants well watered – moisture stressed plants tend to favor the development of mites. The high nitrogen content of plants also supports the development of mites. Keep weeds under control, as weeds are often the host of food. The populations do not appear on control charts because there is no state with wings. The mites are transported through the web, filaments air flow patterns, especially through the doors. Because they are transported to the garment workers, it is best to take measures to greenhouse tasks in areas infested with mites at the end of the day.

Biological control

Introducing natural predators can help control mite populations. Mite species identification problem is needed to determine the type of predator who needs to buy. The predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis is a voracious feeder of the two was common, and eggs. Under favorable temperature and humidity, a predatory mite alone can consume up to 30 eggs or 24 young mites in a day. If given optimal conditions, Phytoseiulus reproduced two times faster than the victim, you can not derive an additional benefit this way. Although it is most often released predatory mites, there are other species that grow well in a variety of environmental conditions.

Substances Control Chemical

Chemical treatments can be very effective, but it is essential that the chemical is correct. Many insecticides will not control the mite, and can actually make it to flourish, because the insecticide can kill the natural enemies. Labeled substance is needed to control mites (acaricides). There are many species different mite miticide labels specifically the list of species of mites that will be monitored. Mites usually feed on the bottom of the sheet to be difficult to control when the soil treatments at the top. Some of the new acaricide exposure translaminar movement in the leaf, for the moving chemical product the top of the blade through the fabric at the bottom.

Monitoring
Frequent monitoring of plants is a key to the management of potential problems mites. The detection of symptoms of discoloration of the leaves, the earlier the better how to ensure your small problem becomes a big problem

Roger Hintze has BS and MS degrees in Ornamental Horticulture from the University of Minnesota and has been employed by J R Johnson Supply for 40 years. J.R. Johnson Supply headquartered in Roseville, Minnesota is a horticulture supplies company and has over 30,000 items available in its on-line store. Specialties include soil media, containers, pesticides, fertilizers, irrigation systems and supplies, nursery supplies, greenhouse supplies, organic growing supplies, generic chemicals, landscape or retail garden center supplies.

Categories : Arachnids