Orchids attacked by spider mites

Overview of appearance and symptoms of spider mites

To distinguish spider mites from other pests, please pay attention to the following combination of appearance and symptoms:

• Body size between 0.1 and 0.8 mm
• Body color mostly greenish, more rarely orange, reddish or red-brown
• Soft-skinned and bristled
• Adult spider mites with 8 legs, in the larval stage with 6 legs
• Often with extremely fine, white webs
• Stinging and sucking activity creates a silvery sheen on the leaves
• Brown-black discoloration of the foliage in the advanced stage

Spider mites bite into the leaf veins up to 20 times per minute, causing the tissue cells to collapse within a short time. The destructive hustle and bustle can be recognized by countless, light yellow speckles on the foliage. If no countermeasures are initiated, the leaves, shoots and ultimately the entire orchid will die.

Fighting spider mites without chemicals - tips for environmentally friendly means

You're more die-hard than Aphids. Spider mites cannot be dealt with with tried and tested home remedies. In the early stages, there are at least good prospects of freeing the orchid from the plague with the following ecological methods:

• Fight with neem-containing pesticides, such as Compo Bio insect-free neem
• In the greenhouse Predatory mites use as natural predators of the spider mites

If the infestation has already brought your orchid to the brink of ruin, disposal should be considered in order to prevent further spread. If you do not want to put your arms up to the parasites, we recommend the use of an acaricide, such as spider mite-free Kanemite from Dr. Stahler. The new preparation promises to protect beneficial organisms such as bees and lacewings.