Mites are not insects; they are actually a type of arachnid. They belong to a group of arachnids called Acari, which includes ticks and mites. What we call a spider mite the scientific world would refer to as a Tetranychidae. There are about 1600 species of mites under this classification; however, the most common are red spider mites and the two-spotted spider mites. Two-spotted spider mites have two black spots on their backs approximately where there shoulders would be if a mite had shoulders. They vary in color and can be very difficult to see because they can easily blend in with their host. Red spider mites are rust coloured. Adult spider mites are very small, about the size of a poppy seed. They generally live on the underside of a plant’s leaves where they can go unnoticed until they overwhelm their host causing it to grow poorly. By the time you notice obvious signs, you have a major infestation. Like some insects, they insert a tube into a plant and suck out its sap. The first sign to appear is little dots, usually white or yellow, followed by yellowing of the affected leaves. If you turn the leaves over and closely inspect them you may see what appears to be tiny spiders moving around. In major infestations you may see a nest with webbing around the leaves. Mites are a common pest amongst indoor plants and in greenhouses where they do not have to battle the elements, nor do they fall victim to natural predators such as ladybugs. As with most pests, the best line of defence is prevention! To prevent spider mites from infesting your plants, the first step is to keep the plants clean. This means picking up any fallen debris such as dead leaves or flowers and keeping plants from becoming dusty by wiping the leaves down with a damp cloth from time to time. When you are cleaning your plants, take the time to inspect them for signs or infestation. Be sure to keep your plants healthy by providing the proper amount of water, sunlight and fertilizer. Plants that are stressed are more likely to be infested than healthy plants. Insects and mites see them as easy targets! If you find that your plants have become infested, don’t worry. There are simple remedies that you can try. I usually start by cleaning the plant from bottom to top, removing any dead or dying leaves. If there is a nest, clip that part of the plant off and dispose of it. Then give the plant a bath in soapy water. I find Sunlight or Dawn dish soap works best. You will want to use slightly more soap in the water than if you are going to wash dishes. Prepare the bath by mixing up some warm water and dish soap in a pail. Then wash the plant down with a cloth. Or, the plant may be submerged in the soapy water (top first, keeping the soil out of the water). After cleaning your plant, wipe down the area where your plant is kept, removing any dust or debris where more mites may be hiding, just waiting to re-infest your plant. Inspect your plant again in three days. If you notice any mites, give the plant another bath. If you continue to have a problem with mites you may want to spray plants with Cinnamite or Neem oil which are non-toxic miticides. In future posts, I will have more information on natural and non-toxic pesticides.

Spider Mites