Our succulents, in general, are very resistant to pests and diseases, but if the environment is very dry and they are going thirsty, there is one that will not hesitate for a moment to take advantage of the situation: the Red spider.
Known by the scientific name Tetranychus urticae, this tiny mite, barely 0,5cm, is one of the most harmful enemies that all plants have. How can we detect it? And the most important, What remedies exist to combat it?
What is the spider mite?
Red spider It is a mite that is more or less oval in shape, with long legs. Its body can be orange-red (in females) or yellowish (in males). It loves the warm atmosphere of spring, but it is during the summer when it can be seen the most, unfortunately, feeding on the cells of our plants that are going through a bad time.
What are the symptoms and damage it causes?
In succulents the truth is that it is often very difficult to know whether or not it has this pest, but we can intuit it if we see that they have appeared discolorations on the bodies and / or leaves. With the naked eye we will observe tiny red dots, which form colonies protected by silk threads. In case of doubt, we can check the plant with a magnifying glass (in bazaars and on ebay they sell them for 1 or 2 euros) to be able to look for it.
How do you control / combat?
Ecological control
You should always try to opt for organic remedies first, especially if the plant has only just started showing symptoms. In addition, it is worth trying as there are several that can be very effective 😉:
- Garlic broth: 100 grams of garlic is macerated overnight in a couple of tablespoons of oil. Then, it is mixed with 1 liter of water and diluted to 5% (half of the garlic solution for ten of water). Finally, the plant is sprayed.
- Feltiella acarisuga: it is a predatory mosquito of the red spider, which feeds on eggs, nymphs and adults. It can quickly kill the plague, since it eats up to 30 specimens per day.
- Neem oil: It is extracted from the fruits and seeds of the Neem Tree (Azaradichta indica). It is a powerful repellent and insecticide that kills the most common pests, such as the red spider.
Chemical control
When the pest is widespread, it is advisable to use acaricides that we will find for sale in the nurseries. Of course, it is very important to read the label carefully and follow the instructions exactly.
I hope you have learned what the spider mite is and how you can detect it on your cacti and all kinds of succulents 🙂.