Spider mite on tomatoes: a tiny but very insidious pest of cultivated plants
In garden plots and in greenhouses, annoying parasites can often be found. Pests attack plants and feed on sap. Spider mites on tomatoes are no exception. If pests are found, it is necessary to start immediately fighting them in order to save the crop.
Content
- What is a spider mite and why is it dangerous for tomatoes
- Reasons for the appearance of a pest on tomatoes
- Signs of damage to tomatoes by mites
- Pest Control Methods
- When is it necessary to treat tomatoes from spider mites?
- Features of the fight against ticks in the greenhouse
- Prevention of the appearance of spider mites
- Mite resistant tomato varieties
- Useful tips for beginner gardeners
What is a spider mite and why is it dangerous for tomatoes
Spider mites attack over 200 plants. The most common:
- tomatoes;
- cucumbers;
- Strawberry;
- eggplant.
Spider mite.
The pest is classified as arachnid. This family (Tetranychidae) consists of 95 genera and more than 1270 varieties. Spider web pest on tomatoes belongs to the Common species (Tetranychus urticae).
The insect is very small. Body length does not exceed 2 mm. It can only be seen well through a magnifying glass. The females are larger than the males. All individuals lack wings.
Body color is:
- red;
- green;
- yellow;
- Orange.
Eggs have a round shape. The diameter is a maximum of 0,14 mm. At the very beginning, they are transparent, salad-colored. Later they become white. They can be seen on the underside of the leaves.
Life cycle of a spider mite.
Larvae have the same size. The coloration is paler than in adults. The body of the larva resembles a hemisphere with 3 pairs of legs. The nymphs have a fourth pair of legs. They are similar to adults.
vermin cause great damage to tomatoes. They suck out all the juice, biting through the epidermis. At the puncture site, tissue dies off. The leaf becomes marbled and then rusty.
Ticks disrupt the process of photosynthesis, which leads to a decrease in immunity, and the quality of fruits deteriorates. The ovaries do not form and the bushes dry up. Infection can reduce yield by 15 to 50%.
Reasons for the appearance of a pest on tomatoes
The appearance of insects is associated with the influence of various factors. They can get accidentally on the culture.
Habitats - topsoil and plant residues in the beds.
The main reasons for the appearance:
- use of dirty garden tools;
- planting seeds or seedlings in contaminated land that has not been treated with an antiseptic - eggs can be in the ground for up to 5 years;
- planting purchased seedlings or diseased seeds;
- nearby wild flowers and weeds on which parasites live;
- wind-borne, as ticks are tiny;
- spread through people and animals - can be caught on shoes or clothes;
- they penetrate into greenhouses through cracks in the opening and wall.
Favorable conditions are high temperature in the greenhouse and poor air circulation. At temperatures from 29 to 31 degrees and humidity from 35 to 55%, pests begin to multiply actively. It is not possible to detect ticks immediately. They have an excellent ability to hide in the ground or foliage.
Signs of damage to tomatoes by mites
The signs of infestation are very clear. They are presented as:
- whitish dots on the veins of leaves and stems that turn yellow over time (when bitten, ticks inject an enzyme that destroys chloroplasts);
- deformation of the lower plates along the edge, followed by drying;
- a large number of small gray lumps on the back of the sheet;
- thin web;
- darkening of the leaves due to a violation of photosynthesis. The plant loses chlorophyll;
- slow growth of culture;
- falling leaves;
- the presence of moving dots on the surface of sheets or eggs on the reverse side.
Ticks primarily settle on young succulent sprouts. It is necessary to inspect immediately the upper part of the plant.
Pest Control Methods
Tick control is difficult. She deserves special attention. There are several different ways to fight. Chemicals have the strongest effect. Folk remedies show results in preventive measures and with a small population.
Chemicals
With the help of acaricides and insectoacaricides, a large number of mites can be destroyed. The most popular drugs
Biological methods
Biopreparations have an excellent effect. They do not harm the fruit. They are best used when the tomatoes are ripe. Biological products from ticks are selected by rating.
Folk remedies
Folk remedies are absolutely safe for humans and plants. Most often they are used at the beginning of infection.
| alcohol based | 2 tbsp alcohol (96% ethanol) is added to 1 liter of water. Spray with alcohol solution 2 times. The interval is 7 days. |
| Horseradish or dandelion | 0,4 kg of horseradish or dandelion leaves are poured into 10 liters of water and left for 12 hours. After filtering, the infusion is sprayed from a spray bottle onto tomato bushes twice with an interval of 7 days. |
| Makhorka or tobacco dust | 0,4 kg of tobacco dust or shag is mixed with 10 liters of water and left for 24 hours. The bushes are sprayed with infusion once a week. |
| Infusion of garlic | 0,2 kg of chopped garlic is added to a bucket of water and infused for up to 5 hours. The plant is sprayed with infusion once every 1 days. |
| Soap solution | Soap is diluted in water in a ratio of 1:4. The soapy solution is sprayed from the spray gun on the culture 1 time in 10 days. |
| Bleaching powder | 2% bleach is diluted in 10 liters of water. Spray with a solution until the parasites die. |
| Infusion of henbane | 1 kg of dried henbane is poured into 10 liters of boiling water. Insist for 12 hours. Strain and spray on the leaves. |
| Hydrogen peroxide | 20 ml of hydrogen peroxide (3%) is poured into 1 liter of water and the plant is sprayed. |
| Decoction of onion peel | 0,2 kg of onion peel is poured into a bucket of water. Boil and insist 10-12 hours. Sprayed from a spray bottle on the leaves 1 time in 10 days. |
| Green soap | 0,4 l of green soap (with potassium salt of fatty acids) is stirred in a bucket of water and the culture is sprayed. |
Agrotechnical events
Agrotechnical measures against ticks:
- correct crop rotation;
- regular watering;
- destruction of affected areas;
- digging the soil in the spring;
- prophylactic treatment;
- digging the soil after the autumn harvest and disinfection;
- elimination of weeds and organic debris;
- planting nearby plants that have a pungent odor - onions and garlic.
When is it necessary to treat tomatoes from spider mites?
Spider mite on tomatoes appears in late May - mid-June. Warm weather contributes to this. Active reproduction begins and pests become very numerous.
The first treatment is done when the bushes begin to bloom. Spraying with chemicals or folk remedies is repeated at intervals of 14 days.
Features of the fight against ticks in the greenhouse
With the planned planting of early varieties, proper care is necessary so that mites do not appear in the greenhouse. A few recommendations:
- regularly inspect the bushes;
- surfaces are disinfected and cleaned;
- use biological products;
- spray water to increase the humidity level.
Prevention of the appearance of spider mites
Preventive measures:
- planting healthy seedlings;
- annual soil disinfection;
- after treatment with colloidal sulfur, the greenhouse is kept closed for 5 days;
- regularly ventilate the greenhouse;
- sprayed with solutions including Fundazol.
Mite resistant tomato varieties
Tomatoes do not have 100% resistance to insects. However, there are varieties that have strong immunity:
- Stellate sturgeon;
- Roma;
- Marmande.
When choosing seedlings, many gardeners acquire the listed varieties.
Useful tips for beginner gardeners
A few tips from agronomists:
- prefer processing with softer folk remedies - alcohol or garlic solution;
- with a large number of pests, it is better to use chemicals. They have a stronger effect;
- large areas are treated three times during the season with acaricides.