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Pests cause serious damage to berry bushes. Among them, one of the most dangerous insects is the spider mite. The pest feeds on the sap of the plant and inhibits its development. Spider mites on currants can appear at any time during the summer season. Special drugs, folk remedies, and adherence to agricultural practices help fight it.
Signs of spider mites on currants
Spider mites are a member of the arachnid family. Its dimensions range from 0.25 to 0.4 mm. The body of the insect is oval. Females are gray-green in color, which changes to red-orange towards the end of the season. Males have an elongated body.
The pest overwinters in the bark of shrubs and plant debris. It dies at temperatures below -28 °C.In the spring, after warming, the females leave the shelter and move to the lower part of the leaves, and then begin to weave a thick web where they lay eggs.
Over a period of 8 - 20 days, a new generation appears. At first it lives on weeds: nettle, quinoa, plantain. In mid-summer, the pest moves to berry bushes, including currants.
Spider mites are identified by a number of signs:
- thin cobwebs on shoots and berries;
- chiseled white spots on the leaves, which over time become marbled and brown;
- twisted sheet plate;
- premature drying and falling of leaves.
Photo of spider mites on currants:
Why are spider mites dangerous on currants?
Spider mites are dangerous at all stages of their development. The pest pierces the leaf blade and feeds on plant sap. In this case, chlorophyll grains are lost. As a result, the leaves lose color and their cells die. Gradually the lesion spreads over the entire surface.
Under the influence of insects, currants lose their decorative appearance. Its leaves dry out and fall off. The bush does not receive the necessary development, and its growth slows down. If the damage is severe, the plant may die from lack of moisture.
Spider mites cause serious damage to crop yields. If the pest appeared before the formation of the ovaries, then fruiting may be reduced by 30 - 70%. If it is detected when the berries are ripening, then there is a chance to save the harvest.
The pest's distribution range includes Europe, Asia, America and Australia. It is also found in the Far North. If measures are not taken in time, the mite will move to other plants.Not only currants are at risk, but also other crops: apple trees, gooseberries, strawberries, and all stone fruit trees.
Remedies for spider mites on currants
There are various methods to get rid of the pest. Chemical preparations are considered the most effective. In addition to them, natural substances and agricultural techniques are used against insects.
Chemicals
The basis of chemical preparations against ticks are paralytic poisons. When a pest enters the body, they suppress the activity of nerve cells. The result is paralysis and death of the insect.
Chemical agents have a rapid effect on the insect body. If the dosage is observed, they are safe for humans, plants and bees. The active ingredients quickly decompose in the soil.
To treat currants against spider mites with drugs, prepare a working solution. Be sure to follow safety precautions: use eye and respiratory protection. Children and animals are removed from the work area. To spray the solution, take a spray bottle. It is best to carry out the treatment on a cloudy, dry day. In sunny weather, choose morning or evening.
Folk remedies
Traditional methods work well against spider mites on red currants. They contain only natural ingredients that do not contain dangerous chemicals. Such products are completely safe for people and animals. This includes wood ash, tobacco dust, infusions of various herbs.
Spider mites are repelled by strong odors. Therefore, to combat it on currants, choose plants that have this property. The most effective remedies are wormwood, dandelion, celandine, onion or garlic.
Folk remedies have no restrictions on their use. They are used at any stage of development of the currant bush. Preparations based on natural ingredients are good pest prevention.
Biological methods
Biological agents involve the use of natural enemies. These are predatory insects - phytoseiulus and amblyseius, which feed on other insects. They destroy up to 100 individuals per day.
This method is expensive, so it is rarely used on private farms. Predatory mites are bred in bran or vermiculite. They develop quickly at high humidity and temperatures from +25 ° C.
Phytoseiulus spreads within 7 - 9 days. The female lives up to 25 days and lays up to 5 new eggs. From them new insects appear that destroy the next generations of mites on currants.
Agrotechnical measures to combat spider mites on currants
Measures to combat spider mites on black currants begin with agricultural technology. The pest often appears when the rules for caring for bushes are violated.
First, turn to the bush’s watering regime. Plain water will help deal with the pest. Insects do not tolerate high humidity, which reaches 90% or more. Therefore, the bushes are sprayed every 2 - 3 days. The procedure is carried out in the morning or evening, when there is no direct sunlight. If you spray the bush in the heat, the leaves will get burned. Be sure to use warm, settled water.
To combat ticks, it is important to change the feeding schedule. Fertilizers containing nitrogen become a favorable environment for the development of insects. Therefore, they are used only in early spring.In summer, currants are fed with phosphorus and potassium substances. Such fertilizers will increase the bush’s immunity and help it recover from a tick attack.
When fighting the pest, organics and preparations containing phytohormones and amino acids are abandoned. These substances promote active reproduction of mites on plants.
How to get rid of spider mites on currants
When choosing a product, take into account the currant growing season. Before flowering, chemical or biological preparations are used. During the fruiting period, they switch to folk remedies.
How to treat currants against spider mites before flowering
Before flowering, currants are treated with chemicals. They help to quickly deal with the pest and preserve future ovaries. Below are the main preparations for spider mites on currants:
Karate Zeon
Effective against many garden pests. It has a paralytic effect on insects that die within 24 hours after spraying. The waiting period is up to 40 days. The product is not washed off by rain.
Anti-mite
A reliable remedy against various types of ticks. The treatment is carried out before the buds appear and after the berries are harvested. The interval between sprayings is 10 days. Consumption of the drug is 1 ml per 1 liter of water. The resulting solution is enough to treat 5 bushes.
Fitoverm
The drug does not penetrate leaves and berries. As the temperature rises, its effectiveness increases. Consumption is 0.08 ml per 1 liter of water. This amount of solution is enough to treat one bush. The interval between treatments is 2 - 3 weeks.
Akarin
An effective preparation for different types of crops. Has a high speed of impact. The insect dies within 8 hours.To combat spider mites on currants, a solution is prepared in the spring. For 2 liters of water, 4 ml of insecticide is enough. The solution is enough to treat an adult bush.
How to get rid of spider mites during fruiting period
When the berries ripen, chemicals are avoided. It is best to use natural enemies or folk remedies.
Below are popular options for processing currants during fruiting.
Bitoxibacillin
Biological drug with broad effects. Does not accumulate in berries and leaves. The waiting period is 5 days. To spray currants against spider mites, prepare a working solution with a concentration of 1%. Wait 15 days between treatments.
Dandelion infusion
500 g of fresh roots or leaves are collected in a bucket of warm water. The product is infused for 3 hours, after which it is filtered. The infusion is not stored, but used immediately on currants.
Tobacco dust
Add 350 g of dry tobacco to 10 liters of water. After a day, the mixture needs to be boiled and diluted with the same amount of water. To make the product stay on the leaves longer, add 50 g of crushed soap.
Infusion of onion skins. A large bucket of water requires 200 g of husk. The product is left for 5 days. Then it is filtered and used for spraying.
Soap solution
It is best to choose sulfur-tar soap. It is first crushed using a knife or grater. Add 100 g of the resulting mass to a bucket of water. The solution is thoroughly mixed, then they begin to spray the bush. The treatment is repeated after a week.
Preventive actions
Annual prevention will help protect currants from spider mites. This includes compliance with agricultural practices and preventive treatments. In autumn, fallen leaves in which the pest overwinters are removed from the area. The soil under the bush is dug up so that the female parasites appear on the surface. When cold weather sets in, they die.
Spring prevention includes spraying. Use the drugs Fitoverm or Bitoxibacillin. Treatment begins in early spring to destroy the pest before the larvae appear.
In spring or autumn, currants are pruned to avoid thickening of the bush. Nitrogen fertilizers are applied before flowering begins, after which they switch to phosphorus and potassium compounds. Weeds are regularly weeded in the tree trunk circle.
Conclusion
Spider mites appear on currants during the growing season of the berry crop. The pest causes serious damage to the bushes. When choosing a control method, the condition of the bush and the time of year are taken into account. Be sure to follow agricultural practices, which will help get rid of the pest faster.
