Content
Spider mites on tomatoes in a greenhouse quickly eat the plant and move on to other crops. It reproduces only under certain conditions. Therefore, it is important to know where it comes from, how to fight the pest, and also what means are best to treat the bushes.
Are there spider mites on tomatoes?
The insect is characterized by its small size, so it is not possible to notice the spider mite right away. Its body grows up to 1 mm. It feeds on the juice of a variety of crops, including sweet and unsweetened ones. Because of this, their metabolic processes are disrupted and fruit development slows down.
In just one season, the parasite can give life to two dozen generations
The pest loves to feast on tomato shoots. More often the insect is found in a greenhouse, where optimal conditions are created for its reproduction.
Reasons for appearance
The tick is always in search of vegetation. Sometimes it hides in the old bark, sometimes in the soil.The insect can be brought to the site by other crops. In addition to the above, the following reasons for the appearance are distinguished:
- using a dirty shovel or hoe;
- contaminated soil;
- unprocessed planting material;
- the presence of nearby plants that have weak immunity to the pest.
What do tomatoes affected by spider mites look like?
Tomatoes on which the insect parasitizes can be distinguished by their external characteristics. The activity of the tick is indicated by:
- presence of cobwebs;
- white dots (gradually turning yellow) located on the leaf blades;
- violation or cessation of flowering;
- drying of the lower leaves;
- the formation of gray growths on the underside of the foliage.
Observing the drying out, the owners believe that it is due to a lack of moisture. They add more liquid to the soil, but the plant does not react. This is one of the signs indicating damage to tomato seedlings by spider mites.
The insect can overwinter under the bark of plants, hiding in mulch, so the pest must be destroyed in any case
Why is the pest dangerous?
And although the pest is very small, it causes serious damage to seedlings. The conductivity of juice through the channels is disrupted, resulting in small tomatoes and sometimes not growing at all.
Measures to combat spider mites on tomatoes
There are several effective ways to get rid of the annoying parasite. Conventionally, they can be divided into three groups - chemical, biological and folk.
Chemical preparations provide the optimal effect.The biological method is aimed at removing insects with safe substances. Folk remedies make it possible to cope with a small amount of spider mites on tomatoes. More often they are used as a preventive measure.
Chemicals
It happens that the gardener did not have time to notice the mite on the tomatoes. The insect has seriously multiplied, causing a threat to all plantings. In this case, you need to act with strong chemicals:
- Kleschevit is designed as an emergency measure, so it acts quickly. It can be purchased at almost any garden store at an affordable cost. To prepare a solution, dilute 40 ml of the substance in 10 liters of water.
The drug has a characteristic odor, so it is better to ventilate tomato seedlings
- Actellik acts not only on spider mites, but also on pests in general. For treatment, you need to prepare 10 liters of water and stir 20 ml of Actellik in it. The resulting liquid is poured into a spray bottle and sprayed on the tomatoes.
When processing tomatoes, you need to limit the movement of pets, as the product is poisonous.
- Oberon Rapid is a broad-spectrum drug used to protect cucumbers, tomatoes, peas, turnips and other agricultural products.
The product is also effective against caterpillars and aphids
When working with chemicals, it is important to consider its toxicity. You should carefully read the instructions and treat the bush in accordance with the dosage.
Biological methods
Biological agents are less effective, but safer. Unlike chemistry, they can be used during the period of fruit formation:
- One of the best biological preparations is Fitoverm.It acts on both ticks and caterpillars, aphids. Developed on the basis of aversectin. To prepare, dilute 100 ml of the substance in 10 liters of water.
The substance is used no more than 3 times per season
- You can spray tomatoes against spider mites with Bitoxibacillin. It is sold in liquid or powder form. In the latter case, mix 6 g of the substance with 1 liter of water. Treatment is carried out four times a month until the parasite completely disappears.
The drug works at temperatures above 15 °C
- Another effective remedy is Akarin. It paralyzes the nervous system of the insect, causing it to die. Tomatoes do not suffer from spraying. To prepare you will need 10 liters of water and 50 ml of the substance. The procedure is repeated every 15 days.
Akarin decomposes quickly, which is good for the soil
Folk recipes
Folk recipes are popular among gardeners. They act on minor damage to tomatoes. One of them is soap solution. Only laundry soap is suitable for this product. Cut a piece into a 3-liter container and add boiling water. After this, the liquid is stirred until it foams and poured into a spray bottle.
Soap treatment is repeated twice a month
As you can see in the photo, spider mites can be invisible on tomato seedlings, especially if they are large. Garlic infusion is a good measure to combat insects. The pungent odor will drive away the parasite, but will not kill it. The liquid is prepared from 30 g of chopped slices and 1 liter of boiling water. Every part of the tomato is sprayed with it.
Experts recommend adding soap to the container to quickly restore tomatoes
The third method is a decoction of onion peels. To do this you will need 1 liter of water and 20 g of purification.The broth is brought to a boil and stored in the room for 12 hours. Using a strainer, the liquid is filtered and poured into a spray bottle.
The liquid is effective against most pests, including aphids
Agrotechnical measures
In addition to the listed means, agrotechnical measures will help to cope with mites on tomatoes. It is necessary to periodically dig up the area, removing weeds and fallen shoots. It’s good if garlic or spices grow next to the seedlings - they emit an aroma that the insect does not like.
If the tomatoes are already damaged, they need to be taken outside the site. This will prevent the reproduction of the insect, because the parasite is also dangerous for other crops, even ornamental ones.
How to deal with spider mites on tomato seedlings
To remove the pest from seedlings in a greenhouse, all of the above means are suitable. Since the tomatoes are in a closed room, you need to know some processing nuances:
- Firstly, if the bushes are overgrown with cobwebs, they are immediately dug up. There is not much space in the greenhouse, which makes it easier for the mite to work.
- Secondly, after spraying the room needs to be ventilated. This applies to a greater extent to chemical processing.
- Thirdly, ticks love dry conditions. Maintaining high humidity can be a useful tool for pest control. If there is excess moisture, tomatoes suffer from fungal infections, so you should not oversaturate the air by more than 75%.
Preventive actions
The presence of spider mites on seedlings indicates the need to treat the tomatoes before they wilt. The gardener will not encounter a problem if he follows preventive measures.
The spider mite has a translucent body, which serves as its camouflage
When planting tomatoes, maintain a distance of 30 cm between neighboring plants. Good care is the key to large tomatoes. Therefore, you need to regularly inspect the bushes for diseases and pests.
It is important to promptly remove weeds and non-viable shoots. Sometimes spider mites appear from old plants. It is better not to plant tomatoes in one place for two years in a row.
The pest is comfortable with a high concentration of nitrogen. Fertilizers are applied as carefully as possible so as not to create an environment favorable for ticks.
Resistant varieties
Breeders have not yet been able to develop plants that are immune to the parasite. Among the relatively resistant varieties are:
- Stellate sturgeon;
The tomatoes are heart-shaped, very juicy and soft
- Roma;
A universal variety that is not afraid of frost, it is a mid-season variety.
- Marmande.
Tomatoes grow up to 200-300 g, ripen in July-August
The success of tick control depends on the host's reaction. Preventive measures must not be neglected, otherwise this will become a prerequisite for the colonization of the parasite. They do not provide a complete guarantee, but they allow you to reduce the number of individuals.
Conclusion
Spider mites on tomatoes in a greenhouse absorb plant sap, causing harm to the crop. You can fight the pest using different means, but you need to act immediately. In the event of a mass attack, they are treated with chemicals. The use of folk recipes is effective against small lesions.
