Red Spider Mites

Common Species:  Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval)

Common name:   Webspinning mites

                                 Pacific spider mites

                                 Two-spotte spider mites

                                 Strawberry spider mites

Damaging stage:

• Nymphs and adults

Crops Affected:

• Solanaceous, cucurbits, brassicas, legumes, papaya

Characteristic Damage:

• Initial damage due to feeding appears as light dots on the leaves.
• Continuous feeding leads to leaf yellowing which later turns to bronze or reddish-brown and        drop off.
• Webs are evident on plants infested with high population of red spider mites.

Management and Control:

• Monitor the area regularly.
• Prune heavily infested leaves and dispose properly.
• Use natural enemies-predators such as sixspotted thrips (Scolothrips sexmaculatus), spider mite destroyer lady beetle (Stethorus picipes),  minute pirate bugs, bigeyed bugs, and lacewing larvae.
• Spray botanical insecticides such as neem, hot pepper and kakawate extracts.
• Apply insecticides such as abamectin (e.g. Agrimek®, Abamec®, Romectin 1.8 ECⓇ ,  AvidⓇ, OrtusⓇ, NissurunⓇ, AgriguardⓇ) alpha-Cypermethrin (e.g. FastacⓇ), lambda-Cyhalothrin (BidaⓇ, KarateⓇ, DescarteⓇ), dimethoate (e.g. Perfecthion®) or diazinon (e.g. Basudin®, Parapest®).