Spider mite on indoor roses: what to do if a spider web appears on plants, and how to deal with a parasite at home in order to get rid of it?

Experienced flower growers or just lovers of indoor plants do everything possible to create the most comfortable conditions for their pets. A healthy appearance, green, succulent foliage, bright flowering - this is what plant connoisseurs seek. However, in the care of flowers, sometimes they encounter the appearance and extremely rapid spread of the number one pest - a spider mite.

Next, we will tell you what to do if a spider web has appeared on home plants, and how to deal with a dangerous pest.

Who is it?

Spider mite (lat.Tetranychidae) is an animal that belongs to the type of arthropods, arachnids, a subclass of mites. The most famous member of the family is the common spider mite. It is a pest of indoor, garden, agricultural crops. It is found on all continents where there is vegetation, except for Antarctica.

What is its difference from other species?

The main distinguishing feature of the spider mite is the ability to secrete a web, for which he received his name. With this thin veil, they wrap a plant in which they later live. Also, this species can change the green color to orange or red. It all depends on what the parasite eats and where it lives.

What are the reasons for the appearance?

Maintaining a collection of indoor flowers at the proper level requires constant replenishment. Infection may occur:

upon purchase of a new copy;
because of the bouquet brought flowers;
during the exchange between flower growers sprouts;
when a tick enters a room with wind through an open window or window.

Nothing to do here, because visually difficult to recognize the presence of a spider mite on a plant. At first, it can be inactive, being in a state of diapause.

Most often, the pest settles on plants with delicate and succulent foliage, in particular on indoor roses. And, as a rule, roses are grown in warm and dry conditions, mistakenly believing that this microclimate is as comfortable as possible for a flower. Meanwhile, such parameters are most successful for active reproduction of the spider mite. And if measures are not taken in time, then in a fairly short time all nearby flowers will be infected.

Attention: the main reason for tick infection with a room rose is the low humidity in the room.

A harmful insect can also damage a flower if it is improperly looked after. For example, during the period of active vegetation, a rose needs a sufficient amount of water, with a lack there is a high risk of being hit by a tick.

Pest Description

Tetranychidae is an omnivorous pest that differs in its internal structure from insects. The length of the females is on average 0.5 mm, and the males are even smaller. Ticks have 4 pairs of legs, while sucking insects have 3 pairs. The body is elongated, flat, divided into three departments. It has no chitinous cover. The structure of the eyes is simple, there are two pairs of them. The spider mite sucking mouth apparatus.

Ticks live in colonies. One generation of spider mites lives from 12 to 24 days. The female lays over 100 eggs for her life. So for a year animals can leave from 8 to 18 generations. The higher the temperature and the drier the air, the more actively pests develop. Under adverse conditions, ticks fall into suspended animation, and in this state can be for a long time in dry leaves, earth, while not losing viability.

What is the danger?

The spider mite causes irreparable damage to the plant, up to death. On the leaves of a houseplant, it is placed on the back side, and the juice is sucked out. Depending on the number of individuals of Tetranychidae, one can judge the state of a room rose, but in any case it does not look healthy and blooming.

Initially, the pest damages the lower parts of the flower, then moves to the outside of the leaf plate. After damaging young sprouts. With mass settlement, pests destroy inflorescences and all non-woody parts of the rose.

How does the plant affect?

On a rose the presence of a spider mite can be recognized by the following external signs:

painful appearance of a flower;
the appearance on the sheet of dots of white color, which eventually increase in size, taking the form of spots;
the presence of a thin web on inflorescences and leaves of a rose;
curling green leaves, followed by drying and dying of them;
foliage turns pale, turns yellow, inflorescences are smaller in size.

Inspection for parasite

Of course, the faster it is to detect parasites, the faster the plant will recover. But to see them with the naked eye will not succeed. Therefore, if in doubt, besides the flower does not look good, do not be lazy and examine the lower parts of the leaves with a magnifier.

A piece of paper may also indicate parasites.:

First you need to spread a blank sheet on the table.
Then, above it, gnaw a room rose.

Fallen arthropods will indicate their presence at that hour.

What harm does it do?

The damage caused by the spider mite is expressed not only in the deterioration of the general condition of the flower, but also in the fact that it becomes more open for a viral or bacterial infection. A weakened individual loses immunity, can not fully cope with a malicious attack. In the future, the indoor rose becomes a source of spread of parasites, which can lead to the loss of a plant or an entire collection.

How to get rid: step by step instructions

If mites are found on the rose, first of all, it should be isolated from other plants.

Then try to get rid of the parasites mechanically:

Remove the damaged part of the flower with secateurs.
Wash the leaves with soapy water.
Increase humidity to 80-90% by dipping the flower in a container of water, and then wrap it with cellophane.

With a large number of Tetranychidae, it is worth using one of the following funds.

Folk remedies

These funds can be combined with chemicals or used independently.

Alcohol. 250 ml of pure water requires 2 teaspoons of alcohol. Spray foliage with this mixture. But so as not to burn it, after an hour, moisten the leaves with spray water.
Garlic. Crush the head of garlic and pour a liter of water. Insist 5 days in a dark place, then process the rose.
Onion husk and dandelion broth. Apply once every 4-5 days.

Chemicals

The most effective anti-spider mite drugs are called acaricides. They are special for ticks or universal. They are sold in the form of emulsions or suspensions. These funds destroy the adult, and the eggs remain intact, so it is recommended to carry out 3-4 treatments to completely eliminate the pests.

The following drugs have proven themselves well.:

"Actellik";
"Akartan";
Apollo
"Tedion";
Nitrafen.

Biological products

Today, preparations based on Bacillus thuringiensis spores are very popular. They are safe enough for humans, animals, plants, birds.

Russian products based on soil bacteria:

Biotlin;
Fitoverm;
Entobacterin;
Bitoxibacillin.

Many of them also help in the fight against caterpillars that eat leaves.

Prevention

If you follow simple rules, you can prevent the appearance of an intruder:

After buying new indoor plants, you should quarantine them for the first couple of weeks to make sure that nothing threatens their health.
Be sure to disinfect the soil before planting.
When growing a room rose should maintain high humidity. Every day you can spray the flower with spray water.
As a preventative measure, the plant is sprayed with a weak solution of an acaricidal preparation.
Every week, a rose bath in the shower.
Remove dried leaves.

The presence of a spider mite on a room rose is an unpleasant phenomenon. Therefore, at the slightest suspicion, it is worth tightening preventive measures or making an unscheduled treatment. For this, the roses will be thanked with their delightful flowers.